Bible Strands
Matthew 13:12
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples, explaining why the mysteries of the kingdom have been given to them but not to the crowds (v. 11, 13). The verse is the causal clause behind that division.
The words — γὰρ (gar, "for") marks this verse as the reason the knowledge was withheld from the others, not merely a general principle. περισσευθῆσεται (perisseuthēsetai, "will have an abundance") is a passive future: the overflow is received, not manufactured.
The thread — The same principle recurs in Matthew 25:29 (the unfaithful servant), Mark 4:24 ("with the measure you use"), and Luke 8:18 ("pay attention to how you listen").
Why it lands — It frames spiritual growth as a trajectory, not a static state: active engagement compounds, passive drift erodes. The reader is asked to examine whether their posture toward what they already have is one of use or neglect.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Cross-references
- Matthew 25:29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
- Mark 4:24 He went on to say, “Pay attention to what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and even more will be added to you.
- Luke 8:18 Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
- Luke 19:24 Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
- John 15:2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
- Matthew 21:43 Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
- Revelation 2:5 Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
- Isaiah 5:4 What more could have been done for My vineyard than I have done for it? Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit?
- Luke 16:25 But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
- Luke 10:42 But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”