Does Jesus ever say things that make you mad? Sometimes when we get close to someone and there are disagreements, we get mad at each other. Does that ever happen in your family? Some things have to be said and done even when it makes for an angry response. Jesus knew when to be soft and when to be as hard as nails. When it came to things that stood in the way of the kingdom of God or things that violated the cause of heaven, Jesus rose up and went to war. Here in chapter 12 he prepared his disciples for that same warfare.
One of the most helpful things for understanding what Jesus said in his teachings is to discover the context in which he said them. The Gospel accounts don’t just give us a collection of doctrinal statements that we memorize and obey. We have a story of the life and times in which Jesus spoke, a living word. There were a few times of relative peace. Today’s lesson from Luke 12 was not taken from one of those peaceful times. In fact, Jesus has entered into a kind of war that he knows full well is going to culminate in his own death on the cross.
When Jesus says, 4 "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” He is not speaking from an armchair as a philosopher looking at life with cool detachment. Jesus speaks in the acute awareness of what is happening all around him and what is going to come in his own life. He knows his days are numbered and he even knows the number. He also knows who those are who will finally arrest him and put him to death. But Jesus has a heavenly head on his shoulders. He’s got a priority system that provides him with ability to look past unimportant things and focus on what counts in the midst of confusing emotions and activities.
Would you like to be like that today? I know I would! Emotions and distractions of this world are all around us begging for attention.
In today’s lesson Luke records Jesus’ teaching that reveal some of that priority system. Jesus wants us to have heavenly heads on our shoulders too. In his message we hear his passionate instruction. Jesus is no cool detached and distant philosopher doling out deep mysteries. He’s as real and contemporary as today’s newspaper. Jesus is fully aware of all that is happening in his life and he understands what happens in ours. But while Jesus is fully connected with life on earth, he is also connected with what is happening in his heavenly Father’s heart. He never loses touch with either connection. You can know that when you hear the words of Jesus Christ, you are hearing words that echo here on earth but have their origin in the halls of heaven.
Look at the list that Jesus addresses: hypocrisy, fear, confession, the Holy Spirit’s dignity and help, greed about too much, worry about not enough, readiness for Christ’s return, division that faith in him causes, even in a family, and reading the signs of the times.
There is no way we can cover all those in this lesson, but you can study for yourself and see what Jesus teaches. Let’s hit a few of the high spots and make some applications and the lesson will be yours.
The first item on Jesus agenda here is handling hypocrisy. How do you have a heavenly head when facing hypocritical hostility? It’s hard to like a hypocrite! Of all the names you could call someone, this one cuts mighty deep. By the way, Jesus uses this word coming and going in this chapter. It’s the first item and the last one on the list of Chapter 12.
Just look at Jesus as we read in Luke 12:1f
12:1 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, (Why are the crowds gathering? They want to see a good religious fight!) He began saying to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 "But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
3 "Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
What does Jesus mean by, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy?” What are the Pharisees being hypocritical about? Everything! It has spread throughout their entire system of religious thinking and behaviors. So much so that they can’t even see it. The light of truth hurts their eyes! They prefer the darkness of secrecy and whispers. Hypocrisy depends on secrecy. Jesus bright light of truth brings their secrets to an end as he publicly proclaims their condition. But what happens when you expose a hypocrite, and especially a religious hypocrite with a lot of authority? Watch out! Your life may be on the line! But Jesus tells us not to let that get in our way. Here’s a heavenly priority to help.
4 "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!
Notice that Jesus doesn’t just tell us not to be afraid. He knows we will have fears. Jesus therefore directs our fears in a heavenly direction. He basically tells us here to fear God, who has authority to kill and cast into hell. Then Jesus reminds us of God’s care so that our fears are cast out by God’s love.
6 "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
7 "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Interspersed through this chapter are statements of Jesus to remind us of God’s concern for us. One of my favorites is verse 32: Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom! What does God really want for me and you? The Kingdom! The glories of eternal life in heaven! Isn’t that great? Jesus reminds us that God clothes the grass and feeds the birds, so will he not take care of us? We can live carefree of having our needs supplied if we will focus our faith and follow and confess Jesus the Christ!
8 "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God;
9 but (and you can almost see him turning to the Pharisees who do not believe in him), he who denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Who is confessing Jesus and who is denying him in this context? Are not his disciples confessing him and are not the hypocritical Pharisees denying him? Who is going to pay the highest price for their choices? Jesus even gives them a way of escape with this next verse, but a clear warning of where they are headed if they do not repent.
10 "And everyone who will speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; (you still have a chance, blind Pharisee!) but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him.
Who is speaking against the Holy Spirit in this context? Is it not the hypocrites that accuse Jesus of performing signs by the power of the Devil? (11:14f) These hypocrites will either turn or burn, they will become disciples or harden and try to stop all who stand for Jesus Christ.
11 "And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not become anxious about how or what you should speak in your defense, or what you should say;
12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
Here and in Chapter 11 Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit. First, he says God gives the Holy Spirit to those that ask. (11:13). Second, he says that he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven. And finally, he says that the Holy Spirit will teach you what to say when you are interrogated for your faith.
There are three basic interpretations for how to handle these statements.
1. They do not mean what they say.
2. They meant what they said in the first century, but today they do not apply.
3. They mean what they say for all time.
I happen to believe the third interpretation. What Jesus says applies to all time unless he says otherwise.
The rest of this chapter covers greed (with a parable about the rich fool), and worry (with illustrations about God’s care for the birds and flowers), readiness for Christ’s return (with another parable that applies to anyone that hears), division Christ brings even in families, and a call to interpret the signs of the times. In all of these the overarching principle he points to is a kingdom mindset. Simply put, Jesus reminds us over and over that this world is temporary, eternity is on the other side, and following Him makes all the difference.
The world is full of distractions and diversions. There are so many voices calling for our attention besides the call of Christ for our commitment to the kingdom. We need ears that hear and eyes that see the eternal heavenly voice and vision.
Yesterday, I was listening to a CD of Luke as I drove to McMinnville to take my truck to Jenny’s folks. Jenny’s brother Bill is moving there. Anyway, as I rode along I kept losing focus on what was being said. The words were coming out of the speaker, but I was constantly drifting in thought to other things. For an entire hour I just kept trying to listen. It was really hard! There wasn’t much entertainment to it and it took effort to stay tuned in. I imagine it was kind of like what some of you are going through right now! But I just kept at it, and the message began to get through.
It dawns on me that it is so easy to get lazy and expect to be entertained into heaven. It’s as if God has to compete with the flesh in order to deserve our attention. Listen, I try as hard as I can to prepare and preach. I know that my skills and talents are no match for the gravity of this world. If God doesn’t speak through me, my words are nothing but empty noises. But if in some way, the Holy Spirit gives life to the words spoken, sung and prayed here today, then the witness of Christ has been proclaimed. The sounds here are echoes from the halls of heaven itself! The ears of those who are tuned into heaven will hear it. The eyes of those who are looking for life in Christ will see it. The hearts and minds of those who are seeking the kingdom will be encouraged by it.
God is calling you and me today to listen to His voice and hear Him with a heavenly head on your shoulders. Through the words of Christ we are reminded of God’s love, reminded of our responsibility to be always ready, and reminded that we live in a world that is hostile toward all who faithfully follow Jesus Christ and speak loud and clear about the values of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Can you see it coming? Can you interpret the times? When we see what is happening in our country today, can we not see the enemy rising? Arm yourselves Christians! Jesus said in Matthew 24: 12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
And Rev. 2:10 …Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
