Luke 11:53→12:12   

  Introduction:

 We spoke of the great confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees in our last study, which upset the Pharisees so much that from now on, they just wanted to ‘get Him.’ 

 “When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, waiting to catch him in something he might say.” Luke 11:53-54.   

 

 But, in the meantime, Jesus’ fame was growing and He was attracting large crowds to hear Him speak. The combination of the Pharisees dangerous pursuit of Jesus and the jostling, unruly crowd made it dangerous to associate with Him. This mounting pressure had the effect it seems, of causing some of the disciples to be less than open about their association/relationship with Jesus. In the midst of the rising confusion, Jesus began to speak first to His disciples. As He spoke to them, those in the nearby crowd also heard what He said and passed it on. What is going on in these verses essentially, is that Jesus is giving His followers a sequence of forceful reasons why they should maintain their bold, public confession of Him. These reasons still hold good today with undiminished force.   

 

  Full Disclosure   

 As usual, Jesus is direct and to the point. Arthur Conan Doyle, of Sherlock Holmes fame used to playfully tell a bogus tale about how he sent a telegram to each of twelve friends, all men of great virtue, reputation and considerable position in society. The message simply said: “Fly at once, all is discovered.” Within twenty-four hours, Doyle says, all twelve had left the country! 

This is playful but penetrating humour, as some uneasy smiles may attest.   We’ve already seen all the reasons for the Pharisees hypocrisy, and Jesus issues a strong warning.

 “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” Luke 12:1c 

 Hypocrisy means playing a part – engaging in pretence. It demands conscious insincerity. It’s a character sin and it comes naturally to each one of us.  

 

 “Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.  What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.” Luke 12:1-3   

 

 Full disclosure will come on the Day of Judgement. Everything will be revealed and the disclosure will be ruthless. Things whispered in the dark will be shouted from the rooftops. The way to avoid exposure on judgement Day is to make sure that we make our lives pleasing to God now!   

 

  Fear. 

  “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.” Luke 12:4   

 

 Jesus knew that the pretence of some of His followers who had succumbed to hypocrisy came from the fear of what the Pharisees and their comrades would do to them. What He’s alluding to in these verses is the price of Christian discipleship. Its not easy to be a Christian. People who say that Christianity is a crutch really don’t know what they’re talking about. To be the only one who stands up against injustice or to be laughed at is tough. There are times when its very difficult to be a Christian in an office, or classroom or boardroom when you’re the only one who opposes certain practises - you’re the only one who stands up for certain principles.  It takes courage and a certain mental toughness to be able to stand alone for what you know is right.   When Martin Luther first stood before the Diet at Worms, John Eck, the Archbishop of Trier asked him, “Martin Luther, do you recant of the heresies in your writings?... Do you defend them all, or do you care to reject a part?”. 

Luther gave the quiet answer, “This touches God and His word. This affects the salvation of souls. Of this Christ said, ‘He who denies me before men, him will I deny before the Father.’ To say too little or too much would be dangerous. I beg you, give me time to think it over.” Luther asked for twenty-four hours to consider the situation. Eck and the whole assembly were amazed. How could the supreme intellectual leader of this movement ask for more time to think? Was he succumbing to fear? 

Roland Bainton, the great Lutheran historian, answered, “Anyone who recalls Luther’s tremors at his first Mass will scarcely so interpret this hesitation. Just as then he wished to flee from the altar, so now he was too terrified before God to give answer to the emperor.”   

 That night Luther and his colleagues passionately called out to God in now-celebrated prayers. With the rising of the sun, another larger hall was chosen, and it was so crowded that scarcely anyone except the emperor could sit. Eck spoke long and eloquently in the flickering candlelight concluding, 

“I ask you, Martin – answer candidly and without horns – do you or do you not repudiate your books and the errors which they contain?” 

Luther contra mundum spoke, and his voice rang. He spoke first in German and then in Latin: 

 “Since then, Your Majesty and your lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other – my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.”   

 Jim Elliot, who was a missionary to the Inca Indians, before he was poisoned by an Indian arrow, wrote in his diary, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose!” 

 

  Two further points from Luke 12:4 

 1) Jesus is saying that we must get our values straight. There is a natural anxiety within all of us to fear men who can kill the body. We are well aware that in our country today, often even as believers, we fear death and regard it as the ultimate disaster, and…we fear it! But Jesus wants to broaden our perspective by pointing out that man can do no more to us – death is their ultimate achievement but their power extends no further. So, we should not fear those whose power is so limited. Rather we should fear God, whose authority extends beyond death and the grave and has the power to cast into hell. Ultimate values for believers should not be determined by material or financial categories, ultimate values ought not be determined by the here and now but rather the eternal destination of the soul ought to be more important than the temporary domicile of the body. Our values are shaped by eternal principles and not by worldly principles. 

 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:4-5   

• Jesus is saying that we are to fear God more than we even fear death because God is the One who determines whether you go to heaven or hell. If you’ve trusted in Christ, you don’t need to fear death. You may fear the process of dying but you don’t have to fear death itself or judgement or eternity. Why? Because we have trusted in Christ, who when He died on the cross, took the sins of sinful people like us upon Himself. God poured out His wrath and judgement onto Christ so that those who trust in Him and believe in Him do not have to face God’s wrath and punishment, that’s the wonderful news of the gospel!

Quite obviously those who have not trusted in Christ have no such hope. Jesus makes it quite clear here that it is God who casts men and women into hell. There are eternal consequences for choices we make in this life. That is what Jesus means when He says in verse 10:  

 “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” Luke 12:10. 

 

 All sin can be forgiven, some blaspheme Christ and repent and are forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit by attributing His work and witness to Satan and resist the wooing of God through His Spirit by a conscious, persistent rejection of His grace and love will be damned eternally.  

• We are to fear God more than we fear other men. There are times when we are faced with choices in life. It may be in your business, in the boardroom, your office or classroom, at home and either you fear men and deny your principles or you fear God and do what is right – whatever the consequences. That’s what it means to know and fear God, that’s what it means to be a Christian.

“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.  But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8-9 

 

 Of course, we must witness with our actions and not be rude or obnoxious as we share Christ with others. We should consistently land joyfully confess Christ wherever possible. When Hugh Latiner was preaching in the presence of King Henry viii, he said to himself: 

“Latiner, Latiner, remember that the king is here, be careful what you say.” Then he paused and said to himself: “remember that the King of Kings is here.  Be careful what you do not say!”