Knowing The Word in Luke 12:1-12, Leaven, Fear, Acknowledgment

Jesus’ disciples are of first importance to him when it comes to teaching and learning. In talking about leaven, Jesus speaks of a process in bread-making that is slow, constant, and thorough. In the case of the Pharisees it is insidious, meaning it proceeds in a gradual, subtle way with harmful effects. Specifically, the leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy, saying one thing and doing another. Verses 2 & 3 should give all followers of Jesus a profound gut check.

Jesus says that those who can kill you have no more power over you after you are dead. Their power is limited, God’s is not. Jesus wants us looking at the bigger picture. There is a place for fear in our relationship to God that is grounded on this fact: we are always ready to sin in spite of and in the face of our recognition of the greatness and righteousness of God. However, as we come into the perfect love of God, as revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus, which is yet to happen in Luke 12, his perfect love will cast out our fear of not being right with him and will bring us into a place of loving obedience. We are not to fear Satan but to resist him. Jesus tells us about God’s overarching concern for his people as individuals. Jesus leaves us with no doubt that our attitude to him determines our eternal issues. People who reject God cannot repent and believe, but for the believer, the Spirit is our ever-ready helper. When has the Spirit helped you in the spur of the moment?

1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known on. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Prayer: Father, my Father! Send the Spirit of your Son into my heart.

Galatians 4:6 (Good News Bible, adapted)