Luke 12:1-3
The Lord Jesus taught his disciples to get rid of all hypocrisy. He warned them that whatever they thought was secret in their lives, whatever secret sin they thought they were hiding, was not hidden from the eyes of God. The Lord will shine his light upon us and expose us for the hypocrites that we are. He will make sure that we are exposed if we will not humble ourselves, and repent, and get the sin out of our life. Be sure your sin will find you out!
This was the sin which the Lord Jesus constantly warned about in the lives of the religious leaders. He rebuked the Pharisees, Sadducees, and lawyers because of hypocrisy. He did not rebuke them for doing good deeds or for knowing scripture. He rebuked them because everything they did was for a show. They loved the praise of men rather than the praise of God. Everything they did was for their own name, their own reputation, their own position, their own title. Their life was a stage production for others to praise them. Not only this but they did serious harm to other people because they did not teach God's word correctly. They laid burdens upon people and did not lift a finger to help them.
Hypocrisy sneaks in when we are blind to our attitudes, words, and actions. We become blind because of pride. The man who is poor and has nothing will have less problem with this. What has he to be proud of? He does not have reputation, or title, or position. But pride can still be found in poverty as well. Proud to be poor. Beware of hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy makes us think we are serving God when we are really only serving ourselves. Hypocrisy makes us think we are worshiping God when in reality we are worshiping ourselves. Beware of hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is like leaven in flour. It will corrupt and change everything in our lives. Even what we do that is good will become evil. Our good works will be done with bad motives. Our bible study, prayers, and church attendance will all become corrupt and only serve to make us self righteous and think we are better than other people. Beware of hypocrisy. It is self deception. It is self delusion. It is self worship.
Cry out to the Lord and ask him to open your eyes so you can see your sin in the light of who God is. Pray and ask God to shine the light on your hypocrisy, and compromise, and sins. Ask the Lord to help you to repent, and renounce hypocrisy and compromise.
The goal is to inherit the kingdom. Hypocrites will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Matthew 24:48-51, "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Luke 12:4-9
The Lord Jesus clearly taught the reality of hell. He exhorted people not to be afraid of men who can only kill the body but be afraid of God who can not only kill the body but also cast the soul into hell. Also, notice the Lord Jesus taught the existence of man's soul after physical death. Here we can see profound truth of the existence beyond the physical realm of the body. However, we are taught as well to fear God who can cast the soul of a man into hell. This is to be avoided at all costs. How do we avoid being cast into hell? It is very simple. Ask God to forgive your sins and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty that our sins deserve. He is our atonement. He is the sacrifice for our sins. Trust in his sacrifice and ask him to come into your heart and life. Believe on the Lord Jesus. Call upon the name of the Lord. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved! Saved from what? Saved from hell, my friend.
Later in these same verses the Lord Jesus said "Fear not", in the context of God's loving care over our lives. The Lord knows every single detail of our lives. If we trust in the Lord Jesus to save us then he will save our soul. Not only will he take care of the eternal future but he will also take care of us in the present. The Lord knows all of our needs.
Let us be faithful to confess the Lord Jesus before men. We have a promise that if we confess the Lord Jesus before men then he will confess us before the angels of God. There is also a warning. If we deny him he will also deny us.
The most basic way that a new Christian can confess the Lord Jesus before men is to be baptized. I would encourage any new Christian who has not yet been baptized in water to do so. Find a church who will baptize with full immersion and baptize in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again on the third day. Whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
Luke 12:10-12
The Lord Jesus taught us about the Holy Ghost in two different ways here.
First he said that all sin that men commit can be forgiven by God but blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven. Many people speculate as to what the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost might be. In my opinion I think it is as simple as the rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts men of their sins so that they will turn to Christ and seek forgiveness. If a man rejects the work of the Holy Spirit he will never ask for God to forgive him. As a result, he can never be forgiven because he has rejected the ministry and work of the Holy Spirit in his life. I don't think it is possible for anyone who is a Christian to ever commit this sin, because a Christian will be sensitive enough to be concerned about this issue. If you are ever concerned or upset that you might have done this then it is evident you have not committed this sin. Those who blaspheme the Holy Ghost will not feel any guilt over it. Their conscience was seared as if with a hot iron and they no longer can feel guilt about this.
The Lord Jesus also taught that the Holy Ghost was active in the life of the believer to enable him to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus promised us the Holy Ghost would give us the right words to say when we have an opportunity to witness for Jesus, especially in high stress situations like those who are persecuted or are in danger of martyrdom. The Lord spoke through his disciples and put into their mouth his word. This reminds me of Paul's testimony that even though everyone abandoned him the Lord stood with him and enabled him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
2 Timothy 4:16-17, "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."
Luke 12:13-34
These scriptures point to something that anyone serious about being a disciple of the Lord Jesus needs to learn. This needs to become our lifestyle if we will be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. The heart of these verses is a contrast between having faith in God for your needs or having an attitude like the world system in which you dedicate your heart and life to your own needs. We either trust in God or we trust in ourselves and that is the bottom line here.
This teaching began when someone asked the Lord Jesus to judge between himself and his brother over an inheritance. The Lord Jesus rebuked the man, and asked him who he thought the Lord Jesus was. The Lord Jesus made it clear that dividing property was not his purpose. Perhaps the man thought the Messiah would come to re-establish the proper boundaries of land for Israel's inheritance. I can see how a Jewish person might have thought like this. A lot of their history had to do with the physical land inheritance in the land of Israel. However, the Lord Jesus took this occasion to teach about the danger of covetousness.
He said to beware of covetousness. This is a rampant problem in the church today. I believe this strongman of covetousness controls large parts of the outward church and is the spirit behind much of the false doctrine and false gospels preached today in mega churches.
The Lord Jesus said that a man's life does not consist in the abundance of what he possesses. He taught his disciples not to allow any preoccupation in our minds with food, clothing, or our natural needs. Why? Because the cares of life would cause them to bear no fruit. God's word cannot bear fruit in the life of someone who is consumed with his own needs all the time. It is a natural human attitude to always think of ourselves and our own needs. God wants to set us free from this natural way of thinking. This is one reason God led Israel through the wilderness and fed them with manna. It was to humble them and teach them that man does not live by bread alone but by every word of God.
I believe this test of provision is fundamental in the life of the Christian and it will especially be a test of anyone God calls into full time Christian service. This test of bread will happen. I can guarantee that you will face this test of provision. The Lord Jesus faced this test in the wilderness. Turn the stones in bread, the devil said. What did Jesus say? He quoted the passage about Israel in the wilderness where they learned that a man does not live by bread alone but by every word of God.
Be prepared to face this test. Memorize Matthew 6:33. Remember that God will provide for your needs. Psalm 23:1 says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
You might go hungry. The Lord Jesus did. But God will provide for you. He will take care of you. It might not be in a way that you like. Israel complained about the plain light bread they got from God. They should not have done that but it shows us that at times God provides our needs in ways we don't like. Make up your mind to give thanks for whatever way God provides. Make up your mind to thank God for his provision, no matter how it comes, even if God uses your enemies to provide for you. This has happened to me before and it is very humiliating. But that is the point, right? God is humbling us, and teaching us to rely upon him.
God is teaching us not to trust in ourselves, but to trust in the Lord with all of our heart. Don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge the Lord. He will direct your paths.
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Make sure your treasure is in heaven, and not on earth.
Luke 12:35-48
Here the Lord exhorted his servants to be ready for his return. The Lord Jesus taught about his return while he was with his disciples. Perhaps this was why Peter asked the Lord if this teaching was for them (the disciples) or for everyone. The Lord Jesus replied with a question. Who is the faithful and wise steward?
We are called as servants and as stewards. We are to be faithful with what the Lord has given us. We are to share with others the gospel which we have heard, received, and believed. We are to give to others what God has given to us so others can be saved as well.
The underlying message was to live with an expectation of standing before the Lord's inspection. The Lord will return. We will give an account for our lives before the Lord. The Lord is speaking to those who are his servants. Those who are in the household of faith will be called to give an account.
The Lord said that those who live in expectation of this inspection and the Lord's return would be blessed. Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. We are to occupy until the Lord returns. We are to live every day in light of God's kingdom. This is why any doctrine or message that causes us to lose sight of the future kingdom is so dangerous. Any doctrine or message that causes us to focus our heart upon the here and now and living our best life now is dangerous. It is a doctrine of the enemy to get our hearts and minds upon ourselves and to turn away our hearts from living in light of the return of Jesus Christ.
Let us cultivate a fear of the Lord and his inspection. We want to be found by the Lord as faithful servants and faithful stewards over that which he has given to us.
Also, notice the Lord made clear that the more light and knowledge of the truth we have the more accountable we become. Those who know God's will and neglect to obey God are beaten with many stripes. Not only are we to be concerned about the loss of rewards at the judgment seat of Christ but we should also realize there is a real possibility of discipline.
Verse 46 is shocking when we realize that he spoke to servants in the household of faith. "The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." I don't know the full implication of what this means but I do know that I want to get very far away from this judgment. This kind of bible verse puts the fear of God in my heart.
The portion which unbelievers have is this present and temporary life in the body here on earth. They have their reward in this life. Do you want your portion to be the same as that of unbelievers? Do you want to invest your life in the success that comes from the world system? If you live your life for this world then you will have your portion in this world too. You will not receive a reward or inheritance in God's kingdom.
This should put the fear of God into our hearts. We need to make some major adjustments in the way we live, and think, and our attitudes towards our relationship with the Lord and with one another. Let us learn how to invest ourselves into what will count for eternity.
Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again on the third day.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Luke 12:49-53
The Lord Jesus made it clear that he divided people. People were either for him or against him. The reality of Jesus Christ should be clear to anyone who has seen this division taking place in their relationships.
I saw it myself. The more I loved the Lord Jesus the more people I once knew who did not love the Lord Jesus were repelled by me.
It is interesting how they always find a reason to hate the Christian. They tell themselves their reasons but never admit that their hatred is simply because this person is a true Christian. They can't see this because they live in darkness and love the darkness. They hate the brother or sister who walking in the light of Jesus Christ. They don't even know why they hate this Christian and come up with all kinds of reasons. They will gossip, slander, and look down their nose at the Christian.
Why? Why? The Lord Jesus showed us right here. The Lord Jesus was so real that he divided people. This is proof of the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ. People cannot be neutral towards the Lord Jesus Christ. When they meet someone who is full of Jesus they will love him or hate him. There is no middle ground.
This message is for brothers and sisters in Christ who mourn because of lost family members. Don't feel guilty because your family hates you. Don't feel like there is something wrong with you when they separate you from their company. The Lord Jesus Christ was treated the same way. You are not better than Jesus. Accept the suffering from your family as a normal part of your Christian life then you can rejoice. Rejoice and be glad that people turn their back on you. It is proof that the Lord Jesus Christ is shining his light through you. They hate you because you are a Christian. There is no reason to ever be ashamed of being a Christian.
1 Peter 4:16, "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."
The Lord Jesus is the Word of God. He divides people from one another. He separated the sheep from the goats. He separated the wheat from the tares. He separated and divided. The Lord Jesus discerned between what is holy and what is profane.
Be encouraged today. Continue to seek the Lord Jesus with all of your heart, mind, soul, and spirit. Continue to stay in God's word and in prayer. The Lord is near. Soon, we will be with our real family in the kingdom of God. Then we will never again have a family member turn their back on us again.
Luke 12:54-57
The Lord taught us that we need to discern the time we live in. He called the people who could discern the weather but not their time "hypocrites". They had an appearance of wisdom, but could not recognize the Lord Jesus himself who stood in front of them. Blindness and hypocrisy go hand in hand.
What time do we live in today? Since I was a young Christian I've prayed the Lord would help me to know the time I lived in. Not that I would be afraid but so that I could lift up my head and rejoice because my redemption draws near.
When I look around at the world today I have no doubt that the kingdom of God is near. Many prophecies in the Bible are fulfilled. The rapture of the church is not far off. The seven year tribulation is not far away. The thousand year reign of Christ is coming soon. We have a lot to look forward to.
How do we discern the time we live in? We need to study the scriptures, and then compare what the Lord Jesus said about the last days to what is happening around us.
The first thing the Lord Jesus warned about in the last days would be deception. This is happening all around us. Our media today is non-stop propaganda. It is all constant lies and deception.
Within the church there are many doctrines of devils promoted which indicates the last days are upon us. The Bible talks about a great falling away in the last days. There is an apostasy happening within the church and there is also a falling away from truth throughout the world. The world is falling away from the general revelation of God, and the church is falling away from the specific revelation of truth in the scriptures.
These doctrines of demons can be discerned, but it takes someone who walks humbly with God, who studies the scripture, and who prays for spiritual discernment. Pray and ask the Lord for wisdom. Pray and ask the Lord to lead you to solid bible teaching.
Do not believe the lies of religious sounding people on the internet. Study the Bible yourself and look for Christians in your local area who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. Be active in sharing your faith with other people. We need to give to others what God gives to us.
Ask the Lord to help you discern the times. You need to know the day in which you are living.
We are living in the last days. Jesus is coming soon. Watch and pray. Pray that you may be found by the Lord faithfully serving the Lord Jesus.
Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
Luke 12:58-59
I think it is plain here that the Lord Jesus taught us to keep short accounts with people. Don't get into debt. Also, don't allow yourself to be dragged into a legal battle with anyone. Settle things one on one. Settle things outside of a court where you still have control of the situation. If you allow things to deteriorate to the point of going to court then you lose control and may get into a situation over your head.
Spiritually, I think this teaches that we should be ready to admit when we are wrong and confess our sins. The adversary is Satan. He is the accuser of the brethren. Sometimes when he makes his accusations against us he is right. We do sin. We fail the Lord and we sin against other people. When this happens then agree that the accusation is true but then let us go to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. We must confess our sins, however, and acknowledge these sins. When we confess our sins then the Lord is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9. Underline this bible verse and memorize it.
Agreeing with the adversary requires humility on our part. Whatever argument we may have with anyone is not worth going to court. It is not worth justifying yourself before God or before men. Just humble yourself and confess your sins to the Lord. Don't allow the accuser any ground to continue accusing you. Once you plead the blood of Jesus and confess your sins to God then the adversary loses all of his power.
Notice there is a progression outlined here as well. Whatever the problem is the adversary is not content until you have been brought before the judge, handed over to the officer, and then cast into a prison. The adversary wants you to suffer.
Spare yourself much pain by dealing with sin quickly. Keep short accounts. Don't let the sun go down on your wrath. Do not give the devil a foothold in your life. Close every door that the enemy might try to come through to get at you. You do this by humility, by repentance, by confessing to God. Plead the blood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:25, "Wherefore he (Jesus) is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Luke 12:3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Luke 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Luke 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luke 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Luke 12:10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
Luke 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luke 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
Luke 12:13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
Luke 12:14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luke 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luke 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luke 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Luke 12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Luke 12:23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Luke 12:25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Luke 12:26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Luke 12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Luke 12:28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Luke 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luke 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luke 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Luke 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Luke 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
Luke 12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Luke 12:41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luke 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Luke 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luke 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luke 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Luke 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
Luke 12:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
Luke 12:53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Luke 12:54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
Luke 12:55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
Luke 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
Luke 12:57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
Luke 12:58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
Luke 12:59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
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