Luke 12

**Butler’s Comments

Chapter Twelve

(Luke 12:1-59)**

THE SON OF MAN ADMONISHING SPIRITUAL ALERTNESS

IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:

Why did Jesus liken the hypocrisy of the Pharisees to leaven (Luke 12:1)?

How can anyone who speaks a word against the Son of man be forgiven (Luke 12:10)?

What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:10)?

Is it wrong to lay up treasure for oneself (Luke 12:21)?

Does Jesus mean we should not care whether we have anything to eat or wear or a house to live in (Luke 12:22-34)?

If the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect, why are there so many modern-day prophets who say they know when He is coming (Luke 12:40)?

Are there to be degrees of reward and punishment (Luke 12:48)?

**Applebury’s Comments

CHAPTER TWELVE

Outline**

A.

Luke told about Jesus-’ warnings and encouragements for His disciples (Luke 12:1-12).

The circumstances: Opposition of the Pharisees (1).

The warning: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees (Luke 12:1-3).

a)

The leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy.

b)

Their hypocrisy would be exposed; nothing was covered up that would not be uncovered.

c)

The exposure would be complete: Things whispered in darkness would be heard in the light; things heard in the inner chamber would be shouted from the housetop.

The encouragement (Luke 12:4-12).

a)

As friends, He told them of God’s protective care (Luke 12:4-7).

(1)

Do not fear those who can kill the bodythe Pharisees were plotting His death.

(2)

Rather fear Him who has power to cast into hell.

(3)

God cared for the sparrows, but they were of more value than many sparrows.

Another warning: Confessing and denying Him (Luke 12:8-9).

a)

Those who acknowledge Him before men, He will acknowledge before the angels of God.

b)

Those who deny Him, He will deny before the angels.

c)

One speaking against the Son of Man may be forgiven, but blaspheming the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Added encouragement when brought before authorities (Luke 12:10-12).

a)

Do not be anxious about what to say.

b)

The Holy Spirit would teach them in that very hour what to say.

B.

Luke told about the man who came to Jesus about his inheritance (Luke 12:13-21).

The circumstances (Luke 12:13-15).

a)

He asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him.

b)

Jesus said, Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?

c)

Then He warned: See that you keep yourselves from all covetousness, for life doesn-’t depend on the abundance of your possessions.

The parable of the Rich Fool which Jesus used to illustrate His point (Luke 12:16-20).

a)

A rich man’s land produced well. He asked himself, What am I to do, for I have no place to store the harvest?

b)

He answered his own question, I-’ll build bigger barns and store the grain; then I-’ll say to myself, You have plenty for many years; take a good rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life.

c)

God asked a question, Fool, they are requiring your life from you tonight; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?

d)

Jesus said, That’s the way it is with the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

C.

Luke told how Jesus continued teaching His disciples the meaning of being rich toward God (Luke 12:22-53).

He told them not to be anxious about food and clothing (Luke 12:22-34).

a)

God’s care made it unnecessary (Luke 12:22-28).

(1)

Life is more important than food and clothing.

(2)

God cares for the birds and the flowers; how much more for you, O you of little faith?

b)

God’s kingdom must have first place (Luke 12:29-34).

(1)

The pagans seek for these things, but the Father knows about your needs.

(2)

God’s way: Seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.

(3)

His encouragement: Fear not little flock, it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

(4)

His directive: Sell what you have, give alms; and you will have treasure in heaven.

(5)

The secret: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

He told them to be alert concerning the Lord’s coming (Luke 12:35-48).

a)

It will be at an unknown time (Luke 12:35-40).

(1)

Be prepared as servants who have the lamps burning as they watch for master’s return.

(2)

As no one knows when a thief may come, so in an hour that you think not, the Son of man is coming.

b)

It will be a time of giving rewards (Luke 12:41-48).

(1)

In response to Peter’s question, He told about the reward for the faithful.

(2)

Then He told of punishment for the unfaithful according to their responsibility: many stripes, few stripes.

He urged them to be aware of the purpose of His mission (Luke 12:49-53).

a)

It was like kindling a fire, but He had a baptism that He must undergo (Luke 12:49-50).

b)

He warned that He had not come to give peace, but division even between members of a family (Luke 12:51-53).

D.

Luke told how Jesus chided the multitudes for being unable to read the signs of the coming storm (Luke 12:54-59).

Why can-’t you interpret this time? (Luke 12:54-56).

a)

They were able to read the weather signs.

b)

Why couldn-’t they see the coming storm about which He had just given warning?

Why can-’t you make the right decision about the thing you face?

a)

He illustrated His meaning by showing that it is good sense to settle out of court before the case goes against you.

b)

He pointed out the impossibility of escaping after the decision has been rendered by the Judge.

Summary

The scribes and Pharisees continued their attack on Jesus after leaving the house where He had dined with the Pharisee. This became the occasion for His warning to the disciples. The false teaching of the Pharisees was like leaven, transforming all who came in contact with it into hypocrites like the Pharisees. But their hypocrisy was exposed by Jesus. For the encouragement of the disciples, Jesus told them about God’s protective care. He called on them to acknowledge Him even in face of all the threats of their enemies. He reminded them that the Holy Spirit would teach them what to say in the hour of need. A man came to Jesus asking Him to tell his brother to divide their inheritance. Jesus told the story of the man God called a fool, He pointed out that life does not consist in possessions; the important thing is to be rich toward God. Jesus explained they could be rich in this way; it meant putting the kingdom of God first, for He said, where your treasure is, there will be your heart also. Since life is temporary, it is necessary to be alert to avoid being caught unprepared when the Lord comes again. When He comes, He will reward the faithful and punish the wicked. His mission was like kindling a fire. Already there was the struggle going on between members of one’s own family over their relation to Him. Jesus chided the multitudes for their inability to see what was about to happen to them. He urged them to agree with Him before it was too late, for there will be no escape from punishment on the Judgment Day for those who fail to acknowledge Him before men.

Questions

What was the occasion of Jesus-’ warning about the leaven of the Pharisees?

What was it that had caused the crowds to gather at this time?

Why did Jesus say that the leaven of the Pharisees was hypocrisy?

What important lesson did Paul teach using the figure of leaven to illustrate it?

How can leaven be used as a symbol of false teaching and also of teaching that is true?

What effect does the truth of the Gospel have on those who hear it and obey it?

What did Jesus do about the hypocritical teaching of the Pharisees?

What did Jesus tell the apostles to do about what He taught them?

Why did He say that they were not to be afraid of them that kill the body?

Of whom were they to be afraid? Why?

What lesson did He teach by calling attention to the sparrows?

What lesson did He teaching by calling attention to the fact that the hairs of their heads were numbered?

Why did Jesus demand allegiance from His disciples?

What examples are given in the Scriptures of men confessing their faith in Him even in face of death?

Why could a word spoken against the Son be forgiven when blasphemy against the Holy Spirit couldn-’t?

What is this unforgivable sin?

What would the Holy Spirit do for the apostles when they were brought before the authorities of the synagogues?

How does God provide for the answers we may be called on to give today?

What was the request of the man from the crowd?

Why didn-’t Jesus do as the man requested?

What important lesson did Jesus teach by the story of the man God called a fool?

What foolish thing was the man doing?

What was his fatal mistake?

What does it mean to be rich toward God?

What is one to do to become rich toward God?

What did Jesus tell the disciples that would keep them from being anxious about food and clothing?

What can anxiety to for life? What can-’t it do?

What is the Father’s concern about man’s need for food and clothing?

How does one seek first the kingdom of God?

What did Jesus say about the heart and treasure?

What is meant by Let your loins be girded?

Why did Jesus liken His coming to a thief in the night?

Why did Peter want to know if Jesus was talking to all or just to the apostles?

How did He answer Peter’s question?

What is the lesson of the unfaithful servant?

What about degrees of punishment?

What did Jesus mean by casting fire upon the earth?

In what way was it already kindled?

What did He mean when He said, I have a baptism?

What warning did Jesus give the crowds which He based on their ability to read the weather signs?

What storm warnings should they have been able to see?

What did He mean by saying that they should agree with their adversary?

Luke 12:1-12

**Butler’s Comments

SECTION 1

Arguments for Alertness (Luke 12:1-12)**

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

4 I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear him! 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

8 And I tell you, every one who -acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; 9but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10And every one who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.

**Luke 12:1-3 Deceptions: **Having faced down the hostile opposition of many enemies, Jesus takes occasion to warn His disciples that they must be alert since they will face the same attacks upon their spirituality. Having just denounced the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and lawyers, He warns His own disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Months earlier He had warned of the same thing (cf. Matthew 16:4-12; Mark 8:13-21). The Pharisaic way of life was especially deceptive. The seductive unbelief which appears outwardly to be religious, while hiding inner rebellion and wickedness is the leaven Jesus was talking about. Hypocritical self-deception is the most insidious form of evil. It works like leavenunseen by the one upon whom it is working, but permeating the whole lump (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8). Even disciples of Jesus may be leavened with hypocrisy if they do not remain spiritually alert!

Jesus warns the day would come when everyone would see that His evaluation of the Pharisees was correct. The day did come when the hidden hypocrisy of the Pharisaic religion was exposed. The judgment upon their way as false was plainly confirmed in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Furthermore, it was the fanatical hypocrisy of the Pharisees which agitated the Jewish rebellion against Rome and resulted in the destruction of Pharisaic Judaism. The whole world saw that happen and knew their hypocrisy caused it. On the other hand, what the disciples of Jesus had to learn from Him in the dark (whispered secretly in privacy) would be common knowledge (proclaimed upon housetops) throughout the world. Two thousand years of history since Jesus made this warning have confirmed His predictions time and again. Hypocrisy like that of the Pharisees continues to be exposed over and over (1 Corinthians 1:20. where is the scribe?). No man can long play-act at religion until he is found out. Truth cannot long be forced into hidingit will always have to come out into the open and be acknowledged. Truth will always win out! So, let the disciple of Jesus be spiritually alert and always on the side of truth.

**Luke 12:4-7 Dangers: **The call to spiritual alertness is a serious matter. Jesus warns that the time will come when His disciples will be declaring the truth from the housetops and they will be threatened with death. The truth of Christ’s way forever exposes the hypocritical way of self-righteousness. This is precisely what happened to Christ’s disciples in the first century (cf. Acts 4:5-22; Acts 5:27-41, et al). Jesus warns His followers that even when they are threatened with their lives (as they shall surely be in every generation) they had better not pretend something they are not. No pressure is great enough that the Christian should cave in to fear and play the part of a hypocrite.

Enemies of the truth may kill human bodies, but they cannot kill the soul, the eternal person. So, be spiritually alert and remember that only God has the power to punish with eternal death. If the Christian is to fear, let him fear God! To fear God is spiritual watchfulness! The Greek word geennan is translated hell in the RSV, but it is really the name of a valley to the south of the city of Jerusalem (the Valley of Hinnom). It was in this valley the ancient Jews practiced the worship of Moloch (which involved human sacrifice). King Josiah expressed his abhorrence of idolatry by throwing corpses of dead idolaters into this valley. The valley also became a city dump (cf. 2 Kings 23:4 ff) where pagan idols and other paraphernalia were burned along with the bodies of dead people, It became such a good illustration of hell in the minds of the Jews that rabbinical tradition used it to symbolize the place of eternal punishment, Hobbs says, In Jesus-’ day this valley was the garbage dump of the city. Into it were thrown the dead bodies of animals and of executed criminals whose bodies were unclaimed. Maggots worked ceaselessly in the garbage. To consume it, fires burned day and night. At night wild dogs snarled and gnashed their teeth as they ate edible portions of the garbage. Eternal hell will be infinitely worse than the valley of Hinnom, for there the smoke of man’s torment will go up forever and ever (Revelation 14:9-11).

The persecuted disciple of Jesus might be tempted to think that the God who created such a vast universe would hardly have time to notice should he die a martyr’s death. Furthermore a weak faith might see the soon-coming holocaust of paganism upon Christianity as evidence that God was unaware or indifferent. What is the death of one single Christian to a God who must be extremely busy running this infinitely huge and complicated universe? Christians were a minority religious group, swallowed up in a vast, powerful Roman empire where the major concern was politics. Temptation for Christians to view the Roman empire (the beast) as invincible was strong (Revelation 13:4). Some might anticipate obliteration of the church. But the Heavenly Father knows their danger; He is aware. Believers are to trust their souls to His care (1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 4:19). Jesus illustrates: While five sparrows are worth only two pennies in the eyes of man, God does not forget a one of them. In fact, God probably has each sparrow named, just as He does the stars (Psalms 147:4). Now if God is so intimately related to each sparrow, how much more intimately will He guard the crown of His creationman (cf. Matthew 6:26; Matthew 12:12)! God is interested and involved in every minute detail of man’s existence. He has every hair of every human head numbered (cf. 1 Samuel 14:45; 2 Samuel 14:11; Luke 21:18). The Greek word for numbered is arithemeo from which we get the English word, arithmetic. Jesus used an interesting Greek word for value here: the normal word for value is time, but Jesus used diapherete which literally means, carry through. God does more than simply place a price tag on manHe takes man up into His bosom to carry as a precious son, (cf. Isaiah 46:3-4; Isaiah 49:14-18; Hosea 11:3-4, etc.). So, when danger comes, let the believer give reverence to God and not man.

**Luke 12:8-12 Denials: **Another argument Jesus has for spiritual alertness is the temptation to deny the historical fact of the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ. Everyone who acknowledges Jesus as the incarnate God before men, the Son of man will acknowledge in the presence of God. The Greek word translated acknowledge is homologese which literally means, say the same as. Everyone who says the same as God and Jesus say about Jesus, will have Jesus say the same as the Father and Son say about believers. To say the same as God says about Jesus is to say He is the Messiah, the Son of God, God in the flesh and Lord of all. To say that Jesus is not God in the flesh is to be anti-Christ (cf. 1 John 2:22-25; 1 John 3:2-3). The Greek word for deny is arnesamenos, and means, to contradict, disown, renounce. Whoever contradicts what Jesus has said about Himself, or what the Word of God says about Him, will be disowned by Jesus in the presence of God and His angels.

Why does Jesus interject what appears to be such an ambiguous statement (Luke 12:10) in the midst of this exhortation? Why would He warn against denying Him and then promise forgiveness to everyone who speaks a word against the Son of man? The earlier teaching of Jesus on this point must be studied here (cf. Matthew 12:22-32 and Mark 3:22-30). Earlier Jesus said, … every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Apparently Jesus means to warn that the time would soon come when God’s redemptive plan would be so unquestionably validated and the deity of His Son so unequivocally confirmed, that to deliberately refuse Him would be to commit the unpardonable sin. While Jesus walked the earth in a human body the completed revelation of His deity had not been fully and undeniably demonstrated. That demonstration waited upon His resurrection. Before the resurrection, men might say a word against the Son of man and stumble at the idea of God dwelling in flesh. They might continue to have doubts about Jesus that would even lead many of them to crucify Him in their ignorance and unbelief (cf. Acts 3:17; Luke 23:34; Acts 13:27; Acts 17:30). This would be forgiven if, after the Holy Spirit came in His ministry of validating testimony, they should believe and repent, But to sin against the Holy Spirit’s complete, final, unquestionable testimony is the sin that cannot be forgiven.

To sin against God’s Spirit is apparently a deliberate, willful, intentional perversion of truth. It is calling good evil and evil good (cf. Isaiah 5:20). The Pharisees were apparently involving themselves in such calculated malice aforethought when they accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of the devil. To say that something which is unquestionably good and righteous is evil is to blaspheme the Spirit of Truth. Perverse, reckless, malicious rejection of the truth makes the intellectual and moral nature of a person entirely incapable of dealing honestly with any truth (cf. Isaiah 30:9-11; Jeremiah 6:16). Men may intentionally and deliberately reject truth and choose to believe a lie (cf. Micah 2:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Romans 1:22-28; John 8:45; 2 Peter 3:5, etc.). Men may choose to reject the blood atonement of Christ in favor of another hope, but the Bible says that makes it impossible for them to repent (Hebrews 6:1-8; Hebrews 10:19-31) because God accepts repentance only through faith in Christ. To seek justification before God through any religious system other than New Testament Christianity is to call evil what God has demonstrated is the only good. It takes an unforgivably wicked heart to ascribe evil to the One whose work and teaching stand only on the side of righteousness and merciful helpfulness to sinful, suffering humanity. To reject the perfect goodness and righteousness God has offered in Christ, now that it is finally demonstrated in the Cross and the Resurrection, is to sin against the ultimate best the Holy Spirit of God offers to the world. This is the eternal sin (Mark 3:29) and the sin unto death (1 John 5:16). To have stumbled at the Incarnation while the Son was still in the flesh was forgivable, but to contradict and deny the complete and perfect testimony of the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. Wm. Barclay wrote, If a man for long enough shuts his eyes and ears to God’s way. and takes his own way. He comes to a stage when his own evil seems good. and God’s good seems to him evil. Neither in this world (Jewish dispensation) nor in that to come (Christian dispensation) will that be forgiven (cf. Luke 16:26; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 9:27; Galatians 6:7). Even Moses-’ law distinguished between unintentional sin and deliberate (high-handed) sin (Numbers 15:22-30; 1 Samuel 2:25; 1 Samuel 3:14; Isaiah 22:14). Paul told Timothy that in the Christian age some would turn away from listening to the truth and. never be able to come to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 4:3-4). Fowler writes of the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit: It becomes a deliberate insult to God for men to claim to be unable to distinguish His work from that vileness and rottenness produced by that vile, unclean spirit-being who is the antithesis of all that God stands for. (Matthew, Vol. II. College Press, pg. 681). Examples of such blasphemy are contemporary. Bertrand Russell, late philosopher and mathematician wrote in his book, Why I Am Not A Christian, pg. 24, speaking of religion and Christianity, I regard it as a disease born of fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race. A contemporary, self-appointed female leader of atheism in the United States said of God: A crutch like LSD, alcohol or marijuana; of the church of Christ: It has never contributed anything to anybody, and place, at any time; of the Bible: The. inconsistencies, wretched history, sordid sex, sadism in it. shocked me profoundly, This woman said in an interview on one of America’s campuses, I-’d rather go to hell!

Just as Jesus had been threatened and blasphemed by His evil opposers so His disciples would be brought before wicked rulers and threatened and hear the name of their Lord blasphemed. They may stand against these threats, however, and they will have the assistance of the Holy Spirit to do so. They need not fear; they must not deny Him. The Holy Spirit was promised as a miraculous Guide for the Apostles (John 16:13-14; John 20:30-31), but not for every believer. The Holy Spirit guided the Apostles infallibly into all the truth God wished man to know for salvation and the Apostles left this complete truth in a written record. Any believer now who faces falsehood, unbelief, temptations, and persecutions may know the truth and speak the truth by knowing and speaking what the New Testament says. Jesus-’ promise (Luke 12:11-12) was fulfilled a number of times in the first century (cf. Acts 4:8; Acts 4:13; Acts 4:19-20).

Applebury’s Comments

The Leaven of the Pharisees Scripture

Luke 12:1-12 In the meantime, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 3 Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. 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, 5 But I will warn you whom ye shall fear; Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 8 And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God. 10 And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12 for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.

*Comments

In the meantime.*This warning followed the incident of the Pharisees and lawyers confronting Jesus as He came out of the house where He had been a guest of a Pharisee. His disciples could expect the same kind of treatment, for He had not called them to an easy task.

the many thousands.Many things had attracted the crowds to Jesus, but the thing that caused them to gather at this time seems to have been the open discussion that was going on between Jesus and the Pharisees. One wonders if they really saw through the hypocrisy of the Pharisees? Perhaps not. See Luke 12:57.

he began to say unto his disciples first of all.The lessons recorded in this chapter were primarily directed to the disciples, but the multitudes overheard what He was saying. At the close of the lesson, Jesus directed a warning to the crowds about interpreting the times.

the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.Leaven is nearly always used in the Scriptures as a symbol of evil. At the time of the Passover, all leaven was excluded from the homes of the faithful people of Israel. Paul used this fact to teach that the whole Christian life was to be observed not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

But leaven is also used in the parable of the Leaven to indicate the effective working of the gospel message. The reason it can be used in both ways is seen in the manner in which it works. It has the power to transform whatever it touches. To expose oneself to the hypocritical teaching of the Pharisee was to run the risk of becoming like the Pharisees. On the other hand, to come in contact with the message of Christ is to come under the transforming power of the Gospel with the hope of becoming like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18).

*nothing covered up.*The leaven of the Pharisees, said Jesus, is hypocrisy. When they spoke, it was as if they were speaking from under a mask of pretense at speaking the truth. They spoke falsehood under the guise of truth. But there was nothing that they covered up that would not be uncovered. Jesus had unmasked the Pharisees and the lawyers at the luncheon when He pointed out what they really were. See Luke 11:37-52. Just so, hypocrisy was to be unmasked whenever it was confronted with the truth of Christ.

Jesus-’ own teaching was not intended to be made a secret thing, for it was to be shouted from the house tops that everyone might know what He taught (Matthew 10:26-27).

*Be not afraid of them that kill the body.*The conversation had arisen out of the attack of the enemies of Jesus who were trying desperately to find an excuse for killing Him. His disciple also would face persecution. But they were not to fear those who might kill the body, but rather fear God for He alone could punish the wicked by casting them into eternal punishment. That this is a reference to God and not the devil seems evident from the remarks that follow encouraging the disciples to remember God’s tender care for them. The devil, of course, can afflict the saints of God. He can bring trials upon them to prove their faith, but the genuine thing in their faith enables them to endure the trial (James 1:2-3; James 1:12). Jesus did two things to encourage at this point: (1) He called them friends and (2) He reminded them that God was watching over them.

*five sparrows sold for two pence?*On another occasion Jesus used the same thought and spoke of two sparrows that were sold for a penny (Matthew 10:29). Jesus repeated His lessons with variations from time to time. If we carefully note the context when such variations occur, it will avoid the supposition that mistakes were made in reporting the incidents of the teaching ministry of Jesus.

The point of the lesson is this: the disciples of Jesus are of much more value than many sparrows. Not a single sparrow is forgotten in God’s sight; He won-’t forget the friends of His Son.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.This indicates the meticulous care exercised by the Father over the friends of Jesus. Why, then, should they fear those who would destroy the body?

Every one who shall confess me before men.If they were to be known as friends of Jesus, they would have to acknowledge their allegiance to Him in the face of threats from those who might even kill the body. In his second letter to Theophilus, Luke reports instances in which that very thing was done (Acts 4:19-21; Acts 5:33-42).

The disciples were to acknowledge Him as the Christ of God (Luke 9:20). The Son of Man acknowledges them as His friends. But to disown Christ before men would mean that He will disown them before the angels of God. Did Peter remember this when he disowned Jesus at the trial? Did the remorseful Judas think of it as he was about to take his own life after he had betrayed his Friend into the hands of the enemy?

And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man.Even the heinous sin of speaking against the Son of Man can be forgiven. But forgiveness involves repentance which is produced by responding to the Spirit-breathed Word of God. But there is one sin that cannot be forgiven.

blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.Were the Pharisees and lawyers whom Jesus had just reproved guilty of this sin? Jesus spoke by the Spirit, a fact that cannot be overlooked without failing to see why He mentions blasphemy of the Spirit in connection with forgiving those who speak against the Son of Man. Forgiveness depends on hearing and obeying the words He spoke by the Spirit (Acts 1:3; Luke 10:21-22). Rejecting this message constitutes an eternal sin when the rejection is final and complete. It is a sin that can be committed in this life, for Jesus said that it has no forgiveness in this life or in the life to come (Mark 3:28-30; Matthew 12:31-32). The reason is plain: Forgiveness depends on faith and repentance that must issue in obedience to the Word. The mind can be closed to the truth about Christ; the will can reach the place where it can no longer respond to the appeal of God’s love. Such a person is past feeling. It is impossible to renew such a one to repentance. See Ephesians 4:17-19; Hebrews 6:4-6.

Since it was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit to attribute the miracles of Jesus to the power of the devil, some say that the sin cannot be committed today. But this overlooks the fact that the miracles He performed by the finger of God, that is, the Holy Spirit, were done to prove that He was speaking the truth of God. Rejecting this evidence was the fatal step. Jesus, of course, knew that these hardhearted men had completely and finally closed their minds to the truth.

*when they bring you before the synagogues.*Just as Jesus had been put on trial by His oppressors so His disciples were to be brought before the authorities in the synagogues. But they did not need to fear such experiences, for the Holy Spirit was to enable them to speak the necessary words of truth in that hour (Acts 4:8; Acts 4:13; Acts 4:19-20). This promise was made to the apostles and not to the people in general. The Holy Spirit did guide the apostles into all the truth and enable them to leave the written record of it in the Bible (John 16:13-14; John 20:30-31). When we face difficulties and trials, we can speak the truth by correctly using the message God gave us in the Bible.

To take this specific promise which Jesus made to the apostles and attempt to make it apply to believers in general is to disregard the fact that Jesus exercised special control over the apostles through the Holy Spirit. Jesus explained the function of the Holy Spirit to the apostles when He said, He shall not speak for himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak; and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me, for he shall take of mine and shall declare it unto you (John 16:13-14).

The Bible is the guidebook which we are expected to follow today (Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 3:14-17).

Luke 12:13-21

Applebury’s Comments

The Man God Called a Fool Scripture

Luke 12:13-21 And one out of the multitude said unto him, Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me. 14 But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do; I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

*Comments

And one out of the multitude.*The lessons of this section were primarily for the disciples, but the crowds were listening also. This incident became the occasion for further instruction to the disciples on being rich toward God.

A man from the crowd asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. Jesus did not become involved in the family problem, for there was another issue before them that was of vastly greater importance. The eternal inheritance was being neglected. What He said about that became the basis upon which the man could settle his own problem with his brother. Jesus was the Savior, not just a social reformer; but in saving man from his sins, He pointed to the only effective way to overcome all kinds of injustice, social or otherwise. When we let the Word of Christ rule in our hearts we will be ready and willing to treat all men as God intended that they should be treated (Matthew 7:12; Colossians 3:16).

*for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things he possesseth.*Jesus had just reminded the one who volunteered to follow Him that the Son of Man had no place to lay His head. He had also taught the disciples that God was mindful of their physical needs and that they were to ask Him for their daily bread. The point of Jesus-’ lesson was this: There is more to life than a material inheritance; life is not made up of possessing things. This life is temporary; the eternal inheritance is infinitely more important. To illustrate His point, Jesus told about the man God called a fool.

*What shall I do?*He was completely selfish; he had not thought for the needs of others. The only thing he could think of was to build larger barns and store up more grain.

*take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.*Jesus did not say that the possession of wealth was wrong; it was the wrong use of it that He condemned. Neither is there anything wrong about rest, food, and proper enjoyment of life unless this be the only end in view. The rich fool prepared for the earthly life as if it were to continue forever.

*Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee.*God called him fool because he had taken no thought for this eventuality. He had neglected the basic truth for all men, It is appointed unto man once to die and then cometh the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). In the very night in which he was prepared to live forever on this earth they were requiring him to give account of his life.

*whose shall these be?*This question seems to be directed to the man who had asked Jesus to settle his problem about his inheritance. What if he did get the brother to divide their inheritance? A more important question: Was he rich toward God?

Luke 12:13-34

**Butler’s Comments

SECTION 2

Astuteness in Alertness (Luke 12:13-34)**

13 One of the multitude said to him, Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me. 14But he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or divider over you? 15And he said to them, Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. 16And he told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17and he thought to himself, -What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?-’ 18And he said, -I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.-’ 20But God said to him, -Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?-’ 21So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

22 And he said to his disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. 23For this life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life? 26If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these, 28But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith! 29And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind. 30For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well.

32 Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

**Luke 12:13-21 Foolishness: **One of the multitude was very alert. He caught quickly the authoritative manner of Jesus. Jesus had spoken with the presence of a rabbias one who honestly and clearly stood for truth and fairness. When He paused, a man in the crowd ordered Jesus (Gr. eipe, imperative mood verb, Tell!) bid his brother to divide the inheritance with him. The Greek word kleronomia means literally, to portion by lots and is translated, inheritance (cf. Matthew 21:38; Mark 12:7; Luke 20:14) or birthright (cf. Galatians 4:30; Hebrews 1:4; Hebrews 12:17). This man may have been a younger brother, dissatisfied with the handling of his father’s estate (cf. Luke 15:11-32). Oftentimes an elder brother, according to Jewish custom, was given a double portion (cf. Deuteronomy 21:15-17). Perhaps this man was being cheated in the division of the family estate. Whatever his complaint, he recognized in Jesus a teacher who would judge fairly. In Jesus-’ day it was Jewish practice to have rabbis make civil and judicial decisions. Moses appointed leading men to help him make such judgments at the founding of the nation of Israel (cf. Exodus 18:13-27; Deuteronomy 16:18 ff.). This authority probably passed to the scribes as early as the days of Ezra (cf. Ezra 7:1-28). In orthodox Judaism today a few similar judgments are still made by rabbis.

But this Rabbi will not be drawn into the man’s family dispute. Why did Jesus refuse, almost curtly, this opportunity to rectify an apparent injustice? Actually, Jesus provided the only real solution to the man’s problem with His subsequent admonition. Jesus refused to make a judgment because:

a.

His primary mission on earth was not to personally judge in social things. He was no social activist. His primary mission was to save, to regenerate the hearts of men.

b.

He refused to make a moral judgment or force a moral action that the individual should make for himself. To do so would violate freedom of the human will and preclude the possibility of moral development of the individual.

c.

He has already spoken about the most important inheritancethe eternal inheritance. Men were neglecting that. Had they given that first priority, they could easily settle all earthly disputes about material things.

d.

He will speak of the heavenly treasure more explicitly. If men will only become true members of the kingdom of God they will treat all men as God intended they should be treated (cf. Matthew 7:12; Colossians 3:16, etc.).

Jesus went right to the heart of the man’s problemcovetousness. The Greek text translated literally would have Jesus command the crowds, Be continually on the lookout and guard yourselves from all desires to have more. The Greek word pleonexia is from pleion (more) and echo (to have), and is translated covetousness. Covetousness is the all-consuming desire to have more of something. It is the urge to acquire gone mad, unrestrained, unconcerned with the will of God. It is the attitude that material possessions will satisfy all human needs. Covetousness is called idolatry (Colossians 3:5) because the covetous person worships (depends on) thingsnot the Person, God. One out of every six verses of the Gospels has to do with man and his possessions! That is because acquisition of wealth is the chief ambition of the majority of men. Wealth impresses men with its pseudo-power. Covetousness is probably the chief barrier to man’s acceptance of the Lord’s philosophy of what life is all about. The Lord’s truth about life is this: There is more to life than a material inheritance. Life does not consist (hold-together) in the abundance of material possessions. This life and this world is temporary; the eternal treasure is infinitely more to be desired (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18). To illustrate His truth, Jesus told a parable about a farmer God called a fool.

The man Jesus told about was rich but he was a fool. The Greek word translated fool is aphron and means literally, without mind. Someone has defined the word as the lack of commonsense perception of the reality of things natural and spiritualor the imprudent ordering of one’s life in regard to salvation. The farmer certainly made serious mental and moral misjudgment about the priorities of life.

a.

His life centered in himself. Twelve times in five verses, I, My and Mine appear in this tiny tragedy, The Greek text translated literally would stress his self-centered ego even more.

b.

He thought to feed his soul on things. He exchanged truth, generosity, conscience, love and helpfulness for things. He made earth and its riches his business so completely, heaven and spirituality would have bored him.

c.

In seeking a way to deal with his prosperity he reasoned with his natural inclinations and did not seek God’s word on the subject. Even the Old Testament could have given him divine guidance in proper use of his wealth.

Someone has rightly observed, This parable shows an honest man in the act of being executed by his own estate. It was where he thought it came from and what he did with it that made him forfeit his life for it. Jesus did not say that the possession of wealth was wrong; it was the wrong use of it that He condemned. It is all right for a man to possess thingsbut not right for things to possess a man.

Covetousness is the desire for the wrong things. Men are not to covet their neighbor’s possessions (Exodus 20:17). Christians are to seek and to rejoice at the gain of a neighbor like we would at our own gain (Romans 12:15; Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 10:24; 1 Corinthians 10:33; 2 Corinthians 12:15). Men are not to desire worldly possessions for their own sake to the neglect of higher things. Men are not to desire worldly possessions for their own use only, for … those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. (1 Timothy 6:9). The love of money is the root of all evils. (1 Timothy 6:10):

a.

It caused Judas to betray Christ, lose his life, his self-respect and his eternal soul (John 12:4-6; Matthew 26:14-16).

b.

It caused Ananias and Sapphira to lie to God and receive sudden death (Acts 5:1-11).

c.

It caused Achan to steal at Jericho and all Israel to be defeated at Ai, and for it he and his family were destroyed (Joshua 7:1 ff.).

d.

It caused a young man to reject Christ and to go away sorrowful (Mark 10:17-22).

e.

It caused some to teach things they ought not (Titus 1:11; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

f.

It caused some to turn God’s house into a house of merchandise (John 2:14-15) and a den of robbers (Matthew 21:12-13).

g.

It caused Elisha’s servant to lie, and to be made a leper (2 Kings 5:22-27).

h.

It caused Saul to disobey God who gave him victory in war (1 Samuel 15:9-23), and for it Saul was rejected.

i.

It is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10); including murder (Ezekiel 22:12), and many foolish and hurtful lusts (1 Timothy 6:9).

j.

It is the cause of domestic troubles (Proverbs 15:27).

k.

It causes some to be led astray from the faith (1 Timothy 6:10).

l.

It causes some to be pierced through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).

There is great gain in godliness with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6). The man of God (every Christian) must shun all covetousness (1 Timothy 6:11), because covetousness:

a.

Chokes the word of God in many hearts and causes the life to be unfruitful (Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19).

b.

Robs God (Malachi 3:7-10).

c.

Neglects the needy (1 John 3:17).

d.

Leaves many unevangelized, to die without God and without hope; it defies the great commission.

e.

Will drive the love of God out of our hearts (Luke 16:13).

f.

Makes a man unfit to be an overseer in the church (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7).

g.

Is not to be tolerated and overlooked in one that is named a brother, but to be rebuked and corrected (1 Corinthians 5:10-13).

h.

It is mentioned in the N.T. as among the worst of sins (Ephesians 5:3; 2 Timothy 3:2).

i.

Is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).

j.

Will damn the soul (1 Corinthians 6:10; Luke 16:19-31).

k.

Is certainly unnecessary and unfitting for a follower of Christ (Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 13:5-6; Philippians 4:11-19).

Consider: Balaam (Numbers 22:1-41; Numbers 23:1-30; Numbers 24:1-25; Numbers 31:16; Revelation 2:14; Jude 1:11); and Ahab (2 Kings 21:1-26).

As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God. (1 Timothy 6:17). Covetousness or the desire to be rich with this world’s goods is foolishness in the light of eternity. Every man and woman fares the certainty of death. Of course, if there is no life after death, then we should eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. (1 Corinthians 15:32). However, the certainty of life after death has been established historically and empirically by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Therefore, we ought to come to our right mind and sin no more (1 Corinthians 15:34), realizing that sooner or later, our soul will be required of us. We brought nothing into this world, neither can we carry anything out of this world (1 Timothy 6:7). What then is the point in devoting all our time, energy and capabilities to accumulating things of this world? This world’s goods certainly are not an end in themselves. The only reason for worldly possessions is that through them a man might serve the Lord by serving his fellow man! To accumulate worldly possessions for any other reason is foolishness!

We may even covet (be greedy for more) time. Christians must use time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-16; Colossians 4:5; John 9:4). We are not to covet the past (Luke 9:62); we are not to covet the future (Matthew 6:34); now is the time with which we are to be concerned (2 Corinthians 6:2). How we invest our time in the bank of eternity will determine the dividends of the future. Every person has the same twenty-four hours, Time comes indiscriminately and simultaneously to every inhabitant of earth. We may covet time by spending it mostly on ourselves, or we may be rich toward God with it by spending it in His service by serving others. Time is a possessiontime is a stewardship!

Being rich is never condemned by the Lordnor even growing richer. Poverty does not necessarily insure righteousness. The man is a fool who is not rich toward God whatever his financial situation in this life may be. How is one to conquer covetousness and be rich toward God?

a.

Believe that what God’s word says about it is right and to be obeyed!

b.

Pray that you enter not into temptation.

c.

Give generously, cheerfully and systematically to the Lord’s church (2 Corinthians 8:1-24; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; 1 Chronicles 29:6-19; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, etc.).

d.

Invest your time and money in people by helping their needs (Luke 16:9; James 1:27; James 2:1-26; 1 John 4:7-21; Hebrews 13:1-6).

e.

Be content with what you have (Luke 3:14; Philippians 4:11 ff.; 1 Timothy 6:7; Hebrews 13:5).

**Luke 12:22-34 Faithfulness: **The Greek word for anxious is merimna and is probably connected with merizo which means, to draw in different directions, to be distracted. The anxious person is one who is mentally tossed to and fro like a leaf in the wind. The anxious person is one who rides an emotional roller-coasterup and down, up and down. Anxiety is a result of divided loyalty. Covetousness is really at the bottom of all avarice and anxiety. The covetous rich man is filled with avarice; the covetous poor man is overcome with anxiety. It is only a matter of circumstances whether covetousness shows itself as greed or worry. A survey taken in a national periodical found that seventy percent of all our worries are about money! A Gallup poll indicated that most people believe they would have no more financial worries if they could increase their income by only ten percent. Some physicians believe that anxiety causes or contributes to a myriad of physical illnesses such as ulcers, colitis, asthma, migraine, stroke, paralysis, arthritis, fatigue, hypertension, diabetes. Researchers have stated that more than half our hospital beds are occupied by anxiety-ridden patients. Doctors think that one out of every twenty Americans now living will spend part of his life in an institution for the mentally-ill because of anxiety. Covetousness, greed, and anxiety are causes for much of our social evil such as theft, embezzlement, robbery, murder, suicide, marital problems, even war (James 4:1-3).

When Jesus says, Be not anxious. He is not advocating financial dereliction. The disciple of Jesus is not permitted to be shiftless, reckless or thoughtless. Believers are admonished to work, if physically able, to provide their own living (cf. Proverbs 6:6-8; 2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Thessalonians 4:10-12; Colossians 3:22-25; Ephesians 6:5-9, etc.). They are also taught by Jesus to be wise stewards of their material possessions (Luke 16:1-13). Jesus and His apostles taught that honest labor deserves honest wages (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:3-14; Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7-8). But the lust for accumulating things which would distract the believer’s mind and heart from his first prioritythe revealed will of Godis the anxiety Jesus forbids. It is significant that the Greek word merimnate is in the imperative mood and means that Jesus is commanding us, Be not anxious! If we say we know Him and we are anxious, we are not being truthful (1 John 2:4) because we are not keeping His commandment. What Jesus says to His disciples about anxiety is more than just suggestionit is an order!

Anxiety is unnecessary. Jesus appeals to our reason to tell us so. Any honest-minded meditation will tell us that Life is more than the body. The psyche is more than soma (flesh). The spirit of man is sustained without anxiety over food and clothing. Jesus proved that in His incarnation. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Jesus points to nature to demonstrate that anxiety is unnecessary. Birds and flowers do not worry, and God sustains them. They function according to their God-given capacities and He provides their needs. Men are of more value than these. Finally, the Lord says experience should teach man that anxiety is unnecessary. In all our fretting and fuming and worrying we do not add one cubit to the length of our lives. As a matter of fact, worrying probably shortens life!

Anxiety is unworthy. It is unacceptable for a Christian to be distracted. The disciple who is anxious about worldly affairs is not fit for the kingdom (cf. Luke 9:57-62). Anxiety is a display of faithlessness and disobeys the specific commandment of Christ prohibiting it. It is shameful for a Christian to worry because it is pagan. The heathen are tossed about by their anxiety over sustaining the flesh. The Greek word meteorizesthe is translated anxious mind. This word is used nowhere else in the N.T. In classical Greek it is used to mean, tossed up and down, or suspended, like a boat in a stormy sea. Christians must not be in suspense about life. Anxiety is characteristic of heathen unbelief. Ceremonial orthodoxy and evangelistic zeal are only hypocrisy if in the financial affairs of life we do not trust God completely. The Christian is a citizen of God’s kingdom. His King is absolutely beneficent. The heavenly Father is infallibly aware of His children’s needs, He has infinite power to equip every individual with everything needed. He promises to do so. If the Christian will seek the kingdom of God as his first (cf. Matthew 6:33) priority, God promises to make possible all the physical necessities for such seeking. The cure for anxiety is simplybelieve God keeps His promises!

Why would Jesus say Fear not little flock? Because there will be few who will ever take seriously His admonitions about worldliness and anxiety! Does Jesus intend His command, Sell your possessions. to be taken literally? Yes! That should be qualified, however, by a consideration of other scriptures. The Lord does expect us to earn our own living (2 Thessalonians 3:12). He does expect us to work at our jobs with our best craftsmanship (cf. Colossians 3:22-23). The Lord expects us, if we are able, to earn our own food, our clothing and our shelter. He will provide health and opportunities to do so. And whatever is necessary (a house, tools, transportation, etc.) to earn our living we should not feel compelled to sell. Should we have more than this, more than we may use for our living, we should sell and give to the poor, or to the work of the kingdom. Anything above what we need is riches. Jesus counsels every would-be follower of His to sell his riches and give them as alms, so the poor may be fed both; physical and spiritual food. We certainly cannot hoard riches in order to buy our way into His kingdom. It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom. All of His kingdom we shall ever have shall be that which is given as a gift.

The Christian is to have a purse that does not grow old. In other words, he is to wear his purse out rapidly from continually opening it to give alms or dispense his riches to others, The Christian is to provide himself with a treasure in heaven that never depreciates, is never lost, never stolen and lasts forever. The only way the Christian can do that is to invest his riches (everything he has left from his basic living) in people (cf. Luke 16:9), because people are all that shall survive this world. The rich man who died and went to torments realized too late that he should have invested his riches in the salvation of others (cf. Luke 16:27-31), rather than squander them on himself. It is a fundamental principle that man gives his life to that which he values most. If one values spiritual things most, his whole heart will be devoted to acquiring spirituality. If a man values the same things heaven values, he will invest his life in things, and heaven is where his desires will focus. We must look to Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross (Hebrews 12:1-2). Let us set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-4). As one commentator has said, … it is the Master’s will that his followers should sit loose to all earthly possessions, possessing them as though they possessed not. The Christian will pray that the Lord give him neither poverty nor riches (Proverbs 30:8-9)!

Luke 12:22-34

Applebury’s Comments

How to be Rich Toward God Scripture

Luke 12:22-34 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. 23 For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment. 24 Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life? 26 If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God doth so clothe the grass in the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more shall he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom, 33 Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

*Comments

Be not anxious for your life*.The man of the parable was overly anxious about eating and drinking and the enjoyment of this life. The disciples could be concerned about the kingdom of God, for they were to enjoy the providential care of God in this life. That did not mean that they didn-’t have to work, but it did mean that they could trust God who provides abundantly for all His creatures. The soul is more important than the food, and the body than the clothing it must have. To illustrate His point, Jesus called attention to God’s care for the birds. They do not plant or reap or have barns in which to store food, but God cares for them. He added, You are of much more value than the birds.

*add a cubit unto the measure of his life.*Anxiety may shorten life, but lengthening it is another thing. Why then be anxious over things? Jesus illustrated this thought by pointing to the lilies of the field and to the fact that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of them.

*cast into the oven.*Dried grass and flowers were used as fuel for the oven where wood may not have been plentiful. God clothes the grass with such glory even though it is to last for a few short months; but how much more will He care for the saints who are destined to live forever with Him in the heavenly kingdom?

*but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.*Jesus did not advocate the extremes of asceticism. He reminded the disciples that the Father knew of their needs and told them what to do that they might be met.

*Yet seek ye his kingdom.*The kingdom of God is eternal and must have first place in the lives of the disciples of Our Lord. It was the good pleasure of the Father to give this kingdom to those who trusted in Him. Jesus challenged them to sell their possessions and give alms, for they were to be concerned about the treasure in heaven that does not fail. When life is overfor that is the point of the lesson based on the parable of the Rich Foolit will be clear why Jesus urged this course upon His disciples in contrast to giving attention to things that perish and do not make one rich toward God.

*For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.*Is your heart set on the things of God or on the things of this life? To be rich toward God is to have the heart set on the glories of His kingdom and the life eternal which the faithful will inherit.

Luke 12:35-48

**Butler’s Comments

SECTION 3

Action as Alertness (Luke 12:35-48)**

35 Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, 36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast, so that they may open to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants! 39But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour.

41 Peter said, Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all? 42And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45But if that servant says to himself, -My master is delayed in coming,-’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. 47And that servant who knew his master’s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. 48But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.

**Luke 12:35-44 Watchful Servants: **In describing what spiritual alterness is, Jesus makes a parabolic contrast between wise and wicked servants. These two parables continue His teaching about proper attitudes toward the things of this world. No servant of the Lord knows when the Lord will return. The Lord’s servant must be constantly alert to his spiritual servanthood. In the first parable the lord (Gr. kurion) of the house went away to a marriage feast. Hour after hour passes, and the master does not return. This man’s faithful servants never go to sleep nor even relax while he is gone. They are watchful. The Greek word gregorountas is translated awake; it means watchful, alert, vigilant. It is the word from which we get the English name, Gregory. Watchfulness in the N.T. means spiritual alertness (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Peter 5:8; Colossians 4:2; Acts 20:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; Revelation 3:2-3; Revelation 16:15, etc.). Watchfulness involves:

a.

Preparation: Common dress in those days (and even among some Arabs today) was long, loose-flowing outer robes. When strenuous labor and alacrity was required, these robes had to be gathered up and the skirt fastened under the belt (girdle). Lamp wicks must be constantly trimmed of the black, sooty burnt portion lest the flame sputter and smoke and the lamp’s light grow dim.

b.

Maturity: Be like men. not like boys, playing at the job. The watchful servant must have enough maturity to stay awake and on the job. They spend their time readying the house for the master’s return. They do not have to be supervised like children; they involve themselves in all kinds of activities even though the night wears on and on.

c.

Alertness: In Jesus-’ day the old Jewish division of the night into three watches had given way to the Roman division of four watches, divided thusly: first watch from six to nine p.m.; second watch from nine to midnight; third watch from midnight to three a.m.; fourth watch from three to six a.m. The faithful servants, and especially the house-master (Gr. oikodespotes, despot-of-the-house) or chief-servant, are on guard even in the midnight hours. Any chief-servant worth trusting would know you cannot anticipate when the thief will decide to break in (Gr. dioruchthenai, dig through the adobe walls of Palestinian houses). The master’s servant must be on guard every moment.

The servants who are watchful will be ready to receive their master the very moment he returns. The master, pleased to find such faithful servants, will treat his servants as friends and equals bidding them to sit (Gr. anaklinei, recline) at his own table and he will minister to their wants. (cf. Revelation 3:21, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne).

Jesus abruptly applies the lesson of the parable to His own Second Coming. All the servants of Christ must constantly apply the principles of these two parables to their discipleship. The Lord’s Second Coming will come as a thief in the night, unexpectedly, unanticipated (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15; Matthew 24:36 -Matthew 25:30).

Peter, impressed by the part of the parable that pictured the lord serving the servants, wants to know if this glorious promotion to equality with the Lord was going to be given to all the apostles, or just a few (like himself). Peter evidently anticipated the same kind of promotion to equality when Jesus was trying to teach humility by washing Peter’s feet (John 13:6-9). Jesus, apparently disregarding Peter’s ambitious question, goes on with His parable, actually answering Peter by correcting his concept of who deserves to be rewarded:

d.

Following Instructions: Who is the faithful servant? It is interesting to note how the Lord started the parable by using the word for slave (Gr. doulosLuke 12:37) and now uses the word for steward or house-servant (Gr. oikonomosLuke 12:42) and the word for attendants (Gr. therapeias, from which we get the English word therapeutic, but translated, household in Luke 12:42). Faithful servants of the Lord are of more value than mere bond-slaves, but they are servants nonetheless. The servants who are considered true friends by the Master are those who administer His affairs (give them their portion) according to His instructions (at the proper time). They do not presume to change the portion or the time on their own-they follow His will, realizing they are only stewardsnot masters.

e.

Serving: Who is the faithful servant. ? The one found so doing. Blessedness will come to those who do faithfulness. Faithfulness starts with an attitude but does not end thereit ends in doing and being. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:17). When the Lord returns and finds His servants being faithful in the small stewardship they have been given, He will then put them in charge of everything He has, for whoever is faithful in very little is faithful also in much (cf. Luke 16:10).

Watchfulness is not trying to guess when the Master may return-but it is serving faithfully until He does return.

Luke 12:45-48 Wicked Servants: In the second parable (or the second part of the one parable) Jesus characterizes spiritual negligence:

a.

Subjectivism: The wicked servant says to himself (Gr. en te kardia autou, in his heart). The only righteous and infallible guidance for spiritual alertness is in the revealed will of the Lordnot in the subjective thoughts of a man’s own mind (cf. Jeremiah 17:5-6; Jeremiah 17:9-10). This was the wicked servant’s first mistakeand so it is of many a man. To follow human reason and human emotion is spiritual disaster.

b.

Unbelieving: The wicked servant said, My master is delaying. he is not coming very soon. This servant does not believe the master’s warning that he may return at any moment. This servant’s company is with the unfaithful (Luke 12:46), the unbelieving, the distrusting and distrustful.

c.

Exploitation: The wicked servant began to cruelly abuse his fellowservants. This wicked servant lives only by force. When his master is absent and no longer controlling him by force, he is ungovernable. Motivated only by force himself, he thinks that all others must be forced to serve. He is of a perverse and an unmerciful nature. He will use and abuse people and things for his own disadvantage.

d.

Self-Indulgent: The wicked servant began to eat and drink and get drunk. The master had left him in charge of his house to protect his possessions and promote the well-being of his estate. The wicked servant shows how little he cares for the master by indulging himself until he is senselessly drunk. The servant is not only of no benefit to his master, he is a menace.

e.

Unprepared: The wicked servant did not make ready (Luke 12:47). How could hehe was too busy abusing the other servants and drinking himself into a stupor. Either the servant watches for his master’s return which requires sobriety and honor and respector he becomes engrossed in watching out for himself. Self-indulgence tends to blind a person to reality. The master surprised the wicked servant.

f.

Not Following Instructions: The wicked servant did not act according to his knowledge of the master’s will. All servants are responsible to know the master’s will. If they do not know his will, they will be punished; if they do know his will and disobey it they will be punished.

Wicked servants who take what their master has entrusted to them as stewards and try to use it, abuse it and hoard it for themselves, will be punished. The Greek word translated punished is dichotomesei and means, to cut asunderit is the word from which we get the English word, dichotomy.

Jesus makes it plain (Luke 12:47-48) that reward will be according to faithfulness. Much has been conjectured about reward and punishment in the life to come. Certain things are clearly perceived from the scriptures:

a.

God does not judge according to human standards (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7; Isaiah 55:8; John 7:27; Jeremiah 17:10; 2 Corinthians 10:12). God judges according to motives (cf. Matthew 6:1 ff.; Matthew 23:27; Hebrews 4:12-13), and intentions.

b.

Faithfulness is God’s criterion for judgment; not how much was known or how much was accomplished. The wicked servant was punished because he was unfaithful to what he did know. The servants of the parables of the Talents and Pounds were rewarded according to faithful use of what they had been givennot according to what they had not been given.

c.

It is a fact of life that some people are given greater opportunities and capacities to know the will of God and to use it than others are. Perhaps reward and punishment will have to do with a man’s capacity and opportunity to desire, appreciate and give himself to goodor to evil.

d.

One thing is certainall who do not believe and prepare for the Master’s return are considered to be wicked servants and they will be punished according to their choice to disregard His return.

One very important thing a faithful servant will do continually is take inventory of how much he has been entrusted with in order that he may calculate how much he will be called to account forand he will act according to his inventory!

Applebury’s Comments

The Coming of the Son of Man Scripture

Luke 12:35-48 Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; 36 and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. 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 sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

41 And Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even unto all? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. 45 But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; 48 but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.

*Comments

Let your loins be girded*.This is the familiar figure of one gathering up the long flowing robes worn in that day and binding them about the body so as to be able to move without hindrance. It came to be a symbol of alertness and readiness for action. Jesus warned of the need to be alert, since His coming is at an unknown time.

The rich fool of the parable is still under consideration, for he illustrates the one who is not prepared for the future life. The account of the marriage feast and the coming of the bridegroom as given in Matthew 25:1-13 illustrates the point.

*in what hour the thief was coming.*Paul used this figure in relation to the Second Coming: For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Since His coming is at an unknown hour, it is necessary to watch and be ready at all times. The rich fool of the parable did not know when his life would end or when he would be called upon to give account of himself to God. The Lord has delayed His coming through this time of God’s longsuffering, but no one knows when it will end or when his time to prepare will be over. Of one thing we are sure: the Lord is coming! Be ye also ready.

*unto us, or even unto all?*Peter’s question had to do with the story of the thief at night that showed the necessity of faithfulness in view of the unknown time of Christ’s coming. Did it refer to the apostles or to all the people?

Jesus did not answer directly with no or yes. He did answer in a manner that let Peter know that He was talking primarily to the apostles. They were to be wise stewards taking care of the Master’s household while He was away. See 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 for Paul’s lesson on the necessity of faithfulness on the part of the apostles and others who share the responsibility of caring for the church of the Lord.

*But if that servant shall say in his heart.*Jesus often presented both sides of an issue. His disciples were to be faithful and wise stewards, but if they should be unfaithful there was punishment awaiting them, Did Peter remember this lesson when he denied that he had never known such a person as Jesus?

many stripes. few stripes.The degrees of punishment have to do with the servants: willful unfaithfulness merits many stripes; ignorance, few. But all unfaithfulness is punishable.

Does this passage teach degrees of punishment in hell? No wise servant should have to learn the lesson by experience. That punishment is too awful for the mind to fully appreciate just how terrible it is. The wise person will do all that is necessary to avoid it completely. Hell is prepared for the devil and his angels. No one who commits himself to the Lord and remains faithful will experience its pain and anguish, for there is the crown of life for those who are faithful to the Lord until death (Revelation 2:10).

The Parable of the Pounds (Luke 19:11-27) suggests that there will be a difference in the rewards to the faithful, perhaps that they are to be in proportion to the ability to enjoy them. But to be in the kingdom of heaven will be reward enough (2 Peter 1:10-11).

Luke 12:49-53

Applebury’s Comments

The Mission of the Son of Man Scripture

Luke 12:49-53 I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is already kindled? 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51 Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law.

*Comments

I came to cast fire.*The lesson about the purpose of His mission came directly out of what He had just said about faithfulness. It was no easy task to which His servants had been called. Some, no doubt, thought that the reign of the Messiah would be one of peace and easy living. Some were looking for a temporal kingdom that would provide an abundance of foodthey had a sample when He fed them on the loaves and fish. But actually for many His kingdom was to be marked by persecution, bitterness, hardship, want and death. See Paul’s description of what it meant for him to serve Christ (2 Corinthians 4:7-11; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

Fire is used as a symbol of purification in some instances, but in this context Jesus meant the destructive power of fire. There was to be strife in families because of Him; some would be for Him and others would oppose Him bitterly.

*if it is already kindled?*Jesus came to cast fire upon the earth. That fire was already kindled, for people were taking sides for or against Him, Some of the Pharisees were plotting to kill Him. But He continued to challenge His disciples to a life of complete dedication to Him. Many were responding by taking up their cross daily and following Him.

*But I have a baptism.*Jesus-’ mission was to start men thinking about Him. The sacrifice on the cross was one thing He still had to accomplish. There were many things pressing upon Him which He had to care for before He could do this last thing the Father had given to accomplish (John 10:18; John 17:4; John 19:30). For one thing, He had to prepare His disciples for their mission of taking the Word of the Cross into all the world.

Jesus reminded the disciples that they must share His experience (Mark 10:38). There was a cross in the mission of the Master, and there was a cross in the mission of His servants.

Luke 12:49-59

**Butler’s Comments

SECTION 4

Attitudes That Aid Alertness (Luke 12:49-59)**

49 I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!50I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! 51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; 52for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; 53they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

54 He also said to the multitudes, When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, -A shower is coming-’; and so it happens. 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, -There will be scorching heat-’; and it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

57 And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper.

**Luke 12:39-53 Determination: **The incarnate work of redemption which Jesus Christ would accomplish on the cross and in the resurrection would be the ultimate touchstone between truth and falsehoodbetween good and evil. His death and resurrection would be the final judgment upon unbelief. He would bring the final separation between sheep and goats, saved and lost, wise and unwise. The fire Jesus says He came to bring probably refers to the prophecy in Malachi 3:1-4. There it is predicted that the Messiah will come to the world to sit as a refiner’s fire and fuller’s soap to purify the sons of Levi. This prophecy predicts the Messiah’s first coming because it is in the same context which predicts the coming of Messiah’s forerunner (Luke 3:1). Fire, in this instance, symbolizes purging or purifying. Messiah’s death purifies and purges all who will believe from all who will not believe. Messiah’s death is the great crucible of humanity. God judges all humanity according to its response to His Son. Those who obey the Son are God’s precious possession; all who disobey the Son are dross and refuse to be destroyed.

This holocaust of suffering the second death which the Perfect Son chose to endure constantly immersed Him in pressure. He was determined that it would be accomplished (cf. Hebrews 5:8-9; Hebrews 10:1-5; Hebrews 12:1-2), but the longer it took to be completed, the more intense became the temptation to refuse it. The prospect of His suffering for the sin of the world was a perpetual Gethsemane for Jesus, (John 12:27-28; Luke 22:39-46). He would gladly have done with it immediatelybut God’s will decreed, Not yet. The Greek word baptisma is used by Jesus to characterize His atonement. Jesus would be immersed in death: He would take all the second death, be immersed in punishment for sin; that is what the word baptisma meansimmersion. Anything short of that meaning would be ridiculous respecting Christ’s death. That is how the word should be exclusively interpreted when it refers to Christian baptism (immersion; not sprinkling or pouring).

The Greek word sunechomai, literally means, come together with, and is translated constrained. It means press together or pressure. Jesus experienced pressure as no other human being ever experienced it. There was no reason for Him to die; He could claim eternal life by right of His perfect obedience to God’s will. No one could take His life from HimHe had power to lay it down and take it up if He wished. It was not fair, not just, not right that He should die for someone else’s sins. But it was perfect, infinite, unadulterated love that determined He would! What pressure!

This infinite love and grace becomes the infallible rule by which all mankind will be judged. Jesus-’ death divides the world into believers and unbelievers. Upon no other point (besides the resurrection, of course) are we to decide who are believers and unbelievers. Those who do not decide to believe and accept His blood for their sins will oppose and persecute those who do. Jesus-’ death does not bring peace (as men think of peaceabsence of trial and testing)it brings division and a sword (cf. Matthew 10:34). The servant who wishes to be found watching may have to choose against his own family if it is so required to remain faithful to Christ. The water of Christian baptism is thicker than human blood-ties. Not even genetic relationship must stand in the way of loyalty to Christ. The highest human relationships must become secondary to the highest of all relationshipssonship to God, through discipleship with Jesus. Immersion of oneself in such complete self-sacrifice will require the determination of faith Jesus Himself exercised in the baptism with which He was baptized. Self must die; Jesus must be formed in us (Galatians 2:20-21; Galatians 3:26-27; Galatians 4:19).

**Luke 12:54-59 Discernment: **Jesus chides the multitudes with the admonition to use the same intensity discerning the spiritual time as they do in discerning the weather. Heat and drought, wind and rain, affected the prospects of wheat-harvest, the vine-yield, and the fruitfulness of orchards and olive trees. The Jews probably made amateur forecasts of the weather every day just as the modern farmer does. The weather of Palestine is less variable than in most European and American countries. Jewish farmers and others made it their daily routine to check and try to read the signs indicating what the weather would be. If a cloud rose in the west, it would be bringing rain in off the Mediterranean Sea; if a wind blew from the south and east, it would be bringing scorching, drying wind in off the desert. They paid attention to these signs. But, just like men today, they seemed to be oblivious to spiritual signals all around them.

Why is it that men exert great effort, display expertise and logic in forecasting the weather (practicing law, medicine, constructing machines and buildings) but cannot arrive at the historical, logical deduction that Jesus is who He claims to bethe divine Son of God, God in the flesh? It is a moral problem! The facts that pertain to the weather, etc., are facts that do not demand a moral commitment; the second are facts which do! The facts of agriculture and buildings have to do with selfish accumulation of worldly riches; the second facts demand renunciation of worldly riches. Jesus made this same criticism earlier in His ministry (cf. Matthew 16:3).

What signs should they have been able to discern of the spiritual crisis surrounding them? Undoubtedly Jesus was referring to the very plain fulfillments of Old Testament prophecies then occurring in His incarnation. Micah 5:2 predicted His birth and messiahship; Isaiah 52:1-15; Isaiah 53:1-12 predicted what countenance the Messiah would present to the world; Isaiah 61:1-3 predicted the Messiah’s ministry (cf. Luke 4:16-32); Malachi predicted the Messiah and His forerunner (Malachi 3:1-4; Malachi 4:5-6; Isaiah 40:3-5); Daniel 9:24-27 predicted the precise time in history when the Messiah should be expected to appear and certain political signs that should be looked for. Then, there was the recent ministry of John the Baptist as a sign of the Messiah’s time. Finally, there were all the miracles and teachings Jesus Himself had been doing (even raising the dead). How, in the name of all that is logical, empirical, honest and practical could men not interpret (discern) the present time?

The same admonition applies to the world of unbelievers today. Wake up, be alert and watchful, and apply your minds and hearts to discern the signs of history. Declare that God came in the flesh in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. God’s Son accomplished redemption and offers it to all men by faith and obedience to His New Covenant terms. They are there in His divinely inspired New Covenant scriptures for all to read and understand. Judge for yourself what is right, true and finalwhile there is still time:

a.

Every man must judge what is right and true for himselfwe cannot decide for one another.

b.

There is only a certain amount of time to make our choice about truthToday is the only day we really have to choose.

c.

We must settle with the Judge about our sins before we are taken into the court of no appeal. We settle about our sins by accepting the blood of the Judge’s Son as atonement. We do this by faith and obedience to His commandments.

d.

It will be too late when we stand before the Judge. Then the only thing left is eternal imprisonment, because imperfect men can never pay the perfect price required for fellowship with a perfect God.

e.

The next discourses of Jesus (Luke, chapter 13) will tell men how to settle with the Judge about their sins.

STUDY STIMULATORS:

What is the leaven of the Pharisees? Since there are no longer any Pharisees, do Christians today need to beware of this? Why?

Do you think God is aware and involved in the minute details of your life? How does that make you feel toward God?

Have you ever been tempted to doubt or deny that Jesus was God in the flesh? What do you think made you be temptedpersecution? human opinions?

What is the unpardonable sin? Do you think it is possible to commit that sin today? How?

What is covetousness? Why does the Lord say it is idolatry? Why is a man a fool to covet? How may covetousness be overcome in your life?

Are you ever anxious? Is it a sin to be anxious? Can you help it? How?

Name five characteristics of a watchful servant of the Lord.

Characterize the wicked servanthave you ever been one? When?

Do you think the Lord will reward or punish all people the same? Why?

What are the two attitudes that aid spiritual alertness? Are you cultivating these two attitudes in your daily walk with Christ?

Luke 12:54-59

Applebury’s Comments

Signs of the Coming Storm Scripture

Luke 12:54-59 And he said to the multitudes also, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it cometh to pass. 55 And when ye see a south wind blowing, ye say, There will be a scorching heat; and it cometh to pass. 56 Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time? 57 And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? 58 For as thou art going with thine adversary before the magistrate, on the way give diligence to be quit of him; let haply he drag thee unto the judge, and the judge shall deliver thee to the officer, and the officer shall cast thee into prison. 59 I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the very last mite.

*Comments

When you see a cloud rising.*Jesus had just been telling the disciples what His earthly mission would do to their lives and to the lives of others who would take sides for or against Him. He also warned the crowds about the coming storm.

People were able to read weather signs, why couldn-’t they interpret the signs that pointed to the rejection of the Son of God and the resulting destruction that was coming upon Jerusalem? The setting of this whole lesson is the bitter opposition to Jesus expressed by the Pharisees and lawyers (Luke 11:52 to Luke 12:1).

*And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?*With all the evidence about them, why couldn-’t they make the right decision by themselves? That decision called for them to align themselves with Christ; for if they let the matter go before God the Judge of heaven, they would lose their case. And many of them did just that (Luke 19:42). Before Pilate they rejected their King, and on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit spoke through the apostles and charged them with the guilt of having crucified Him whom God made both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:23; Acts 2:36).

*with thine adversary before the magistrate.*The crowds were in danger of considering Christ as their adversary. He appealed to them to settle the issue before it was too late.

In Matthew 5:25, the same figure is used, but there it refers to the necessity of brethren adjusting their differences before attempting to approach God in worship.

*Thou shalt by no means come out.*A person in debtor’s prison had no possible way of earning money to effect his release. There is no escape from the final state of punishment into which sinner must go.

Summary

The scribes and Pharisees continued their attack on Jesus after leaving the house where He had dined with the Pharisee. This became the occasion for His warning to the disciples. The false teaching of the Pharisees was like leaven, transforming all who came in contact with it into hypocrites like the Pharisees. But their hypocrisy was exposed by Jesus. For the encouragement of the disciples, Jesus told them about God’s protective care. He called on them to acknowledge Him even in face of all the threats of their enemies. He reminded them that the Holy Spirit would teach them what to say in the hour of need. A man came to Jesus asking Him to tell his brother to divide their inheritance. Jesus told the story of the man God called a fool, He pointed out that life does not consist in possessions; the important thing is to be rich toward God. Jesus explained they could be rich in this way; it meant putting the kingdom of God first, for He said, where your treasure is, there will be your heart also. Since life is temporary, it is necessary to be alert to avoid being caught unprepared when the Lord comes again. When He comes, He will reward the faithful and punish the wicked. His mission was like kindling a fire. Already there was the struggle going on between members of one’s own family over their relation to Him. Jesus chided the multitudes for their inability to see what was about to happen to them. He urged them to agree with Him before it was too late, for there will be no escape from punishment on the Judgment Day for those who fail to acknowledge Him before men.

Questions

What was the occasion of Jesus-’ warning about the leaven of the Pharisees?

What was it that had caused the crowds to gather at this time?

Why did Jesus say that the leaven of the Pharisees was hypocrisy?

What important lesson did Paul teach using the figure of leaven to illustrate it?

How can leaven be used as a symbol of false teaching and also of teaching that is true?

What effect does the truth of the Gospel have on those who hear it and obey it?

What did Jesus do about the hypocritical teaching of the Pharisees?

What did Jesus tell the apostles to do about what He taught them?

Why did He say that they were not to be afraid of them that kill the body?

Of whom were they to be afraid? Why?

What lesson did He teach by calling attention to the sparrows?

What lesson did He teaching by calling attention to the fact that the hairs of their heads were numbered?

Why did Jesus demand allegiance from His disciples?

What examples are given in the Scriptures of men confessing their faith in Him even in face of death?

Why could a word spoken against the Son be forgiven when blasphemy against the Holy Spirit couldn-’t?

What is this unforgivable sin?

What would the Holy Spirit do for the apostles when they were brought before the authorities of the synagogues?

How does God provide for the answers we may be called on to give today?

What was the request of the man from the crowd?

Why didn-’t Jesus do as the man requested?

What important lesson did Jesus teach by the story of the man God called a fool?

What foolish thing was the man doing?

What was his fatal mistake?

What does it mean to be rich toward God?

What is one to do to become rich toward God?

What did Jesus tell the disciples that would keep them from being anxious about food and clothing?

What can anxiety to for life? What can-’t it do?

What is the Father’s concern about man’s need for food and clothing?

How does one seek first the kingdom of God?

What did Jesus say about the heart and treasure?

What is meant by Let your loins be girded?

Why did Jesus liken His coming to a thief in the night?

Why did Peter want to know if Jesus was talking to all or just to the apostles?

How did He answer Peter’s question?

What is the lesson of the unfaithful servant?

What about degrees of punishment?

What did Jesus mean by casting fire upon the earth?

In what way was it already kindled?

What did He mean when He said, I have a baptism?

What warning did Jesus give the crowds which He based on their ability to read the weather signs?

What storm warnings should they have been able to see?

What did He mean by saying that they should agree with their adversary?