The Way - Day 012 (Luke 12)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Luke 12:1-12
Jesus continues His warnings concerning the Pharisees and says, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops" (12:1-3). When Jesus referred to the Pharisees as hypocrites, He was declaring that although they appeared to be one way on the outside, they were totally different on the inside. Jesus promised that all things, even those things done in private, would eventually be exposed. The Pharisees believed that the external is what mattered most, but Jesus declared the heart must be pure in order for the actions to be pure also.

Jesus went on to teach His followers to be fearless in the face of those who could supposedly kill the body (12:4); instead of fearing what man could do to them, they should fear God because He has the ability to destroy not only the body, but the soul in hell (12:5). Jesus' followers did not need to fear other men because God had promised to take care of them; in fact, Jesus reminded His disciples that man is very valuable to God and would therefore protect him during times of trial and difficulty (12:6-7). After exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and His promise to protect those who would believe in Him, Jesus asked those who were listening to make a choice concerning their belief in Him. Jesus says to them, "...whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God" (12:8-9). When every man stands before God in judgment one day, those who have internally and externally demonstrated their belief in Jesus will be spared eternal judgment; but those who have lived in hypocrisy, unbelief, and denial of the truth will be rejected by God. The type of denial Jesus is speaking of here is not a momentary wavering of faith in Him, but an outright and continual rejection resulting from being ashamed of Him or being rebellious against the truth. Jesus then says, "And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven" (12:10). This verse is often misunderstood by those who believe that once they have spoken a blasphemous word against God ("I hate You," or "I don't want You in my life"), they cannot be forgiven; however, this verse actually speaks about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, which has nothing to do with words but a condition of the heart. When a person's heart rejects the truth about salvation and hope through the death and resurrection of Jesus, he is expressing a heart of unbelief concerning those things God has already said are true. In reality, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a failure to believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only way to be saved from the power and penalty of sin.

There were many who did believe in Jesus as the One promised to save people from their sin and they would be guaranteed God's presence during times of trial. The indwelling Holy Spirit would teach them what to say in the face of their persecutors and they did not have to ever worry about being alone (12:11-12).

Luke 12:13-34
A great crowd had gathered to see Jesus (12:1) and He spoke to them concerning the importance of fearing God rather than man (12:2-12). After finishing His teaching, a man from the crowd spoke up saying, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me" (12:13). This man was asking for Jesus to intervene so that his brother would divide up the inheritance which was not really due to him (the man speaking). Jesus refused to intervene in this circumstance (12:14) and decided to instruct the people regarding greed or covetousness saying, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (12:15). In order to further help the people understand the dangers of greed, Jesus tells a parable about a rich farmer whose crops had yielded so much that he no longer had room to store his harvest (12:16-17). The rich farmer decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones in order to house his crops and goods (12:18) and he then said, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry" (12:19). Although there is nothing inherently wrong with being rich, the farmer found his pleasure and security in the things he possessed. Jesus called this man a "fool" because when he died that night, his money and possessions would have no benefit to him (12:20). Jesus compared this rich farmer to those who spend their entire life seeking to acquire more things for themselves instead of being "rich toward God" (12:21). Being rich toward God carries the idea of using what we possess in order to build the things which are at the heart of God.

Turning to His disciples Jesus commands them not to worry about those things which are necessary to live because God has promised to provide these things for those who love Him (12:22-30). God takes care of the birds (12:24-26) and the flowers (12:27-30) and He has promised to also take care of man's basic needs so there is no need to worry. Since God has promised to provide the basic necessities of man, Jesus challenges them to "...seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you" (12:31). Jesus knew that many people worry about food, clothing, and pleasure while forgetting about those things which are most important, so He commanded His followers not to waste their lives acquiring useless things (12:32-33). How a person uses their money and possessions reveals the true condition of their heart; in fact, Jesus says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (12:34). Examine your heart today to see if you are using what God has given you to gratify selfish pleasures or to invest in the things of God.

Luke 12:35-48
Although Jesus had not died, resurrected, or ascended into heaven at this time, He would soon be leaving earth (Acts 1:9-11) and many would be left wondering if He would return as He promised (John 14:1-4). Jesus repeatedly promised that He would return one day, but He warned His followers to always be ready because the timing of His return would not be known. Scripture teaches concerning two returns of Jesus - the rapture (John 14:3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and the second coming, which will take place following the seven year tribulation period (Revelation 20:1-6). Rather than attempting to speculate about which return Jesus is referring to here (although I believe it is His second coming), it is important not to miss His overall teaching. People would have a tendency to question Jesus' timing or if He really would return, but Jesus assured them that He would. The first time He will return (in the clouds/rapture) will be to take all those who believe to heaven with Him and the second time He returns (to earth) He will set up His kingdom for 1,000 years. Regardless of when Jesus will return, He calls all people to be ready. In order to illustrate the importance of being ready for His return, Jesus tells a parable of several servants awaiting their master's return from a wedding (12:35-36). Those servants were to be watchful at all times so they could be ready to open the door when their master arrived at home (12:37-38). Jesus summed up His teaching by saying, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (12:40). Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ should have their lives in order before God and make sure they are living in a manner pleasing to Him; however, those who do not believe in Jesus should be reminded that He will return and will judge those who have rejected Him.

In response to what Jesus has taught, Peter asks, "Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?" (12:41). Jesus does not answer Peter's questions directly, but instead tells the parable of a "faithful and wise steward" (12:42) who is found doing right when the master returns (12:43-44). On the other hand, if a servant thinks that his master has delayed his coming and "...begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk...," Jesus says that that servant will face his master "...on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him [the servant] in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers" (12:45-46). The faithful and wise servant illustrates a genuine follower of Jesus Christ, while the unfaithful servant represents a person who may profess belief in Christ but whose life does not demonstrate it. Jesus gives out a warning to the unfaithful servant saying, "And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more" (12:47-48). These verses provide the basis that there will be varying degrees of punishment in hell. Those who have heard of the Son of Man's coming, yet rejected Him, will face greater judgment than those who did not know.

 
Luke 12:49-13:9
 In Luke 12:49-53 Jesus warns those who would choose to follow Him about the possibilities of being misunderstood. Although Christ came to earth in order to bring hope and salvation, He would eventually bring judgment upon those who rejected Him as Savior (12:49). In offering salvation to all people and calling judgment upon those who didn't receive salvation, many would misunderstand Jesus' ministry; in fact, He would later be put to death for spreading the truth (12:50), so a decision to believe in the words of Jesus could result in a person being ostracized from their family (12:51-53). Following Christ comes with a cost. The problem with many listening to Jesus' words was that their hearts were hardened to the truth. Although they could discern natural signs in the world such as an approaching storm (12:54-55), they ignored the spiritual signs which revealed that Jesus was truly the promised Messiah. Jesus makes it very apparent that some who were listening to Him were headed for judgment because they were the enemies of God. Repentance and faith in Jesus were the only things which could place them in a right relationship with God, but instead they trusted in their good deeds. Illustrating His point about the importance of being reconciled with God and avoiding future judgment, Jesus says, "When you go with your adversary to the magistrate [judge], make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite" (12:57-59). A person who is going to court against an earthly opponent should do his best to reconcile before he stands before the judge and, in the same way, an individual should do everything he can to reconcile with God before He faces judgment.

In Luke 13:1-9 Jesus further discusses the necessity of repentance and reconciliation in order to avoid judgment. It appears that many people in Jesus' day believed that judgment and unexpected death only befell those who were guilty of some serious transgression (13:1-2, 4); however, Jesus reminded them that "unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (13:3, 5). Judgment was certain for all who did not repent of sin. To illustrate coming judgment as well as God's patience, Jesus tells a story about a man who planted a fig tree in his vineyard, but it did not bear fruit for three years so he told the keeper of the vineyard to cut it down (13:6-7). Instead of cutting the fig tree down, the keeper asked the owner of the vineyard to be patient for one more year so he could "fertilize it" (13:8). After that year if the fig tree did not bear fruit, the owner could cut it down (13:9). The owner of the vineyard is God, the keeper of the vineyard is Jesus, and the fig tree represents all people. God has been patient with sinners and is awaiting them to repent so that He can free them from coming judgment. The choice seems obvious. Jesus has done everything necessary to reconcile sinners to God through His sacrificial death and resurrection. He now waits for you to repent of sin and believe in Him as the only way for salvation.

Dear God, thank You for being patient with sinners and extending Your undeserved mercy to us. Help those delaying repentance and belief to embrace Your forgiveness and mercy so that they can avoid coming judgment.