Luke 12

 

Fear God, Not People

12:1 Meanwhile, when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 

 

Jesus was a celebrity. Crowds pressed in on him wherever he traveled. Jesus warned the disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees. Yeast was a symbol of evil which was mixed with good. The Pharisees were mixing truth with error, just as Satan did in the Garden of Eden.

 

12:2 Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 

The deceptions of Satan can only be detected through mastery of Bible doctrine. Those who do not master Bible doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God will not be illuminated until Christ returns and illuminates them Himself.

 

12:3 So then whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

 

The gospel was not a Greco-Roman mystery religion which was hidden in the dark. It was not a Mason secret society which only revealed illumination to its most loyal initiates. The gospel was to be proclaimed loudly and publicly to all Jews and Gentiles. The gospel was for everyone. 

 

12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do. 

 

Satan will send out his own to purge believers out of this world. However, Satan is on a leash and he can only kill off those who have been called by God for martyrdom. If a believer is to face martyrdom, then the executioner is not to be feared. All the executioner can do is send one into the presence of Christ.

 

12:5 But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

 

The unbelievers should quit fearing men and fear God. God has the power to throw the unbeliever into hell.

 

12:6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 

 

God is so sovereign, that He feeds, protects, and takes care of every single sparrow on the earth.

 

12:7 In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

 

God is so sovereign, that He knows how many hairs are on the head of every single person or beast who has ever lived.

 

12:8 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before God’s angels. 

 

The Son of Man was the messianic title given to Jesus by the prophet Daniel. Whoever acknowledges Christ before man will be acknowledged by Christ before angels. 

 

12:9 But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels. 

 

Christ-rejecters will be rejected by Christ before angels. The unbelievers will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment. They will be sentenced to eternal death in the Lake of Fire.

 

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

 

The Pharisees were being convicted that Jesus was the Messiah, but they rejected the witness of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this rejection would send them to the Lake of Fire forever. 

 

12:11 But when they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defense or what you should say, 12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you must say.”

 

All of the disciples would be brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities. This was part of their calling. The Holy Spirit will give them the right words to say.

 

The Parable of the Rich Landowner

12:13 Then someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 

 

The brothers were arguing over material possessions.

 

12:14 But Jesus said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?” 

 

Jesus was judge, but He delegates much of His authority to elders. Elders are to study Bible doctrine and apply its teachings in their decisions.

 

12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 

 

Jesus warned the two brothers about being seduced by greediness.

 

12:16 He then told them a parable: “The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, 

 

The rich man was an unbeliever who spent his whole lifetime accumulating wealth.

 

12:17 so he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 

 

The rich man possessed an abundance of crops, meaning an abundance of wealth.

 

12:18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 

 

God gave this rich man his abundance. The rich man should have used the material blessings given to him for the building up of the kingdom of God.

 

12:19 And I will say to myself, “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 

 

The rich man felt security in his wealth.

 

12:20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 

 

The rich man was foolish. He would not be able to take any of this wealth into eternity.

 

12:21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”

 

Wealthy men who build up material empires without recognizing that it was given to them by God are foolish. They have fallen into the devil’s trap. They are wasting their lives on the things of the satanic world system.

 

Exhortation Not to Worry

12:22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 

 

Jesus has promised food, shelter, and clothing to all of His disciples, unless they are to wear the martyr’s crown.

 

12:23 For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. 

 

The foolish members of the satanic world system have built up materialistic empires on food and clothing.

 

12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! 

 

If God takes care of ravens, then He will take care of His elect. The elect of God were predestined before the foundations of the world to perform a task to glorify God. Who can stop them?

 

12:25 And which of you by worrying can add an hour to his life? 

 

Worry is a sin.

 

12:26 So if you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about the rest? 

 

Worry is not trusting in God to fulfill His purpose in His elect

 

12:27 Consider how the flowers grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 

 

Since God clothes the flowers, then He will also clothe His own children.

 

12:28 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you people of little faith! 

 

If God clothes the grass, then He will also clothe His own children.

 

12:29 So do not be overly concerned about what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things. 

 

God will provide food and drink to His children.

 

12:30 For all the nations of the world pursue these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 

 

All of the nations of the world must have food, shelter, and clothing. God will provide these three things to His children. The devil is to provide food, clothing, and shelter to his own. If a Christ-rejecting nation is starving, then the Christian community needs to allow Satan to feed his own people. 

 

12:31 Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

 

The children of God are to pursue the kingdom of God. While on this pursuit, God will provide the necessary items for the journey.

 

12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom. 

 

Sheep are not very smart, not very strong, and not very fast. However, they have the Good Shepherd looking over them. When the Good Shepherd starts with 100 sheep, then He finishes with 100 sheep. God will not lose any of His elect. If they stray off, God will bring them back into the fold.

 

12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 

 

All of the wealth belongs to God. Wealth is given to others so that they can provide for others, just as God provides for them. No one can take their material wealth into heaven.

 

12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

Man either has a treasure on earth that will be corrupted, or he has a treasure in heaven which cannot be corrupted.

 

Call to Faithful Stewardship

12:35 “Get dressed for service and keep your lamps burning; 

 

Clothes are provided to God’s children so that they can shine the light of God to others.

 

12:36 be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 

 

The Rapture is imminent. The bridegroom can return for His bride at any moment.

 

12:37 Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, have them take their place at the table, and will come and wait on them! 

 

When Christ returns at the Rapture, He will have a great reward for His faithful servants.

 

12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, blessed are those slaves! 

 

The second watch was from 9 p.m. to midnight. The third watch was from midnight to 3 a.m. Even if it takes a long time for the bridegroom to return, He will still reward His faithful servants.

 

12:39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 

 

If everyone knew when Jesus was returning, then they would just live in sin, and then repent moments before He returned.

 

12:40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

 

The Second Coming of Jesus will occur exactly seven years after the Antichrist signs the peace treaty with Israel and three and a half years after the Antichrist steps into the temple and declares himself to be God. The Rapture is imminent. Christ can return at any time. Therefore, the Second Coming of Christ and the Rapture of the church are two different events.

 

12:41 Then Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 

 

Peter wanted to know if Christ would return in the disciple’s lifetime or any time in history after the disciple’s death.

 

12:42 The Lord replied, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 

 

Jesus answered Peter’s question with a parable. The wise manager does not tell his servants when he will return. Then, the workers would be lazy and they would only tidy up right before the master’s return.

 

12:43 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns. 

 

If the master returns at any time, and if he finds his servant working when he returns, then the master will bless the servant.

 

12:44 I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. 

 

The master has a servant that he can trust. Those who are working when Christ returns will be placed in charge of large territories of the Millennial Kingdom.

 

12:45 But if that slave should say to himself, ‘My master is delayed in returning,’ and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 12:46 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 12:47 That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating.

 

Unbelievers will be sent into the Lake of Fire. Baby Christians and carnal Christians will keep their eternal life, but lose their eternal rewards.

 

12:48 But the one who did not know his master’s will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.

 

Light creates responsibility. Those who are given more light will be expected to do more for the kingdom of God.

 

Not Peace, but Division

12:49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth – and how I wish it were already kindled! 

 

Jesus will bring the Millennial Kingdom to some, but He will bring the Lake of Fire to many.

 

12:50 I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! 

 

The baptism that Jesus must undergo is martyrdom.

 

12:51 Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 

 

There is no neutrality in the Kingdom of God. Jesus will knock the neutral person off the fence.

 

12:52 For from now on there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three. 

 

In the Jewish households, some will follow Jesus as the Messiah and some will not.

 

12:53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

 

When Jewish family members believe on Jesus, then the rest of the family pronounces them dead and gives them a funeral.

 

Reading the Signs

12:54 Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and it does. 

 

Clouds foreshadow rain.

 

12:55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is. 

 

Winds from the south bring heat waves upon Israel.

 

12:56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how to interpret the present time?

 

The Jewish leaders were hypocrites. They knew how to interpret the weather from different signs, but they could not interpret the prophetic signs of the times.

 

Clear the Debts

12:57 “And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 

 

The Jewish judges were corrupt.

 

12:58 As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 

 

The court system was so corrupt, that Jesus warned the accused to make a deal with the accuser before they entered into the corrupt courtroom.

 

12:59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!”

 

If the accused does not strike a deal, then the accused will not have a chance in court. He will be declared guilty and he will have to pay the most expensive fine, even if he is innocent.