Morning Bible Study: Luke 12:1-12

Before Advent, we were reading the Gospel of Luke. We left off at the beginning of Luke 12.

Beware of Religious Hypocrisy

12:1 Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He [Jesus] began to say to his disciples first, “Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 

2 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. 

3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops."

Fear God

4 “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 

5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! 

6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies [Lit two assaria; a small copper coin]? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 

7 Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

Acknowledging Christ

8 “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God, 

9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 

10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 

11 Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 

12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”

Commentary

(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, 1706 -- www.christianity.com)

"Christ reproves the interpreters of the law.

A firm belief of the doctrine of God's universal providence, and the extent of it, would satisfy us when in peril, and encourage us to trust God in the way of duty. Providence takes notice of the meanest creatures, even of the sparrows, and therefore of the smallest interests of the disciples of Christ. 

Those who confess Christ now, shall be owned by him in the great day, before the angels of God. To deter us from denying Christ, and deserting his truths and ways, we are here assured that those who deny Christ, though they may thus save life itself, and though they may gain a kingdom by it, will be great losers at last; for Christ will not know them, will not own them, nor show them favor. But let no trembling, penitent backslider doubt of obtaining forgiveness. This is far different from the determined enmity that is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall never be forgiven, because it will never be repented of."