LUKE 12:1-21 WARNING The Pharisees and lawyers were so incensed against the Lord Jesus Christ, they tried to provoke Him by any means to do something they could legally kill Him for. They created a violent scene deliberately, but to no avail. The bumping, jostling crowd of people didn't stop the Lord from giving instructions to the disciples who would experience these very things in their ministry for the Lord after He went back to heaven. The Pharisees were appearing to be good and holy, but had no real fear of God about them. It is possible for believers to fall into the trap of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is knowing what is right, but not doing it. It involves living a self-serving life where the concern is control and position, rather than humble service for God and His people. Often a hypocrite will push a set of rules rather than living by faith and those rules become more important than worshipping "the Father in spirit and in truth." Hypocrisy is conforming to details outwardly without spiritual reality inwardly. A public demonstration of piety is negated by rudeness toward a person in private.
Christians are expected by unbelievers around us to live to a higher standard of conduct and behavior than they set for themselves. Actually, they have a right to do this because we follow Christ. Consequently, there will be times when we will face opposition and ridicule. When the mask of hypocrisy is taken off, then what has been hidden will be revealed for what it really is. The hidden agenda of hypocrisy will be exposed for what it is as unseen leaven that produces something entirely different than what is right. Truth on the other hand, will come out in its mighty power and light. Let us never despair of the lack of apparent interest in the message of God's truth we preach. In any labor for God, payday is coming someday.
As the Lord spoke warnings to the disciples about the leaven of hypocrisy seen in the Pharisees, He also warned them about future opposition. There are two kinds of fear. Fear of ridicule and opposition can paralyze us in our service for God. We can get used to comfort and ease, and soon we will think this is normal - the way things ought to be. When that happens to us even if it goes as far as life being taken, there is no farther those who oppose can go. It is far more important that we fear God who controls eternal consequences. To be ashamed of Christ now will give us shame before the angels in heaven. The value of the person and life of a disciple is what God estimates, not what people estimate. The common practice of determining one's worth is based on how much money we have, what activities we are involved in, how we perform and what we achieve - God has a different standard. If we are embarrassed and hope no one knows we are a Christian, if we don't speak up for what is right, or stay silent about what is wrong, we are not being what we should be. When we just blend in with the ungodly world around us and accept the world's values, we are avoiding identification with Him. On the other hand, when we live in a way that honors the Lord and share our faith with others while we seek to help them, we are acknowledging Him. By standing for what is right with love and loyalty to the Lord and use what we are and have for Him, we are acknowledging Him before men. To deny "the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" is evidence of ungodly men who are apostates. They seemed like they were real Christians, but they will perish in their sins.
The warning against blasphemy has to do, not so much with the use of words, as a denial of the faith. When people refused to act sincerely to the ministry of John, they were rejecting the Father who had sent him as the forerunner. When they rejected Jesus, there was still the witness of the Holy Spirit who the Lord sent to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment to come. The ministry of the Holy Spirit through the church has been on-going even today. When the ministry of the Holy Spirit is rejected, there is no witness of God left and no place of forgiveness for one who rejecting the convicting power of the Spirit. For the disciple who is challenged by the well-educated religious leaders and would not be able to dominate the arguments laid against them, the Lord Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would give them the words they needed to say at the appropriate time. To the world, those who follow Christ are not impressive people, but God is able to "use the foolish to confound the wise." We need to be prepared by allowing the Spirit of God to give us truth through His Word. Then there are those truths of God within us that He can draw out in the most effective way. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are always here to guide and comfort us even when we are under pressure.
A warning against covetousness is given by the Lord when a covetous man wanted what he considered his share of an inheritance. There are some things that are to be worked out only between the parties involved. The Jewish leaders often would be called on to settle matters like this, but Jesus went to the root of the problem to warn them all of the danger of covetousness. Greed is never far away from any of us. The accumulation of money and wealth is a great danger to relationships with other people - and with God. Material things are of far less value and importance than spiritual things. Living in fellowship with God and doing His will is of greater worth than all we can gain of this world's goods. It is not wrong to make plans for life, but to neglect preparing to meet God is a disaster of greater proportion than can be imagined. Faith in God, service for God and obedience to God far surpasses everything the world can offer.
Warnings about things yet to come may not give a welcome relief. The more serious we know a matter to be, the more important it is to be brief. Hypocrisy no matter how you say it is a mask of deception. The masquerade must come off, there is no reasonable exception.
To pretend one thing and be in truth another, may fool some people some of the time. When reality sets in the hypocrite is abandoned, a friend will be hard to find. The false report or false demands will be seen for what it really is. The one who tried to hide behind the faults of others, will find the big loss is his.
To blaspheme God is serious, there's no excuse for such sin. Life and breath and all things, comes to us through Him. When one blasphemes the Holy Spirit, there's no forgiveness for that Because He is the final witness, apart from Him salvation is passed.
Some people really get upset when they don't think they are getting a fair share. And though they are neither hungry or thirsty, with others they want to compare. If someone has much, they always want more, it is not enough to enjoy what they have. They are never satisfied in life, there is no way greed's demands can be salved.
Take warning about covetousness and claiming for self all your possessions. Greedy activities soon lead one into further transgressions. Accumulated wealth will never completely satisfy one's soul And one who lives for material gain is a fool.
"Father, I thank Thee for all Thou hast given us. My trust is in Thee to meet our every need. Thou hast abundantly provided for us. Help me to keep an open hand to give, not a grasping hand to keep. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."