Luke 12:1-7
The word innumerable literally meant 10,000; but was a way of saying innumerable. That many people in one place, all with their own agenda is a frightening thing. They began to trample one another. They obviously had not been paying attention to the lessons of Jesus.
Jesus spoke to His disciples about the Pharisees and their brand of sin and wickedness. It is hypocrisy, a pretense of religion and God but in reality, they were self-absorbed and self-aggrandizing. It was to put on a religious mask when it suited your purpose, but in reality, there was no relationship. There was no presence of God in their life, moving them, guiding their thoughts and words and deeds.
That which they feel was hidden, would not remain so. Your sin will out you eventually. You can't hide it. It comes out in your attitude, your language, your lack of love, compassion, use of resources and on and on. You can't hide it. You become like the god you serve. If your god is your own dark, sinful self, you will be found out.
Jesus encouraged them not to be afraid of the likes of the Pharisees or anyone else who could oppress and kill. That's the extent of their power. Their source of power or sway over a person is based on the fear of death. When Christ conquers sin and death, we can rest assured, we are free from their fear.
For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. (Romans 14:8)
They hold nothing over us. The worse thing they can do with their worldly authority is send us to paradise with our Lord. But God is the one to fear, because he judges and has the power to cast men to hell
Jesus encouraged them to remember that God was sovereign. Even the least of the birds were not forgotten by God. Even the hairs of our head are numbered. And again, we should not fear, because God places more value on us than the sparrows. We are image bearers – those created in His image.
Luke 12:8-10
Peer pressure is awful, it causes us to do things we wouldn't normally do. Our desire to be liked and accepted causes us to look toward the world to find out how we are doing. There stood the multitude, trampling each other in their selfish ambition in the presence of the Pharisees. Who would step out from the crowd to confess Jesus? To fall before Him under the watchful and bad eye of the Pharisee would complicate their life. They might be ostracized and removed from synagogue, lose their job and be shunned by their family. A son risked losing his inheritance.
To confess was to make a public profession; it was committing oneself to something by a promise. Those who did this could know that Jesus would make a similar confession of their name before the council of God. Our confession is a promise to God, a weak commitment at best from a sinful creature. However, our promise results in His confession of use before God. This is a far greater promise brought to the highest of places. This should strengthen our commitment, our promise and resolve. It brings to mind the choice brought before the people in Deuteronomy 30:15 - See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.
The work of the Holy Spirit in that confession is evident. While denial of the Lord is done in ignorance or in protection of our flesh, the blasphemy of the Spirit seems to be a rejection of Christ. Our previous denials, fumbling and working things out are forgivable, while the rejection is final. Those who had spoken against Jesus could know that it wasn't too late for them, their sin would be forgiven. However, those who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven. This blasphemy seems to be seeing the work of the Holy Spirit and crediting it to the devil.
In Matthew, the blasphemy of the Spirit is said to be speaking against the Holy Spirit. Mark wrote of this unpardonable sin when the scribes accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of demons. To see a clear display of the power of God by the Holy Spirit and reject or deny that power is to start down a path in which there is no return. The work of the Holy Spirit is to testify of Jesus. To turn your back on that is to turn your back on the only hope of forgiveness available to man. This blasphemy will not be forgiven.
At this point many people begin to wonder if they've ever done this. They remember their previous sins, take an accounting, hoping they don't remember that one time when°. But this blasphemy is not likely a one-time rejection of the spirit, but a rejection of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This isn't something someone accidentally did. It's a willful, conscious decision to set your heart and mind against Him. This is a person who, in their heart, who knew God, saw the work of the Holy Spirit and yet rejected it outright. The rejection is to pursue another way, their way, their plan for life. I tend to think this might be rejection with evil motives or intentions.
Remember:
- Peter denied Christ 3 times at the turning point of all mankind. Yet, he was restored.
- Saul was knocked from His horse on his way to kill Christians, something he took great pleasure in doing. Yet, the Lord knocked him off his horse, later removed the scales from his eyes. And the Lord made him a messenger to the gentiles.
- Thomas doubted, couldn't truly believe unless he saw. The Lord took His hand and showed him.
- Jesus' own brothers rejected and denied him till after His resurrection. Then James became the pastor of the church of Jerusalem. Jude and bondservant.
We could go on, could we not, till we had a list on which you would eventually show up. Because in some way, on some day, we've all sinned, which is denial of Christ.
Luke 12:11-12
Who are 'they'? The Pharisees were standing near, plotting and planning? Lying in wait, seeking to catch Him (11:54). Then it was the Pharisees, later it was someone else, today its another. It's those attached to this world who have a hatred toward us they can't possibly understand. They hate the very thing we represent.
These men of power and authority will bring you before the religious body or civil court and charge or accuse you. We are not to worry (merimnate) what you should say or answer them. The Holy Spirit will teach you when the time comes. He is there with you and will equip you to speak, remain silent or be a testimony in some other way.
Luke 12:13-15
This parable of the rich fool is unique to the gospel of Luke. From the crowd this man speaks to Jesus of the primary thing on his mind. If this man has been with the crowd for any length of time, he may have eaten miraculous food, heard eternal words and saw healings and miracles. What does this man need more than anything from the King of kings and Lord of lords? He wants him to rule in a dispute over finances with his brother.
We don't know why he feels entitled to part of his brother's inheritance. It may have been the double portion that went to his brother as the first born. Its possible he had done something to lose his inheritance.
It wasn't unusual for a Rabbi to be approached about acting as an arbiter in a dispute. It's possible the other brother was there as this man asked his question of Jesus. It's clear Jesus was not interested in arbitrating a dispute over material wealth. The warning to 'take heed and beware' is to 'be on the look out to restrain yourself' against greed. This wasn't just for money but for material things; the desire to acquire more and more possessions. This man's problem wasn't his brother, it was his heart. Jesus went right to the root of the problem. Life isn't defined by our stuff.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' (Mark 12:30)
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. (Hebrews 13:5)
In addition, Paul spoke to the men of Athens about Jesus, telling them it is in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Paul knew that true life was found in Jesus.
Luke 12:16-21
Jesus must have fielded thousands of strange requests. Instead of turning away and moving on, He turned it into a teaching opportunity. He seemed to never miss a chance to give people a lesson. He told of a man whose life was defined by covetousness. Did the man need another barn? Could he eat that much grain? It seems he simply desired to possess it. His thoughts about how to deal with this plentiful crop were limited. He disregarded any option that didn't include him possessing this in wealth and security. He found purpose and contentment in life by providing for himself. Gathering more made him feel secure. What could possibly go wrong? It was time to eat, drink and be merry.
Calling him a fool, God had other plans. He forgot to account for the fact that life would end someday. The fool was unwise, lacking common sense and the basic understanding of life. It's but a little time in the midst of eternity. His soul was required of him and he had not prepared. Those who spend their life seeking the treasure of this world are not rich toward God. Many people spend their entire life in pursuit, on the verge of greatness; their ship is about to come in. They chase and chase, rich or poor, it doesn't matter. They are never satisfied; they never attain enough.
When asked how much money was enough, John D Rockefeller replied, "A little bit more." You can't be rich toward God with a covetous heart.
Luke 12:22-28
Keep in mind, Jesus is speaking to people who basically earned provisions from day to day or week to week at best. There were no savings accounts, no savings and loan. There was no unemployment, social security or disability. There were no credit cards or food stamps. How radical was the idea of being rich in God?
We aren't to worry about your life; food, clothing our body. It is not life just to have food before us and a full belly, wearing fine clothing. God had set up the food chain to provide for all the animal kingdom. Because we have a soul, we are of greater value. Because we are created in the image of God, He places a higher value on us.
Can worrying provide food? Can fretting provide clothing or shelter? Will wringing our hands extend our life? Yet, our Father in heaven can do all things. He can God do these things at will? We can't begin to worry our self to life – but we can worry our self to death. The lilies stand as a testimony. They are beautiful, no one fretted, toiled over their appearance.
If God would do this for even the grass, which is here and gone, won't he do so much more for us? Won't He care for us? Jesus asked the question of those who doubted God's providence. He called those people, "O you of little faith?" This is me sometimes.
When I think of men of great faith regarding God's provision, my mind goes to George Mueller.
When he had moved to Bristol in 1832 to take the pulpit of Gideon chapel, he and his wife Mary decided not to accept a salary from the congregation. They wanted to daily depend upon the Lord for their needs, and they accepted only unsolicited freewill offerings. Mueller's journal is full of the amazing ways the Lord directed funds to them throughout his sixty-six years of ministry.
Soon after he was drawn to provide for orphans and opened a house to care for them. Within a year it had grown to caring for a hundred children. By 1870 there were two thousand kids being cared for.
"The children are dressed and ready for school. But there is no food for them to eat," the housemother of the orphanage informed George Mueller. George asked her to take the 300 children into the dining room and have them sit at the tables. He thanked God for the food and waited. George knew God would provide food for the children as he always did. Within minutes, a baker knocked on the door. "Mr. Mueller," he said, "last night I could not sleep. Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up and baked three batches for you. I will bring it in." Soon, there was another knock at the door. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. The milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed. He asked George if he could use some free milk. George smiled as the milkman brought in ten large cans of milk. It was just enough for the 300 thirsty children."
(I think being rich in God is the same as being poor in spirit.)
Luke 12:29-34
To have an anxious mind is the perception of hanging out in the middle of the open air. It's to feel exposed, untethered and free to blow away with the wind. Citizens of this world are going where the wind blows, chasing wealth, cloths, cars, stocks, bonds, homes, education and on and on with no end. For us though, we have a heavenly Father who knows our needs. We are to seek the kingdom of God, the storehouse of all wisdom and provisions and life. Life is found in the Father by way of the Son.
We can put away fear when we are in the care of the heavenly Father who is the Good and Perfect Shepherd. It is His good pleausre to provide for us.
Some leaders visiting the orphanage asked the matron of the home, "Of course you cannot carry these institutions without a good stock of funds. . . Have you a good stock?" The matron quietly replied, "Our funds are deposited in a bank which cannot break." Tears came to the eyes of the visitors, who gave a donation to the work -- a very timely gift because at the moment there were no funds on hand! The orphanage never accumulated a surplus of funds, but daily relied on the Lord for their provision.
I can imagine this brother who first asked the question. By now, he just wants to leave graciously. He just became Jesus' teaching example of greed and covetousness, of those who trust in worldly possessions, of those who worry and fret and are of little faith. What that man probably didn't understand is that any one of us could have stood in the same place. To that man Jesus said to sell his stuff, give it to the poor. It was a command not to trust in worldly wealth; to have a light grasp on the fleeting things. The treasure of this life is subject to being stolen by a thief or eaten by the moth. The money bag that doesn't grow old is the one holding eternal treasure. This treasure is everlasting and not subject to the things that destroy earthly wealth.
Let's put our heart on the kingdom of God by putting our treasure in heaven. Treasure is service to others, love, kindness; all done to honor, and for the glory of God.
Luke 12:35-40
"To Gird" is actually 2 big words - together they mean to tie up the loin garment in preparation for something difficult, for trouble, inconvenience or something strenuous. We would liken it to 'rolling up our sleeves'. This is a state of readiness. This added to having your lamp burning is to be ready any time, day or night. The picture is that of servant ready to receive his master when he returns from the wedding feast.
This is similar to the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids of Matthew 25:1-13. Jesus likened the Kingdom of Heaven to these bridesmaids. They took their lamps and went out to meet their bridegroom. The bridegroom would come at night to retrieve his bride. She, and the entire wedding party had to watch, not knowing the day or hour he would come.
The entire wedding started around a year before when they were betrothed. Once she accepted the offer of marriage and the appropriate dowry was paid and gifts given between families, they were as good as married but it had not been finalized or consummated. The groom would go away to his father's house to prepare a place for her. Over the next several months the bride and her bridesmaids made all the preparations, much like a bride would do today. The groom was busy adding a room on the home, preparing a place for his bride. The anticipation and excitement would build as it grew even closer. The bride did not know the day or the hour of the groom's arrival. She knew, though, that the season was nearing. Even the groom did not know when, but he finished his preparations and waited for the word from the father. When the father finally said to his son to go gather his bride, he went without hesitation. He had been waiting for this day. The groom, with his attendants and father would come in the night and blow the shofar announcing the day had arrived. The bride was prepared and had been for some time. She was dressed and her lamp was burning and had oil to last the night. The bridesmaids would do the same.
However, in the parable, only five of them were wise. The five foolish didn't have oil ready in preparation, after all it had been a long time. They really didn't anticipate his coming, in fact, they weren't sure he was coming at all. When the cry came that the groom was near, they hoped to get oil from those who were prepared. There would not be enough, they had to get their own. The wedding party was gathered to the groom where they went into the house and shut the door. There, they would feast and celebrate for 7 days. The unwise bridesmaids came to the door, but it was too late. Once the door was shut, it was shut. They said Lord, Lord, open to us! But he said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you."
Why would he say 'I do not know you'? The idea is that if they truly knew him and understood he was coming; they would have been prepared. Their lack of preparation revealed their slovenliness. They grew slack and unbelieving and had their own plans that became a greater priority than the plans of the bridegroom.
Back to the parable of Luke; he shows us a different slant of the wedding feast. These are the servants left caring for the home while their master attends the wedding feast. He was girded up, with his lamp burning, ready to go when the call came in the middle of the night. He didn't know the time, but he knew the season and he wouldn't miss it for anything. When he was away at the feast, he left his servants in charge of the home the other servants. In a similar way, they were girded and they waited for their master's return. When the master comes, he will knock and they'll invite him in immediately.
Some see this as symbolic of the great feast which was to inauguration the age of the messiah. Is it possible the wedding at Cana is seen in the parable? It was the inauguration of the ministry of Jesus, the first miracle.
Blessed is the servant who will be found watching and waiting by the master when he comes. In fact, this will be so special, the master will gird himself and serve them as they eat. This is unheard-of, unprecedented. No master did such a thing. However, when the Son of Man came, it would be like no other event in all of history.
Jesus came, with the heart of a servant. He served and loved mankind and called them to him. He washed the feet of the disciples as a lesson for them. Being served by the master would be a treat like the servants had never experienced. The mast will come like a thief. No one knows when a thief would come. There is no rhyme or reason, he just comes at a seemingly random time. The Son of Man will come like this, when you least expect it. Aha, we think, now I know when to expect his coming, it's when I least expect it. However, if we now expect it then, he won't come because you now expect it. The message was clear, they must expect him all the time, anytime.
This parable seems to be more around the first coming of Jesus while the parable of the bridesmaids pictures the second coming.
Luke 12:41-48
Peter, the spokesman for all who want to know, asks if this parable was just for the disciples or for the rest of the multitude who were near. Jesus answer the question with a question, yet it contains the answer. The faithful and wise steward is the one whom will be over the household. This parable seems to point toward the role of the disciples in the coming Kingdom. The faithful servant will be blessed and made ruler over all that the master has.
The flip side of that is if the servant is unfaithful and gets tired of waiting and forgets that he represents his master by acting in ways he'd never act if the master were there, then the outcome would be vastly different. If they thought the master had taken too long and was not coming, they might spend their days getting drunk, eating and beat the other servants. The master would show up one day when he least expected it. Can you imagine the servant caught; drunken, lazy and unprepared and treating others poorly. What will he do when he comes and catches him unaware? He will cut him in two and appoint to his place among unbelievers. Immediately, many want to make this hyperbole. The contrast is extreme between the treatment of the faithful and unfaithful. Of course, most men want to think of this as hyperbole, it's frightening – but that's the point isn't it? Our preparation and watchfulness should not be taken lightly!! It is an indication of our belief. The unfaithful was appointed a place among unbelievers. His unfaithfulness, indicated by not being watchful and prepared, was an indication of his unbelief.
The servant who knew the master's will and didn't prepare will be beaten with many stripes. The one who didn't know and did things deserving of stripes will be beaten with few. The lesson then of the parable is given.
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.
There is an accounting for what we've been entrusted to us. Much had been committed to the servants and the expectation was the servants received this responsibility and acted in a way that they understood there would one day be an accounting for it. In the absence of their master, the servants acted on their own authority by their own power. They made decisions inconsistent with the master showing they were not of him.
A disciple isn't seasonal or situational. A follower of Jesus follows all the time. We act by His power and authority; we walk in His ways and act in His wisdom. We are obedient in His presence or absence. We are about His business in readiness, prepared for His soon return.
Luke 12:49-53
The announcement that He came to send fire must have been met with looks of shock. This is a picture of judgment, of the purifying fires from God. This bringing of fire is part of His mission. This probably sounded radical to a multitude who saw Him heal and cast out demons and set people free. Jesus was ready for that fire to be lit. The first part of the judgment was His work on the cross. He was to be rejected, persecuted and killed. This was His work to take the judgment of sin, of which we deserve, upon Himself. Those who trust in Him would then be freed from the condemnation that hangs over them from sin. The penalty of sin is death, He was about to go and die for all those who would trust in Him.
The baptism He spoke of, was the first step of His primary work. We call it baptism when we are immersed in water and raised out of it. When we are submerged in water, we are following after Jesus. The baptism He spoke of was the first part of this amazing work and that was to be immersed in death. He would be judged for our sin. After which He would be raised up to newness of life. Sin and death would be defeated.
He was on His way to the cross; He had always been. He walked in this world among men and women; and it didn't take long to see the wickedness, sin and depravity of humanity. He looked back in time to all those who were saved by faith and saw the penalty of their sin hanging over them, unpaid as of yet. He looked forward in time and saw many generations, even to us; all our sin, immorality and wickedness. Yet, He remained focused on the cross. This was His mission and He would be distressed till it was finished – and He would declare, "It is finished!" The distress is the weight of a billion souls in the balance. If there is no cross, there is no resurrection and there is no hope. Like Paul said, "We are of all men most pitiable." (1 Cor 1:19)
Jesus is called the prince of Peace. He came to this world with the herald of the angels, "On earth peace, goodwill towards men." Yet there can be no real peace when men are at odds with God.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. (Col 1:21-22)
There had to be this offering of grace before there could be peace. It is then this very offer of hope found in Jesus that becomes the disruption of mankind. It brings division among men, among families and friends. Do not think Jesus came to mediate a peace between the multitude, the disciples, the Pharisees, Sadducees and the rest of the world. That should have been obvious to all the disciples by now. He already had the Pharisees and scribes seething and searching for something to bring against Him. There is a messianic peace He offered, the culmination of which is yet to come. Even when Jesus was gone, His work would cause everyone to make a decision about where they will stand. The otherwise close relationship will be tested, strained or broken by the gospel.
Luke 12:54-56
I find it thought provoking that Jesus spoke to the disciples in the midst of the multitude. The vast majority were lost, seeking hope and answers. They were in desperate need of Jesus. There were no inside secrets. It was simply a small band of apostles and disciples who followed their savior, better only in knowing Him. Standing apart only because of Him, what He'd done in them and through them. Otherwise they were no better or worse than the multitude.
Jesus then addressed the multitude directly. They could read the clouds, anticipate the weather. They came to this by experience and knowledge. The presence of clouds brought the chance of rain. Add this to the type of cloud, how dark it was, what direction it came from and a person could reasonably predict it would rain. When the wind came out of the south there, the hot, dry desert wind would bring hot weather. It wasn't all that hard to predict. They could reason the evidence out and come to a wise conclusion. The question was, why then could they not discern the time in which they stood?
The miracles were the primary evidence. He did things no one could do, no mere man could heal as He had done. This should cause them to begin to reason. He taught and read the scriptures like He wrote them. Many took note of this, but they didn't add it to other evidence. They could look across the landscape, sky and horizon and logic gave them an answer. But they could not look across the spiritual landscape and draw any real conclusion. Jesus called them Hypocrites. They played the part of wise and reasonable thinkers in one way, and acted ignorant and unwise in another, as if they had no logic available with which to work.
Luke 12:57-59
This passage is parallels Matthew 5:25=26 and is part of Jesus' lesson about anger within the Sermon on the Mount. Luke uses the same material in a different way. There's no reason to believe Jesus didn't apply the lesson in multiples ways within different teachings.
The question is, "Why can you not discern what is just and right within the spiritual landscape in which you stand?" Instead, they go with their adversary to the magistrate, ignoring the principles of justice and righteousness and just hoping for a favorable outcome. The outcome would be debtors' prison where it was just and right for them to be locked up until every mite is paid. A mite was 1/128 of a day's wages. It was like saying, "Until you repay every last penny."
To discern the spiritual landscape was to acknowledge a sin a debt that we don't like to think of. We become very adept at ignoring this, believing our selves to be good persons. This is a dangerous accessory. It's a warning system that's been shut off, an alarm that no longer functions. It is the grace of God that opens our eyes, maybe ever so briefly, to give us a clear view of the spiritual landscape. If we allow the tools God gave us to reason and logic, we will see clearly our own status. We are in serious debt. It snuck up on us, a little here, a little there starting before we can remember. It's been accumulating and there is no way to pay it back. We've sinned against God. He is holy and righteous with a standard or perfection. Our culture screams, "It's not fair!" and gather others with like feelings to themselves in hopes of forming a rebellion against the Almighty and demanding reform. God will not be reformed. Our hope is only in allowing Him to transform us. Our adversary, the devil, will drag us before God and put forth His accusation against us. He will have a strong case. A valid case. If we have not defense, we will suffer the penalty of our sins by our self.
However, we have an advocate to counter the accusation of the adversary. Our advocate is Jesus. He has gone before and paid for our penalty. He died a terrible and brutal death on the cross in our place. He will come stand with us before the magistrate, where the charges against us can be dropped; because by Him, every last mite of sin was paid for.
Jesus stood before the multitude as an advocate, bringing good news and authenticating it. Yet many ignored it, went about life, not discerning where they stood. Even as one whose placed their trust and faith in Christ, we need to be reminded our place in this landscape. Sometimes we begin to take our advocate for granted and fail to stay near Him. We run away and play and pursue all the junk of the world leaving our advocate to do so. Yet, to discern the times is to see the seriousness of our original plight; to praise Him for our deliverance from that plight and walk in a way that would not allow us to ever wander off. To discern the times also has an element of time to it; not specifically clock or calendar time, but a time of opportunity. It's to analyze the day in which you stand based on what you know; not what you hope will happen or seeking a favorable decision from the magistrate apart from justice. It's to reasonably analyze where we stand. Where do you stand?
8He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Micha 6:8)
©2020 Doug Ford
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