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)

Dear God, teach me what it means to fear You alone.