Gospels (34) - Luke 12:1-34

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
Series: Gospels

Rusty's Notes

Luke 12
BEWARE OF RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY
1 Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to his disciples first,

• He was teaching the disciples first… and actually in front of the multitude.

“Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

• Hypocrite – one who is concerned about cleaning up the outside but doesn’t have a heart change.
• Power of sin wants to accuse me of being a hypocrite.
• People don’t come to church because they believe we are hypocrites.
• Leaven – It is the change agent in a dough product that causes it transform and rise while it is in a state of rest.
• Leaven is a neutral term until it is attached to a result.
• Good leaven or bad leaven.
• Like leaven, hypocrisy begins very small but grows quickly and quietly.
• As it grows, it infects the whole person.
• Hypocrisy does to the ego what leaven does to bread dough: it puffs it up
• Soon pride takes over and the person’s character deteriorates rapidly.[1]

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.

• Whatever your sin is in the dark… it will eventually come out into the light.
• Hollywood, politics, churches and businesses are proof of this.
• #CTPA – Countdown to Public Apology
• Baker Mayfield – Heisman Trophy Candidate – antics on the sideline.
• In the same way… The Twelve might be tempted to cover or compromise the truth so that neither the crowds nor the Pharisees would be offended[2]
• Jesus said, “Let your light shine!”

 
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!

• If this is the only two verses to draw conclusion who God is… then this is bust!
• But Jesus is saying, “Don’t fear the Pharisees.”
• They are not the ones to be afraid of.
• The fear of God is the fear that conquers all other fears of man.
• The person who fears God… fears nothing else.

6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? 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.

• These two verses are completely opposite concerning God.
• You do your thing and God is going to take care of you.
• The men were all thanking me for their meals this week… and they were good meals.
• I thanked those who helped financially.
• The real thanks is to the Father.
• He provided all the resources to His workers this week.

 
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.

• Applies to the generation of Jews who were under the leadership of the Pharisees and lawyers.
• The rejected Jesus as the Messiah and died in 70 AD

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.”

• Adrian prayed one of the most beautiful prayers for our meal on Friday night.

 
THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL
13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 “Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

• Inheritance can split families.
• Was Jesus denying Himself to be a judge?
• Was Jesus asking under whose authority was He made judge?
• Exodus 2:11-15 - 11 Years later, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people and observed their forced labor. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 Looking all around and seeing no one, he struck the Egyptian dead and hid him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you attacking your neighbor?”
• “Who made you a commander and judge over us?” the man replied. “Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”

Then Moses became afraid and thought, “What I did is certainly known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard about this, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well.[3]

• Moses was rejected as leader of the Jewish people the 1st time he came.
• Moses came a second time and led the Jewish people out of captivity.
• Jesus was foreshadowing based upon stories they as a Jewish people treasured.
• The Jews wanted Jesus to serve them rather than save them.

15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”

• Pharisees based their faith upon the amount of possessions they owned.
• A judge appointed by man is concerned about earthly possessions.
• A judge appointed by God is concerned about the heart.

16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

• You can work harder… but just know what your end purpose is for.
• You can store up your treasure here on earth or store up your treasure in heaven.
• People who are satisfied only with the things that money can buy are in great danger of losing the things that money cannot buy.[4]
• This team that went with me to Houston finished and stood back and looked at what they had accomplished.
• I don’t believe a single one of them thought, “Look what I/we did.”
• They all looked and probably honestly said, “Wow, look at this. Look what God did this week for this family. Thanks for using us.”
• And by us… we mean the whole group… even those who stayed behind to pray and financially support the hands and feet.

 
THE CURE FOR ANXIETY
22 Then he said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.

• Similar to Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5-7

23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add one moment to his life-span by worrying? 26 If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 28 If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith? 29 Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor.

• This was totally opposite of what the Pharisees taught.

Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

• Cure for Anxiety?
• Quit worrying about “stuff”.
• Is it stuff that is causing your anxiety?
• Stuff is stuff… worrying about stuff is just another ploy to steal your joy.
• Some have made bad decisions about stuff and worry is a constant struggle.
• Learn to trust God with what you have been given.

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 219). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 219). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ex 2:11–15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 220). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.