1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. 4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. (Luke 12:1-12 KJV)
Have No Fear and Acknowledge Christ
We find here, a vast auditory that was gathered to hear Christ preach. The scribes and Pharisees sought to accuse him and harm him, but the people, who were not influenced by their prejudices, still admired him, listened to him, and honored him. In the meantime (Luke 12:1), while he was in the Pharisee’s house, contending with those trying to trap him, the people gathered for a sermon after dinner, and he would not disappoint them. Though in the earlier sermon, when they were gathered together (Luke 11:29), he had severely rebuked them as an evil generation seeking a sign, they still returned to hear him again; the people could take reproof better than the Pharisees.
The more the Pharisees tried to turn the people from Christ, the more they came to him. An innumerable multitude gathered, so dense that they trampled one another to get within hearing. It is a good sight to see people so eager to hear the word, willing to endure discomfort and risk for the sake of their souls. “Who are these that fly as the doves to their windows?” (Isaiah 60:8). When a net is cast where there is such a multitude of fish, it may be hoped that some will be enclosed.
The instructions he gave to his followers were delivered in the hearing of this crowd.
He began with a caution against hypocrisy. This he said first of all to his disciples—either the twelve or the seventy—his closest followers, because they made a greater profession of religion and were therefore more in danger of this sin. They were to preach to others, and if they were deceitful, their hypocrisy would be worse than that of others. There was a Judas among them, and Christ knew it; he may have aimed this at him to either awaken him or leave him without excuse. Christ’s disciples, though perhaps the best men in the world at that time, still needed this warning. He said it publicly, rather than privately, to give weight to the warning and to show that he would not tolerate hypocrisy, not even among his own.
He described the sin he warned them against: It is the leaven of the Pharisees.
It is leaven; it spreads, creeps into the whole man and all he does. It puffs up with pride, sours with malice, and makes one’s service unacceptable to God.
It is the leaven of the Pharisees, the sin they were most often guilty of. Christ warned, “Do not imitate them. Don’t have their spirit. Don’t use religion as a cover for malice.”
He gave a strong reason against it: “There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed” (Luke 12:2-3). It is pointless to pretend, because truth will eventually come out. If you say things in darkness that contradict your public profession, they will be revealed. A bird of the air may carry the voice (Ecclesiastes 10:20), and your hypocrisy will be exposed. Concealed iniquity dressed in religious garb will be exposed—perhaps in this life, as with Judas and Simon Magus, but definitely on the day when all secrets will be judged (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:16). If religion doesn’t conquer the heart’s wickedness, it won’t hide it forever. Hypocrites will one day be stripped of their fig leaves.
He then charged them to be faithful and not betray their trust out of fear. Some take Luke 12:2-3 to be an encouragement not to hide what they were taught, but to boldly proclaim it.
“Whether people accept it or not, speak the truth—the whole truth—and nothing but the truth. What you’ve heard privately, speak publicly, no matter who is offended. If you try to please men, you’re not serving Christ” (Galatians 1:10). But it would not be easy; it would be a suffering cause, though not a failing one. He therefore gave them reasons to encourage holy courage.
First, the power of their enemies was limited (Luke 12:4): “I say to you, my friends,”—his disciples, whom he counts as friends—“do not be afraid; don’t torment yourselves with fears of human power and rage.” Those whom Christ calls friends need not fear any enemies. “Don’t fear those who kill the body. They can’t do more than that. Your soul lives on and rejoices with God.” Christ’s disciples cannot be truly harmed by those who can only kill the body; they simply send the body to rest and the soul to glory.
Second, God is to be feared more than men: “I will forewarn you whom you shall fear” (Luke 12:5). To fear men less, fear God more. Moses overcame his fear of the king by keeping his eyes on the invisible God. By acknowledging Christ, you may incur man’s wrath, but by denying him, you incur God’s wrath, which can cast into hell. Of two evils, the greater must be feared: “Fear Him.” As Bishop Hooper said, “Life is sweet, and death bitter; but eternal life is more sweet, and eternal death more bitter.”
Third, God’s providence watches over believers (Luke 12:6-7). In danger, trust in God’s care. Providence watches even sparrows, though five are sold for two pennies—not one is forgotten by God. You are of more value than many sparrows. So, even if imprisoned or forsaken, you are not forgotten. “Even the hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7); much more your tears and blood shed for Christ. All your losses are recorded, and they will be richly repaid.
Fourth, Christ will acknowledge or deny you based on how you acknowledge him now (Luke 12:8-9). If you confess Christ before men, he will confess you before the angels, to your eternal honor. He will testify not only that he suffered for you, but that you suffered for him and advanced his kingdom. On the other hand, if you deny him, no matter what you gain by it—even life or a kingdom—you will be eternally disowned. He will not acknowledge or favor you, which will bring eternal shame. Being confessed before the angels of God seems to be part of the glorified saints’ joy—they’ll be honored by the angels as fellow-servants. The damned, by contrast, will be abandoned by the angels and tormented in their presence (Revelation 14:10), without relief.
Fifth, their mission was of utmost importance (Luke 12:10). Let them preach boldly, for a harsher judgment awaited those who rejected their Spirit-empowered testimony than those who rejected Christ during his earthly ministry. “Greater works than these shall you do,” and those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit after his outpouring (Acts 2:33; 5:32) will be denied forgiveness. They will receive no benefit from Christ’s gospel. You may shake off the dust against such people; they’ve forfeited the repentance and forgiveness Christ offers. The sin was especially daring during the time of the Spirit’s extraordinary operations, meant to convince unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22). There was still hope for those who admired but didn’t yet believe; but blasphemers were given up.
Sixth, whatever trials awaited them, they would be equipped and sustained through them (Luke 12:11-12). A martyr has both suffering to endure and a testimony to bear. If this is his concern, let him leave the rest to God. “When brought before synagogues and rulers, don’t worry about what to say.”
First, “Don’t worry about saving yourselves. Don’t try to win favor with judges or use legal tricks. If it is God’s will to deliver you, he will do so.” Second, “Don’t worry about serving your Master. Just aim to be faithful. The Holy Spirit will teach you what to say and how to say it, for God’s glory and the advancement of his cause.”