< Luke 12 >

Jesus often used figures of speech, e.g. he called the teaching of the Pharisees “leaven”.v.1Waiting for response for Luke 12:1 This is yeast which quickly permeates a loaf of bread, just as false teaching corrupts God’s truth, therefore Jesus said: “Beware”.v.1Waiting for response for Luke 12:1 The Pharisees were powerful men who engineered the death of Jesus and later persecuted the apostles, but Jesus taught his disciples not to be afraid of them because they could only kill the body v.4Waiting for response for Luke 12:4 and in the future God would raise them bodily from the grave. They were, however, to fear God because he can totally destroy a person so that he will have no existence ever again. Jesus used the rubbish dump in the valley south of Jerusalem as a metaphor for the judgment of God. This valley was called “Gehenna” (translated “hell” v.5)Waiting for response for Luke 12:5 and, as it was where the bodies of criminals were thrown after execution, it is a fitting symbol for punishment after the judgment of God. The Pharisees in particular took a great risk in attributing the miracles Jesus performed by the Holy Spirit to “Beelzebub”, the god of the Philistines, Luke 11:15Waiting for response for Luke 11:15 because “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” is the one sin which cannot be forgiven.v.10Waiting for response for Luke 12:10

Jesus exhorted his disciples to “Seek the kingdom of God” v.31Waiting for response for Luke 12:31 because “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”. v.32Waiting for response for Luke 12:32 He urged them not to be full of care for the natural requirements of life v.22Waiting for response for Luke 12:22 nor to be covetous v.15Waiting for response for Luke 12:15 - life is far superior to possessions - and they were not to be like the man in the parable.vs.16-20Waiting for response for Luke 12:16-20 “Soul” means “self” - the man spoke to himself.v.19Waiting for response for Luke 12:19 God brings judgment upon a man himself,v.20Waiting for response for Luke 12:20 and this same word is also translated “life”,v.22Waiting for response for Luke 12:22 meaning “take no thought for yourself”. True disciples are “rich toward God”,v.21Waiting for response for Luke 12:21 seek first the kingdom of God, v.31Waiting for response for Luke 12:31 and are like men who wait for their Lord.v.36Waiting for response for Luke 12:36 Jesus will return unexpectedly,v.40Waiting for response for Luke 12:40 and the happiest people will be those who are ready and watching then v.37Waiting for response for Luke 12:37 for Jesus himself will come forth and serve them!

People have always been keen to make predictions, especially about the weather,vs.54-56Waiting for response for Luke 12:54-56 but few can see the signs of the times in the purpose of God. The Jews did not recognise the signs in those days which indicated the Messiah was in their midst, and few today can see the signs which indicate the early appearance of Christ when he will judge everyone according to his deeds.v.48Waiting for response for Luke 12:48

His teaching brought hope and blessing to the people but Jesus knew that it would also bring division and war.vs.51-53Waiting for response for Luke 12:51-53 This has been proved by history and, indeed, many have used the fact of wars between men professing allegiance to Christ to decry Christianity, but it is the nature of men which is at fault, not the teaching of Jesus who says we should love our enemies and bless them which persecute us. Jesus also knew that his teaching would lead to his own death, which he referred to as a “baptism”. We can imagine how traumatic the prospect of certain crucifixion was to him, as he said: “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened [pained] till it be accomplished!” v.50Waiting for response for Luke 12:50