Luke Chapter 12

Teaching the Disciples

Read Luke 12:1-34

Hypocrisy

Verse 1 - Beware first of all, of hypocrisy

This must be taken care of first - it is fundamental to everything else. We must live honestly.

If you find that you have a belief, or a mindset about something that does not align with

God's Word, you have to deal with that. Read II Corinthians 10:5

Jesus calls hypocrisy the leaven of the Pharisees. Leaven is a symbol of sin in the Bible.

Read I Corinthians 5:6-7. Hypocrisy is the primary sin of the Pharisees.

Verses 2-3 - All things will be revealed - including the shameful secrets of the Pharisees.

Read Luke 8:17

Fearing man vs. fearing God

Verses 4-5 - Jesus was preparing His disciples for rejection and persecution. Most of the 12

disciples died as martyrs. We are not to fear man. Read Psalm 56:4,11

We should not compromise our faith, morals, beliefs over the fear of man. We should live to

please God.

Verses 8-9 - Do not deny Jesus over the fear of man. Remember, we have the Holy Spirit

within us to help us - the Spirit empowers us to do some very difficult things (think of the

bravery of the martyrs).

Our value to God

Verses 6-7 - The hairs of your head are numbered. This is a way of saying that even the smallest

details of or lives are of interest to God. Therefore, we can pray to Him about anything that

concerns us, no matter how small.

The Holy Spirit

Verse 10 - The unforgivable sin - blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

For more information on this topic, search "What is the unpardonable sin / unforgivable sin?"

at Gotquestions.org

Verses 11-12 - We are to rely on the Holy Spirit. It is He who will help us when confronted with

threats from man.

Greed

Verse 15 - Every form of greed - Read Colossians 3:5 - the idol of materialism

Read verses 21, 33-34 - We are to give, to help others on behalf of the Lord (we are His body).

Giving keeps greed in check - greedy people don't freely give

God loves a cheerful giver - Read II Corinthians 9:7-8, 10 - God will keep you supplied

with seed to sow

We reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7) - so we should sow toward heavenly treasures, not

earthly ones.

Sow/pursue true riches

Verse 34 - You spend your treasures where your heart truly is - kind of like "out of the heart, the

mouth speaks" - out of the heart, the money is spent.

God shall supply our needs

Verses 21-32 - Do not let worry for your physical needs cause you to become greedy. Trust

God. Remember, you are valuable to God, so have faith that He will feed and clothe you, like

He does for His whole creation.

Verse 31 - Seek His kingdom - spend your time, talents, and treasures on the kingdom and God

will make sure your physical needs are met.