LUKE LESSON 32

     We will begin this lesson in Luke 12:1 "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."

     Jesus has just left the Pharisee's where He ate with them. This
multitude had gotten so large that they were walking on each other to
get to Him. These Pharisees thought themselves to be very righteous
and called themselves teachers of righteousness, but Jesus reveals to
His disciples and this multitude that they are really hypocrites,
saying one thing and actually living a lie. Leaven symbolizes sin.
Jesus is telling the people, especially the disciples, watch out for
their sins.

     Luke 12:2 "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be
revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known."  Luke 12:3 "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."

     These Pharisees had a false new doctrine that they had been
pushing on the people. They would be exposed. The disciples, on the
other hand, had been preaching with very little acceptance; and I
believe, this tells them also, that their message will be found to be
true, and they will stand on the flat roofs of those houses and preach
to the people below. The housetop will be like a platform for them to
preach from.  The great multitude was more miracle seekers at this
time than there were message seekers.

     Luke 12:4 "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."
Luke 12:5 "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."

     We know that immediately after Jesus rose from the grave that the
Pharisees become less and less popular with the people, and the people
became anxious to hear the disciples. Verses 4 and 5 seem a little
strange to be in here with such popularity, But there would also be
those who were killed (martyred) in the name of Jesus. Jesus says here
to His followers, Don't worry about the shortness of life on the
earth. The death you must worry about is the second death. If you die
on this earth, you are just transported to heaven. There is one in
heaven who, if He condemns you to death, includes hell and a fiery
grave.  The first death all men die, don't fear that, just be prepared
to live with the Lord in heaven; and what ever you do, live pleasing
to Him so you will not taste the second death which you really do need
to fear.  Only Jesus can condemn you to the second death. Fear Him.

     Luke 12:6 "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not
one of them is forgotten before God?" Luke 12:7 "But even the very
hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not therefore: ye are of
more value than many sparrows."

     A sparrow is worth  less than many other birds. Jesus chose them
because of their seemingly little value. He tells us though that the
Father is concerned even with one little sparrow. It is almost
unbelievable that each hair on our head would be numbered of God. The
human body is really the most complicated piece of equipment ever
constructed. This one thing alone, if there was no other evidence,
would proclaim how great our God is. God loves His people more than
any other part of His creation.

     Luke 12:8 "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before
men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:"

     Jesus is saying here that if these disciples stay true to Him and
never deny Him, He will tell the Father and the angels in heaven that
these belong to Him. This is not just for them, but for us also. Jesus
is the Judge of the world, we stand or fall by Him.

     Luke 12:9 "But he that denieth me before men shall be denied
before the angels of God."

     Can you imagine how Peter felt when He denied Jesus 3 times
before the cock crew? You know his memory flashed back to this very
statement that Jesus had made. Peter, under a different set of
circumstances, even faced crucifixion proclaiming Jesus with every
breath in his body. This is saying that under all circumstances we are
not to deny Jesus.

     Luke 12:10 "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."

     This has always been a controversial Scripture. We must look at
the Holy Ghost and understand the person of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit
of the risen Christ. In my opinion, this sin is the sin of dying not
believing in the risen Christ. This is total rejection of God and His
teaching, choosing Satan over God. Just as Jesus was crucified from
the foundation of the earth, the Holy Spirit is eternal, as well.

     Luke 12:11 "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:"  Luke 12:12 "For the Holy
Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say."

     Jesus is telling them here to let God speak through them. The
words the Holy Ghost puts in your mouth will be what they should say
when they are questioned or even when they are ministering. Turn your
tongue over to God and let Him do the rest.

     Luke 12:13  "And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak
to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me."
     We see, here, someone who has eyes on the things of the world. He
might have been part of the group, but he certainly had not been
attentive to the Lord's teachings. He has his eyes fixed on worldly
wealth. He was perhaps, a younger son and had not received the first
born's portion. Jesus has more important things to do than to stop and
settle a family argument.

     Luke 12:14 "And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a
divider over you?"

     Jesus does not judge in secular or worldly matters. He is the
Judge of all the world in spiritual matters.

     Luke 12:15 "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of
covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the
things which he possesseth."

     Thou shalt not covet is one of the ten commandants. We are taught
that whatever state we find ourselves in, therewith to be content.
Jesus explains to Him that the physical part of life is really
unimportant. The important thing is to be right in the spirit.
Whether a person is rich or poor is not what gets them to heaven, but
whether their names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

     Luke 12:16 "And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground
of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:"  Luke 12:17 "And he
thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no
room where to bestow my fruits?"

     We see, here, (by the world's standards) a very prosperous man.
He must have been a good farmer. It appears that this crop was so
plentiful that he had more than even his barns could hold. A good
neighbor would have looked to the needs of the less fortunate and
shared this bountiful crop with them. It appears that he was not a
godly man, because he was just thinking of stacking up more and more
of the world's goods for himself. A self-centered, self-indulgent man
thinking of the here and now rather than storing up in heaven.

     Luke 12:18 "And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my
barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my
goods." Luke 12:19 "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much
goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be
merry."

     This self-centered man is only interested in his own welfare.
This is really a good example of the flesh controlling the soul. This
is, in fact, the opposite of what Jesus had been teachings the
Christians to do, if they were to inherit eternal life. In I Timothy
6:17 we read, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be
not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God,
who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;" I Timothy 6:18 "That they
do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing
to communicate;" I Timothy 6:19 "Laying up in store for themselves a
good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on
eternal life."

     Luke 12:20 "But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy
soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be,
which thou hast provided?"

     It is certain we came into the world with nothing, and this is
the way we will go out. The only treasure we will have is the treasure
of good deeds for others we stored ahead of time. Matthew 6:19 says it
all "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:" Matthew
6:20 "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor
steal:"

     Luke 12:21 "So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and
is not rich toward God."





































                          Luke 32 Questions

1.  What did Jesus tell the disciples to beware of with the Pharisees?
2.  What is a hypocrite?
3.  What is leaven symbolic of?
4.  That which ye have spoken in darkness ye shall ______.
5.  What will the housetop be like to the disciples?
6.  Fear not those who can ______ the _______.
7.  Fear the one that can do what?
8.  What did Jesus say that was sold for two farthings?
9.  What did Jesus say that was numbered on us?
10. If we confess Jesus here, who will He confess us before in heaven?
11. Under what circumstances are we not to deny Jesus?
12. What shall not be forgiven men?
13. What does the author think of this?
14. What are you to do when you are taken before the magistrate?
15. What is Jesus saying here?
16. What did one in the company ask Jesus to speak to his brother
    about?
17. How did Jesus answer him?
18. A man's life consisteth not in the_______of the things which he
    ______.
19. Which of the ten commandants covers this situation?
20. In the parable Jesus told, what had happened to the rich man?
21. Why would he not be classified as a godly man?
22. What did he say to his soul?
23. Whose welfare is he interested in?
24. In I Timothy 6:17 we read, charge them that are rich in this world
    that they _____________________ .
25. They must not trust in uncertain riches, but in _______.
26. What would happen to the man that night?