seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Luke 12:1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
Look at verse 1. Many thousands had gathered. By now, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the teachers of the law, were dispersing in the crowds. They had no choice. Jesus was way too slick to be caught in some mental traps set by them. Dr. Luke, who wrote this Gospel, told us in the last few verses, Jesus was invited to a dinner party in His honor. Yeah right! They had a law, apparently, about washing hands before dining with a Pharisee. Jesus violated that law and then told them how ridiculous they were!
So now, the Pharisees would hide in plain sight. They would intermingle in the crowd of thousands [like yeast intermingles with the sugar, flour, and water to become bread]. They were probably in plain clothes. They would listen for any hint of dissention from their laws. They'd get Him!
So, Jesus pulled His disciples aside and told them what was going on. He told them to watch what they said. The wrong people were listening, and they were anxious to use the words of the disciples and Jesus in the fake news and turn the crowd against Jesus.
Jesus told them not to worry, verse 4, and reminded them they were important to the Father.
Jesus also told them not to worry about their testimony when they are arrested and taken to the authorities. Those Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law would try to get them to testify against Jesus. That was the next plot [think Judas]. Jesus told them they would "know" what to say because the Spirit would teach them. In other words, tell the truth, right?
Jesus wasn't doing anything wrong. His disciples weren't doing anything wrong. They were healing and feeding the people. The law actually said, "treat others as you would have them treat you." That's what they were doing. So, crowds flocked to them for the healing and free food. Dr. Luke reported the healings.
The crowds though, the adoration though, the miraculous healings.... these were not something the Pharisees, Sadducees, or teachers of the law could duplicate. They probably couldn't draw a crowd of dozens, let alone many thousands. So, they figured they would infiltrate the crowds and disperse fake news about Jesus. When the time came, they wanted the whole crowd to be crying for His arrest and murder.
Jesus warned His disciples.
