Year 2, Week 35, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 35, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Luke 12.

Today’s reading records a series of Jesus’ instructions and interactions, particularly and He prepares His disciples for increased conflict from the Jewish religious establishment. Luke 12 opens with Jesus issuing a warning about the Pharisees: “In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Luke 12:1). The Pharisees are full of hypocrisy and therefore interaction with them is fraught with peril. Thus, Jesus warned His disciples against any form of hypocrisy that they might entertain, for God will bring to light what is done with concealed deceit: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops” (Luke 12:2-3). As today’s reading starts out, much of Luke 12 contains practical instructions for how the disciples will need to live: “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning” (Luke 12:35). A life that will entail conflict: “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:51).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was Jesus’ instructions about matters of the heart, such as fear, greed, and worry. Jesus gives His disciples a Word about fear: “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do” (Luke 12:4). Jesus gives to His disciples a Word on greed: "And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness” (Luke 12:15a). Jesus gives to His disciples a Word on worry: “And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on” (Luke 12:22). Jesus is teaching His disciples about much more than the behaviors of living as one of His followers; Jesus orients His disciples to be aware of the thoughts and affections of their hearts.

Disciples of Jesus are to grapple with the fear of living in a fear-filled world. His command is straightforward: “Fear not” (Luke 12:7b). Jesus provides a two-fold explanation. First, Jesus wants His disciples to have a right perspective concerning fear: “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” (Luke 12:6). There is a proper place for fear. Fearing God rightly can be a stabilizing influence against misdirected fear. The temptation that Jesus’ disciples face is to fear what other humans can do to them. Evil humans can, after all, kill. Being physically harmed or even killed is a matter of genuine concern, but actually there is something to be more feared than what a man can do. God can much more harm than physically kill. Fear that greater threat—fear eternal death. But Jesus also provides an altogether way to approach the matter of fear. Jesus reminds His disciples that they have a Father who loves and cares for them: “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered…you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7). Disciples can counter fear of man by fearing a God who loves them more than they can imagine.

Disciples of Jesus are to battle against covetous greed by realizing the fleetingness of riches: “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). The never satisfied urge and quest for more is countered by assessing the nature of what is truly valuable: “for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15b). One of the challenges of thinking that what really matters of the amount of stuff is that stuff is never enough—it always suggests that more is needed: “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods” (Luke 12:16b-18). But just as misdirected fear must be addressed through the reality of eternal life, so must the right assessment of how much stuff is enough: “But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (Luke 12:20). Disciples can counter greed by considering God and death.

Disciples of Jesus are to control worry by recognizing the futility of worry: “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Luke 12:25). Worry doesn’t accomplish anything helpful. But something constructive can unfold when priorities are shifted from ourselves and our concerns to the Lord and His interests: “Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:31). Worry reflects a heart void of concern for what the Lord is concerned about: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34). But in addition to the admonitions against worry as well as the redirection of what to focus life upon, worry can be stood against though consideration of the Father’s care: “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” (Luke 12:24).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe