Fear Him and Fear Not
Luke 12:1-12 ·December 10, 2023· Joel Passmore
Part of: Luke
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Good morning again. If I haven't met you or haven't introduced myself, my name is Joel, and I'm happy to be serving today, and most every day, as your pastor. So, I don't know why I said today. I want to tell you guys a story as we get into Luke 12 today, and because I think it introduces some themes for this passage. When I was in late middle school, early high school, I was friends with a small group of guys, and we were not the best influence on each other, to put it mildly.
We did, and we said a lot of things that were pretty typical for knucklehead teenage boys, except that I was the one in the group that said I was a Christian.
One day, we were hanging out after school, and the crude jokes were flying around, as they often do, and I decided that I was going to try to impress them by upping the ante. Well, what I said was overheard by the guy's parents, whose house we were at, and he called up my mom and told her about it.
When I got home later that afternoon, my mom was waiting to talk to me, and her response really rattled me. She was shocked. She was embarrassed by what she had heard that I said. It was written all over her face. Seeing her response really gave a different gravity to the whole thing.
I knew immediately that back then when I was at my friend's house, I had made a really bad choice. I wanted my friend's approval. I wanted them to accept me, and I wasn't really thinking about anyone else, how they might respond if they heard what I said.
I wanted to fit in. I wanted to be a part of that group. Now, today's passage has these same themes in it. Jesus is warning us very clearly and directly about the fear of man, and he's saying, don't give in to it.
This idea of having a posture of heart where what we want more than God's approval is man's approval. And what happens when we go down that path? And I, it was a good lesson for me when I was a teenager, because what I said got exposed. Not a whole lot of things get exposed, but it got, it came to light.
So this passage really challenges us. Jesus challenges us with this question, whose approval matters most in your life? What choice are you going to make between the fear of man and the fear of God? So let's look at Luke 12 together and see what Jesus has for us. This is God's word. We should hear it and respond to it as what it is. Holy, reliable, trustworthy, and from a God that knows us and wants us to rest in his love. Okay? Luke 12.
In the meantime, when so many thousands of 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. 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. I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.
But I will warn you whom to fear. Fear him who, after he is killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 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. Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows. And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God. But the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. Pray with me.
God, give us hearts that pay attention today and that eagerly receive your word and eagerly rest in you instead of ourselves. Lord, we have much to learn from you. But I pray that it's not just a head knowledge thing, but that you would change our hearts. Break us free from the fear of man and help us to rest in you, Jesus, to fear God instead. Jesus, we pray this in your name. Fear him and fear not. Two seemingly contradictory things that Jesus says in this passage.
Fear him and fear not. In a hostile world, those who are truly aligned with God can live with assurance. Now the choice you can see clearly in this passage is laid before us. You've got a fork in the road every day. The fear of man or the fear of the Lord.
Now Jesus gives warnings about the fear of man and also some warnings about why we should fear God. And then it turns into this wonderful set of promises about what our life looks like when we fear God instead of man. So it's warnings about fear of man, warnings that drive us to the fear of God instead. And then we step into the promises and the wonderful life that happens when we fear God instead of man. That's the path we're going to go through today in this passage.
Let's start with this, the problem of the fear of man. So the beginning of this passage, Jesus' ministry is blowing up. It's going viral. It's even bigger than it was before. So many thousands of people were wanting to get to Jesus. They were trampling one another. It's like these things you hear about at concerts where there's a big push and people get trampled. But it's Jesus that people want to see. They want to get close to him. Let me ask you this.
How do you think you'd respond if you were a disciple? If you were someone who'd been following Jesus around for months, maybe even a year more, and you were now part of this throng, you're seeing thousands of people coming. I don't know about you, but I would be excited that it was happening, but I also might feel a little bit arrogant, a little bit superior. I'd start thinking, you know, I was here before all these people were here. I started following, you know, these are the bandwagon jumpers, but I was here before.
Jesus knows the human heart very, very well. He knows that popularity is captivating. It's fun to be part of something that's popular. It's even more fun when you were there before it got popular. With all these people looking at you, you can go down a perilous path, especially when those people look up to you somehow. There are many among the disciples that are going to be leaders in the early church. What kind of leaders are they going to be? What kind of impact are they going to have on people?
Jesus is thinking about all this. And so right then, when the crowds are swarming, Jesus gathers his disciples, not just the 12 apostles, but the probably up to 100 people that have been following him, that are called his disciples, gathers them together, and says to them first, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Because attention tempts us to hypocrisy. Last Sunday we looked at the Pharisees and everything that was said last week, turn back in your Bibles if you want to look at it again, everything that Jesus calls out the Pharisees and the scribes about, he summarizes it all as hypocrisy.
One label for the whole thing. Hypocrisy is a shapeshifter. It takes on so many different forms in our life. It can pop up in so many different ways. Hypocrisy is basically when our actions don't match our words.
Saying one thing and doing another. Judging other people by a higher standard than we judge ourselves to. But it's also when our hearts don't match our actions. So it's when our actions don't match our words, but it's also when our hearts don't match our actions. Hypocrisy is maintaining an outward appearance of piety and godliness and like we're holy people. But inside, not caring about what's happening deep down in the heart. That's hypocrisy. Or it's doing good for the desire of some kind of reward.
Not because you love God. That's also hypocrisy. Actions that don't match the heart. So words that don't match actions or actions that don't match the heart. That's hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is a contradiction aimed at deception. Contradiction aimed at deception. Trying to fool other people or fooling ourselves. Because sometimes the person that we're trying to fool is ourselves.
And here's the thing about hypocrisy. It does not take much to affect the whole thing. That's why Jesus calls it leaven. If you've ever done any baking or you've ever watched a baking show or something, you know it takes a tiny, tiny bit of yeast. You put it into the dough. You work it around. And boy, that little bit of yeast gets all through the dough. Right? It gets worked through. You can't even see it. It looks like it's gone. But lo and behold, the whole dough rises.
That's what hypocrisy is like. It doesn't take much before it infects you. And it changes so much about your life. So that's why Jesus is using a strong word. He says, beware. Beware of this. Don't sleep on it. Don't take it lightly. How seriously do we listen to Jesus here? As I've been looking at this passage this week, I keep looking at that word, beware. Do I beware? Or do I think, ah, you know, everyone's a hypocrite kind of. No, friends. Beware.
It's lack 11 that gets worked in. Before you know it, so many things about your spiritual life get twisted and are now upside down. Lord, search us and know us. See if there's any false way in us and lead us in the everlasting way.
But there's another time when the fear of man threatens to control us. The good news is that there's only basically two ways when the fear of man controls us. The good, it's just two things. The bad news is those two things cover basically everything. It's when we're getting positive attention from people that we tend to start to change who we are and about thinking about how it's going to look for them. But the other time is when people oppose us.
There's another type of attention from man. It's not the teach me. It's not the I'm listening to you. I'm paying attention. It's the when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities. It's not if but when Jesus says when they do those things.
There's even going to be some physical threats Jesus says. Their life may hang in the balance subject to those who kill the body. Jesus is not being metaphorical here.
The hostile authorities are after one thing denial of Jesus and his message. And opposition tempts us to denial. Now if you know your church history you know that the early church faced enormous hostility. The first 300 years Christians were dragged in front of rulers and authorities just like Jesus said. They were thrown into the Colosseum because of their faith.
Many Christians were martyred in 400 years after Jesus but the truth is more Christians were martyred in the 20th century than all other centuries combined. we need to remember that Jesus said this will happen. As grateful as I am to be living in a country where the gospel has been proclaimed freely for 200 years it's hard to deny that life in America has made Christians pretty entitled.
Entitled to government protection. Entitled to religious freedom. Church do you know that we're not entitled to these things? It's good when we have them but these things are the exception rather than the rule.
Not just based on history but based on what God tells us in his word. Look at this. Two apostles speaking to us. John says do not be surprised brothers that the world hates you.
Beloved Peter says do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. Do not be surprised. the religious freedom that Christians have enjoyed in the western world for 200 plus years is not guaranteed. We have no biblical reason no promise from God that it's going to go on forever. In fact God tells us the opposite and even now we see some of those things slipping away don't we?
Winter is coming. As you consider how you face hostility I'm under no illusions we live in the west the hostility we face is just a thimble full compared to some parts of the world even now even now but I want to help you think about how this passage applies to you where you face hostility in your life if you follow Jesus think about your workplaces think about the policies that you're being told to agree with and sign even though they're in conflict with biblical Christianity think about your classrooms where it's not just history and science and literature that are taught but what is right and wrong is getting taught where only one worldview is acceptable and it's not the worldview that aligns with the Christian faith and how Jesus described it think about social spaces in person and online where the echo chamber is so loud and most insistent that historic Christianity is not just outdated but dangerous that anyone who believes the Bible is the word of God like Jesus did by the way anyone who believes that is stupid at best and bigoted at worst all the messages we hear today they come louder and louder and louder and they will get louder as time goes on more and more pressure all pushing in one direction deny him walk away deconstruct your faith if you don't we're going to mock you and reject you if you do we'll call you enlightened now I seriously doubt that anyone here in your lifetime will actually face the possibility of losing your life on account of your faith if you stay in
this country I kind of doubt that that's going to happen but listen you may not lose your life but losing friends losing a job losing social standing losing privilege that's not only possible but extremely likely it's going to happen when we hear that I don't know about you but the fear of man starts to rise up in us the temptation to give into the fear of man is huge and so Jesus gives us an honest warning he shoots straight with us verse 2 nothing is covered up that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known now people demand the government to release its secrets all the time company whistleblowers get prime time interviews on major networks celebrity tell all books become bestsellers we have a huge appetite for truth to be revealed and the more salacious the more scandalous the better except when it's about us of course how would you like to walk into Barnes and Noble and there's a tell all section and it's like Pastor Joel the secrets revealed I mean I'm asking that about me how would you like it if that was you on the cover don't buy that book but how would you like it to see you on the cover how would you like someone who knows you intimately to be on prime time giving an interview Jesus has got to be honest with us because we don't want to hear this when it's when all is said and done no one wins at hide and seek no one our true allegiance is going to come to light and God is not neutral about it everyone who speaks a word against the son of man will be forgiven
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven I'll keep that up there blaspheming against the Holy Spirit is more serious look at John 16 Jesus says the Holy Spirit when he comes his job is to convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment that's what the Holy Spirit comes to God I don't want your forgiveness I don't need your forgiveness I want nothing to do with you the fact that you would even bring it up I'm calling that evil get away from me it's a persistent and decisive rejection of it is something God needs to deliver you from but if you're sincerely trying to follow Christ you're not going to accidentally stumble into this this is a persistent denial of God calling him and his work evil and Jesus wants us to know the consequences of this fear him who after he is killed has authority to cast into hell now hell is a difficult subject it's one that most people avoid but I just want to say this it's striking to see that Jesus isn't afraid to bring it up he speaks honestly about it in order to urge his disciples to take this matter seriously for Jesus God's judgment and punishment of sin is not some doctrine to hide in the closet to whisper to never bring up it's a reality that sobers us up this is not a philosophical debate that Jesus is having it's not a spirited conversation it's not debate class this is life and death fearing man is a dead end he's saying don't go down there instead fear him fear him who has real authority real
power but when we do fear him he also becomes the one who has real power to bless real power to change our lives to send us in a whole different direction than the fear of man takes us so let's talk about that this is the second section I've only got two sections today we talked about the problem when we fear man and here's the promise when we fear God this promise is so great it stretches into your past into past history it affects your present right now here today and it goes all the way and endures into your future that's how great this promise is look at this he values us he values us right after Jesus says to fear God he says are not five sparrows sold for two pennies and not one of them is forgotten before God the sparrow was the least expensive thing sold in the market at the time there was nothing that was cheaper the least expensive they of the smallest coin but God remembers them all even the ones being sold when we're suffering when we're feeling threatened we wonder if God has forgotten us Jesus wants us to know that God remembers he sees us even the hairs of your head are all numbered fear not you are of more value than many sparrows we read this and we think but Lord I'm under such pressure here it feels like my world is collapsing and what about the people who have died for your name Jesus how can you say fear not look at what they've been through look at what they're going through Jesus says before they died for my name I died for them there is nothing that we
endure that Christ hasn't already endured for us the threats that we face they need to be seen in light you were on his mind when he was suffering that's what Jesus is saying when he says you're remembered by God he died to deliver us from the greatest threat the eternal threat the psalmist says this the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him on those who hope in his steadfast love that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine to fear God instead of man means that you are no longer facing death Christ has tasted and received death in your place and he will never let you starve even in this life if you're hungry you are awaiting a time where you will never hunger or thirst again here's the second thing right now today he helps us when we fear God instead of fear man we don't in our own strength and resources living as God's people it's not a solo endeavor when you are withstanding the pressure when you're trying to fight against the fear of man you can be assured of divine help the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say you have a counselor you have a wise guide you have a line straight to heaven the spirit of God whispering in your ear reminding you of what is true of the promises that you have of who you are in Christ now notice Jesus doesn't promise an outcome his promise is that he's going to help us he doesn't promise what's going to happen next whatever outcome happens you can have peace that understanding your life
is hidden with Christ and God it's not up to what happens you're not judged on that anymore the spirit reminds you you belong to him have no fear the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom the psalmist says all those who practice it have a good understanding the last thing is this and it's the best maybe I shouldn't say that they're all great but this one stands out to me he claims us he claims us when we're getting disowned by the world you can rest in the promise that God himself claims us this promise extends into our future because there's a time when you're going to see God face to face and for those who fear God something amazing is going to happen Jesus says everyone who acknowledges me before men the son of man will also acknowledge before the angels of God as weighty as it feels to acknowledge God before men and it does feel weighty sometimes when you swallow hard and you think am I going to stand with Jesus right now or am I going to give in that's hard when you're facing that you need to remember listen the weightier thing by far is that the God of the universe is going to point to you and say he belongs to me she belongs to me he's going to look at you and call you up and say there she is I know her I know her and she's mine come on up here he's going to look at you and say oh I know you you you're mine come in come in son daughter come into your rest come take a seat at this table your name has been written on this card come sit down you belong here angels of
God listen to me they belong here listen I know some of you are the type that don't like to get up in front of people that don't like a big fuss to be made about you but I promise you you you're not going to mind this one bit you're not going to mind it one bit for the Lord of heaven and earth for the Son of God to say to get that look on his face of recognition I what does the fear of man get us relationships that are paper thin and fragile that dissolve the moment that we do something wrong but the psalmist says this the friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him the friendship of the Lord he makes known to them his covenant what better friend could we ask for than God himself he is strong he is loving he knows us he cares for us who am I who are you that he should be mindful of us that he should call us his friend but that's what he does when we fear him that's what he calls us he calls us his own now and forever so church fear God and fear not what can man do to you he can't take away what is given to you in Christ let's pray Jesus we thank you for the warnings you give us here help us to to be sober minded about the truth about judgment your holiness your justice Lord it does matter who we align ourselves with and we pray that you would help us to walk in a consistent confession of even in the face of people giving us approval that tempts us to hypocrisy even in the face of opposition that tempts us to compromise Lord keep us strong Lord we know that just like Peter
was restored that you will restore us when we have moments of weakness thank you for calling us your friend for claiming us for valuing us for equipping us Jesus the promises of fearing you and fearing your father are so great more than we deserve help us to walk in the fear of God we pray this Jesus in your name