The Word Is Alive The Gospel of Luke

1. The Word Is AliveThe Gospel of Luke Chapter Twelve Presented by Tony Gillon

2. Chapter Twelve • Luke 9:51–19:27 - • The Journey to Jerusalem (continues)

3. Chapter Twelve • Luke 9:51–19:27 - • The Journey to Jerusalem (continues) • Luke 9:51–13:21 - • The first mention of the journey to Jerusalem • (continues)

4. Chapter Twelve • Luke 9:51–19:27 - • The Journey to Jerusalem (continues) • Luke 9:51–13:21 - • The first mention of the journey to Jerusalem • (continues) • Luke 11:27–13:9 - • Various warnings and teachings (continues)

5. The Journey to Jerusalem • Summary of Chapter Twelve • Further instructions for the disciples.

6. The Journey to Jerusalem • Summary of Chapter Twelve • Further instructions for the disciples. • Jesus states that all will be revealed.

7. The Journey to Jerusalem • Summary of Chapter Twelve • Further instructions for the disciples. • Jesus states that all will be revealed. • The unforgivable sin.

8. The Journey to Jerusalem • Summary of Chapter Twelve • Further instructions for the disciples. • Jesus states that all will be revealed. • The unforgivable sin. • The Parable of the Rich Farmer.

9. The Journey to Jerusalem • Summary of Chapter Twelve • Further instructions for the disciples. • Jesus states that all will be revealed. • The unforgivable sin. • The Parable of the Rich Farmer. • Jesus’ coming has brought strife.

10. The Journey to Jerusalem • Luke 12:1-12 – Warnings and encouragements

11. The Journey to Jerusalem • Luke 12:1-12 – Warnings and encouragements • Jesus publically charges and teaches his disciples to guard against hypocrisy and to fear no one except God.

12. The Journey to Jerusalem • Luke 12:1-12 – Warnings and encouragements • Jesus publically charges and teaches his disciples to guard against hypocrisy and to fear no one except God. • I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you (John 15:15).

13. The Journey to Jerusalem • 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.

14. The Journey to Jerusalem • A crowd of many thousands indicates that crowds continue to increase and provide proof that Jesus is of God. 

15. The Journey to Jerusalem • When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honoured by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. (Continued).

16. The Journey to Jerusalem • Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilæan appeared in the days of the census* and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. (Continued).

17. The Journey to Jerusalem • Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. • (Acts 5:33–39).

18. The Journey to Jerusalem • The census referred to by Gamaliel is not the one of around the time of Jesus’ birth but one held about AD6.

19. The Journey to Jerusalem • The census referred to by Gamaliel is not the one of around the time of Jesus’ birth but one held about AD6. • Be on your guard against the yeastor leaven of the Pharisees. Leaven is a metaphor for the self-centred hypocritical approaches of the Pharisees in Luke 11:37–54.

20. The Journey to Jerusalem • Leaven is fermented dough and a small amount was kept from each week to add to the new batch to make that rise. • This is an analogy with how sin can spread through a church fellowship if not dealt with.

21. The Journey to Jerusalem • Personal comment: • This passage has nothing to do with eating raised bread at Communion but could be associated with guarding against cuckoos in the church nest!

22. The Journey to Jerusalem • 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.

23. The Journey to Jerusalem • Everything will be disclosed and be made • known by God. • For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. (Luke 8:17).

24. The Journey to Jerusalem • For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. • (Acts 17:31).

25. The Journey to Jerusalem • Roofs were commonly flat and were used as living space. • About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance (Acts 10:9–10).

26. The Journey to Jerusalem • 4 I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.

27. The Journey to Jerusalem • Do not be afraid of those who kill the body: • Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them (Luke 11:47).

28. The Journey to Jerusalem • Do not be afraid of those who kill the body: • Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them (Luke 11:47). • Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute’ (Luke 11:49).

29. The Journey to Jerusalem • Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Continued).

30. The Journey to Jerusalem • For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35–39).

31. The Journey to Jerusalem • 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

32. The Journey to Jerusalem • The second fear refers to God (him) who at the final judgment has poweror authority to throwor cast you into hell.

33. The Journey to Jerusalem • The second fear refers to God (him) who at the final judgment has poweror authority to throwor cast you into hell. • Repetition (fear him) gives this command additional emphasis.

35. The Journey to Jerusalem • 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

36. The Journey to Jerusalem • The observation about sparrows and the hairs on your head show God’s providential care over the smallest details of life.

37. The Journey to Jerusalem • The observations about sparrows and the hairs on your head show God’s providential care over the smallest details of life. • Worth more signals a ‘lesser to greater’ argument. If God even cares about sparrows how much greater is his care for every one of his own children?

38. The Journey to Jerusalem • Human beings are valuable as they are made in the very image of God, who loves us so much: • That he gave his one and only Son. • (John 3:16b).

39. The Journey to Jerusalem • Don’t be afraid or fear not. • Reverential fear of God (v.5) results in not needing to fear anyone or anything else.

40. The Journey to Jerusalem • 8 I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9 But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.

41. The Journey to Jerusalem • Disowns or denies me before men: • Peter did: But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said (Luke 22:57). • Although he was later reconciled, we should not take that chance and should remain faithful to Christ in all circumstances.

42. The Journey to Jerusalem • Personal comment: • A Christian can easily avoid persecution by denying that he or she is Jesus’ disciple. But the true disciple does not fear death and will publicly acknowledge and confess Jesus. The eternal consequences for those who deny Christ in fact will be far worse than the persecution that they sought to avoid.

43. The Journey to Jerusalem • 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.

44. The Journey to Jerusalem • Speaks a word against, will be forgiven versus blasphemes against, will not be forgiven. • Key to understanding this passage is the distinction Jesus makes between on one hand the extreme case of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and on the other hand the lesser case of speaking in a dishonourable way against the Son of Man.

45. The Journey to Jerusalem • Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the persistent and unrepentant resistance against the work of the Holy Spirit and his message concerning Jesus.

46. The Journey to Jerusalem • Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the persistent and unrepentant resistance against the work of the Holy Spirit and his message concerning Jesus. • You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! • (Acts 7:51).

47. The Journey to Jerusalem • The person who persists in hardening his heart against God, against the work of the Holy Spirit and against the provision of Christ as Saviour, is outside the reach of God’s provision for forgiveness and salvation. • Christians often worry that they have committed this sin but such a concern is itself evidence of openness to the work of the Spirit.

48. The Journey to Jerusalem • Blasphemy is attributing to Satan what is accomplished by the power of God and doing this through the flagrant, wilful and persistent rejection of God and his commands. • This sin is committed today only by unbelievers who deliberately and unchangeably reject the ministry of the Holy Spirit in calling them to salvation.

49. The Journey to Jerusalem • All the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them (Mark 3:28b). • This anticipates the eternally valid substitutionary atonement of Jesus.

50. The Journey to Jerusalem • 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.