You Are Valuable

This shows us that following Jesus is a black and white matter. Not something that we can be wishy washy about.

Following Jesus is an action that takes the heart. The outward appearance of religion isn’t enough.

Warning Against Hypocrisy

Hypocrite is borrowed from an ancient term taken from the theatre. A hypocrite is basically an actor.

The problem with hypocrisy, is it is deceitfulness.

It is deceitful to those who are around us, It is deceitful to us because we might convince ourselves we are right in the eyes of God.

God looks beyond our acting, and looks at our hearts.

Isaiah 29:13

Isaiah 29:13 ESV

13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

This is a basic understanding of what a hypocrite does. They honor God with their mouths, but their hearts are far from Him.

This is why it’s not just about your actions, but where your heart is at with the actions.

Spreads like Leaven

Leaven creates fermentation. Because of this leaven represented decay and corruption to the Jewish community.

During the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread they would get rid of the leaven in their houses.

Background: Exodus 12:15-20

Leaven, yeast, when it gets into the dough it will cause not only to decay but it causes the rest of the dough to be leavened. It spreads.

Jesus is referencing all of these things in this passage the corruption of the Pharisees, the fact that it spreads.

When one person starts down the self-righteous path of hypocrisy, others who don’t want to appear as “less holy” will join in with the hypocrisy.

Galatians 2:11-14

Galatians 2:11–14 ESV

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

The apostles were even susceptible to it. Playing the actor in order to seem holier than others.

Paul stops it when he see’s it.

All Will Be Revealed

v.2

Your hypocrisy will not remain a secret. You will have to give an account for your hypocrisy.

God is not mocked, He sees all things, He knows all things.

Ecclesiastes 12:14

Ecclesiastes 12:14 ESV

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Playing the hypocrite doesn’t just go along the lines of being a religious person in order to be looked up to. But also hiding the faith that is in you from those who are around you.

Fear No Man

v.4

Don’t fear those who can only kill you.

Where is Your Home?

If we consider why we were born, what our condition now is, how short this life is. We have no reason to cling anxiously to this earthly life.

We become to fixated on the temporal instead of the eternal.

Colossians 3:1-2

Colossians 3:1–2 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

IF we have been raised, IF your hope is in Jesus not this world, IF you recognize this world is not your home.

Then set your mind on things above.

Here is the crux, Fear will cripple you, to where you might shy away from the gospel and shy away from doing what you are called to do.

When we give into the fear of man, we have no respect for God.

Respect God

Fear God

A Walk with God: Luke 60. A Warning against Hypocrisy (Luke 12:1–7)

This does not mean that we should be quaking for fear of the presence of God, or think that he is out to get us. The fear that we are to have for God is a fear of offending him, a fear born of awe, reverence and humility before his majesty.

We have respect for God, we have an awe of God, we revere God.

Joshua 24:14-15

I wonder if Joshua struggled with fear, God tells him time and time again do not fear. The Lord gives us what we need, I wonder if that was something he struggled with.

Joshua 24:14–15 ESV

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

The fear causes us to serve Him and put away other things we might turn to.

But, Choose this day whom you will serve.

After Jesus restates this point again in v.5, FEAR HIM

Your Are Valuable

After Jesus reassures the people, you don’t have to fear, because you are valuable.

Do we stop and think about this? We are have value to God? So much that He paid the ultimate price for us.

Do you understand the depth of the love that God has for you.

Jesus doesn’t guarantee protection from death, but affirms that God controls the final destiny of men, that God is aware of what we are going through, and that you are of value to God.

v.7

Acknowledge Jesus

v.8-9

Jesus has made the point that you are valuable, then He states this to light a fire of perseverance under us.

There is a punishment, we don’t want to deny Jesus.

There was temptation to do so.

John 12:42

John 12:42 ESV

42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;

People didn’t want to confess for fear of the pharisees.

Jesus is pointing out, the Pharisees aren’t Godly, they are hypocrites. Don’t deny me for their sake, stand strong!

He called the believers in Smyrna to do the same.

Revelation 2:10

Revelation 2:10 ESV

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

The believers in Jerusalem were afraid of being excommunicated from the synagogue. In Smyrna it was even worse.

What do you stand in fear of? What stops you from living your fullest for Christ?

Remember that you are loved by God.

Is it difficult to stand strong? Rely on God, turn to Him for strength.

Jude 24-25

Jude 24–25 ESV

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.