READING: Luke 12 – Beware Hypocrisy, Acknowledge Christ, Rich Fool, Anxiety, & Understanding the Time

Thousands gathered around Jesus, and He said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” He said, “nothing is covered up that will not be revealed.” One day, everything you do is known, and hypocrisy is revealed.  

He said, “Do not fear those who kill the body, and can do nothing more; fear Him who can cast into hell.” Have a healthy fear of God but never fear man.  

Jesus said, “Everyone who acknowledges Me, I will acknowledge. Everyone who speaks a word against Me will be forgiven, but one who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” The Spirit is the last of the deity to speak to us; reject Him and reject your last opportunity.  

While Jesus spoke, a man in the crowd of thousands interrupted, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus said, “Who made me an arbitrator over you?” He warned against covetousness, “for one’s life does not consist in abundance of possessions.” 

He told the parable of the rich fool. A man had abundant crops and had no place to store them. So, he built bigger barns and said, “You have much laid up for years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul [life] is required of you, and who will have the things you prepared?” This is the way it is for all who lay up treasure for self without riches toward God. 

Covetousness comes from anxiety we will not have enough. Jesus said, “Do not be anxious about life, what you will eat, or what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.” Birds do not sow or reap; they have no storehouses or barns. “Yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than birds!” He also pointed to lilies and how they grew; here today and gone tomorrow! “Yet Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as these.” 

His point? We need to trust God to care for us instead of scrabbling for all we can get. “Seek His kingdom and these things will be added to you.” Sell possessions and give to the poor. Get moneybags that do not grow old because they hold treasures in the heavens, and “Where your treasure is, your heart will be.” 

And be ready for the coming of the Lord. You do not know the day or the hour He will come. “Blessed are those whom the master finds awake when He comes. He will serve them.”  

Jesus spoke to the hypocrites saying you can interpret weather signs, “but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” The Messiah was in front of them, but they called Him a blasphemer. 

“Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 4:14) 

It’s time to rise and shine! The Lord is coming! Be ready. 

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PRAY FOR YOURSELF 

O Father in Heaven, You have some hard sayings in this chapter, but they are sayings I need to live by. Give me the strength to live by them so that I may have moneybags of treasure in Heaven where You are banker. This is my prayer, in Jesus’s powerful name, I pray, AMEN! 

MY PRAYER FOR YOU (and for me) 

 Holy Father, I pray for all who may read these words (and for myself) that each of us will see and understand your concern for the poor. Help all of us to act on what You have said in this chapter. This is my prayer, in Jesus’s Holy Name, AMEN!