"At this time, after so many thousands of the crowd had gathered together that they were trampling on one another, He began saying to His disciples first, "Be on your guard for the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.
"But I say to you, My friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."
We finally find ourselves at the half-way point in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12, which is right in the heart of Jesus' ministry. Sometimes, I find myself getting so wound up about the message I'm preaching, that I often can't seem to finish the message I'm preaching on. You understood that, right? Well, let me try to explain, more often than not, the message I'm preaching on isn't just a bunch of words written on a page, not from lack of preparation, but because of the sheer weight of the souls that are hanging in the balance. The Word of God is a flame in my soul, a flame that ignites a fire that burns so fiercely that it frequently consumes the very oxygen that I need to carry it to the end.
Even though I initially may start strong, with the Truth catapulting me forward, somewhere along the way, the emotional weight of the message I'm preaching grips me harder than I anticipated, often baring the scars of my own vulnerability, that leaves the initial message unable to be finished in the time we're allotted. I suppose I would liken the sensation to the amplified response of "fight-or-flight" in a high-stakes performance situation, and my heart begins to accelerate not from nerves, but from the message's compelling moral imperative that demands a response. I have found this is especially true on message topics that I'm extremely passionate about. It's like reaching into the road to Hell and pulling people back, however, unbridled passion runs the risk veering off the road and landing into the ditch of self-focused performance, where the preacher becomes the focus rather than the message, echoing Paul's warning in 2 Corinthians 4, not to tamper with God's Word through manufactured fervor. I'm just curious, where is the weeping of genuine intercession and mourning over sin in the pastors prayers and preaching today? Pastors, by nature, should be "weepers" particularly for the lost and the deceived, knowing consequences of sin and rejection of God’s mercy. Our tears are not a sign of weakness, but a reminder that Christ loves sinners and cares for every soul.... I believe that any preacher who is not deeply moved by the Gospel they proclaim is merely preaching the Word from the mouth, rather than the heart, rendering the message cold and ineffective. I find it terribly disturbing that many church leaders are more concerned with modeling their ministries after prosperous corporate figures, showcasing their entrepreneurial acumen and employing branding strategies for church expansion, rather than following the characteristics commanded in the Word of God, and we wonder why the world views the church as a "bunch of hypocrites?" I am convinced that any church leader who is actively rebelling against the Word of God, is no longer qualified to be called "a pastor." The damage that ungodly leaders heading up unbiblical "churches" producing lukewarm, half-hearted, superficial converts have done to the church's witness has been nothing less than catastrophic, and quite frankly, can no longer to be endured.
Does not the Apostle Paul explicitly warn us against such conformity to the world in Romans 12:2, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect." God’s will is good because God Himself He is good, and what is good, is pleasing to Him because it aligns with His character. You can never please God by living in what God calls sin, which will culminate in eternal consequences. Do Not Be Deceived: No faithful teacher of the Word of God will ever affirm any sin that God condemns. If you are living in a pattern of habitual disobedience to God, I beseech you to repent and trusting in God's mercy and grace or you will face God's judgment and wrath. My goal is not to instill fear but to call sinners to genuine repentance leading to true Salvation and awaken those who are self-deceived about their true spiritual condition.
Ezekiel 36:26, "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." The Christian life is not merely a set of rules to be followed but a path to embraced through the renewal of your heart. I am absolutely convinced that Scripture teaches that any church leader who actively rebels against the Word of God, has forfeited his calling of pastor. As those of you who have been with us for any length of time know, I have continued to confront the controversial "hot button" topics of the state of the church and the character and integrity of pastors frequently, which as you know opens up all kinds of possibilities. In John 18, Jesus clearly says, "My kingdom is not of this world." So, because the kingdom of God exists in direct opposition to the kingdom of darkness, the church is not to have fellowship with the world. To profess to be a follower of Christ, while continuing to live as the world lives is diametrically opposed to Christ's teaching. Its what we commonly refer to as a hypocrite, someone who pretends to be someone they're not.
But, before we dive into our text and uncover these profound truths, let's pray.
Today, we find ourselves right in the heart of Jesus' ministry and the air is think, you can cut the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders with a knife. They have just publicly interrogated Him, in order to provoke Him to a response they could trap in with. He is well aware of the inward hypocrisy that is bubbling beneath their highly polished outward exteriors. And in verses 1-5, He begins to unpack a timeless message for all of us today: Beware of the insidious influence of the subtle poisonous nature of pretense, it ultimately severs connection with the Truth, instead embrace the One Who holds both Truth and eternity in His hands. To believe the Word of God, is a call to embrace the Truth, to choose what is real over what is comfortable, its a call to radical to authenticity, to recognize that true wisdom does not come from human cleverness but the One Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Open your Bibles with me to the Gospel of Luke, Luke chapter 12, verses 1 through 7. I invite you to following along with me, to set the text in our minds, then, with the Holy Spirit's leading, we'll get started. Luke 12:1-7
"At this time, after so many thousands of the crowd had gathered together that they were trampling on one another, He began saying to His disciples first, "Be on your guard for the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.
"But I say to you, My friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."
Let's begin by looking at verse 1, "At this time, after so many thousands of the crowd had gathered together that they were trampling on one another, He began saying to His disciples first, "Be on your guard for the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Luke begins with "At this time," on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Jesus, being the center of attention, immediately after being publicly interrogated by the religious, surrounded by thousands of people who are trampling over each other just to hear Him, and instead of addressing the massive crowds, He turns the tables, and puts the Pharisees on blast, exposing the hypocrisy of their hearts, turning toward His disciples saying Beware: "Be on your guard for the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Jesus is giving a command to His disciples—including you and me— protect yourselves, guard your hearts like a sentinel at the gate. The phrase "like a sentinel at the gate" refers to a guard or watchman stationed at a specific location, such as a critical entry point, like the gate of a fortress, to defend their territory. It evokes the image of the Silent Sentinels, a name coined by Harriot Stanton Blatch, which encapsulates their use of silence as a strategic form of protest outside the White House during Woodrow Wilson's tenure, beginning on January 10, 1917. They stood with placards and banners bearing messages like "Mr. President, how long must women wait for liberty?" This strategy was designed to highlight the systemic oppression faced by disenfranchised women deprived of their voting rights.
Jesus calls the Pharisees' hypocrisy leaven because outwardly it appears to be harmless—but, on the inside, it's dangerous, quietly spreading corruption. Hypocrisy is the Greek word "hypokrisis" which comes from theater—the practice of wearing masks to play roles. It later came to mean the pretense of claiming to have a virtuous character, whether moral or religious, that one really does not possess. The Pharisees mastered the art of hypocrisy, with their misplaced priorities; long pious prayers, public generosity and dramatic displays of fasting for public recognition, meticulous tithing of mint and cumin, while neglecting the more important matters like justice, mercy, and compassion. Unfortunately, hypocrisy isn't ancient history, many Christians today appear to be righteous, but inwardly are harboring hypocrisy and corruption, devoid of genuine love for God or their neighbor. Self-examination of our own hearts is crucial to ensure that our faith is rooted deeply in authenticity and not merely performing good deeds for human approval. If you're just starting out as a new follower of Jesus Christ, don't aim for perfection; strive for faithfulness. God isn't impressed by your performance; however, He is moved by your faithful pursuit of Him.
Verse 2, "But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known." This is pretty straightforward, nothing is truly hidden from Him, no one can escape being exposed by Christ's inescapable gaze. In the end, everything done in secret will be revealed. People may think they're getting away with something, and they might for a while, but if you're a hypocrite, sooner or later, it will come out. Time always reveals the truth, time and truth go hand in hand. David, said to be a man after God's own heart, knew this intimately and understood it well. Remember his sin with Bathsheba, and the arranged murder of Uriah—sealed in royal secrecy? But God —I love that phrase—sent Nathan the prophet with a parable, and his word cuts like a surgeon's scalpel, "You are the man!" You can read more in 2 Samuel 12:1-15. As Christians, we are commanded to give our attention to the Word of God, proclaiming the Truth that will uncomfortably convict sinners, not conform to the evils of the world. Proverbs 17:15 says, "He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord." Scripture repeatedly commands you must "Repent and believe the Gospel." Sadly, there are many who are only going through the motions, lacking genuine reverence and awe toward God, that arises from recognizing God's true holiness and greatness, which should prompt obedience. It is also the end of human wisdom, imagining ourselves to be equal with God. Which I believe explains why so many professing Christians blatantly sin while still expecting to enter His Kingdom. One reason to fear God, is nothing escapes His knowledge, not a single thought, word, or action is unknown by Him. Absolutely nothing. Stop and think about that for a moment. That's why in Psalm 139:7-10, David declares, Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me." While God is fully present within it, He is uniquely distinct from it.
In verse 3, Jesus doesn't stop at the warning; He explains the consequences, "Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops." What's the point of His saying that? It's a very powerful metaphorical way of indicating the inevitable divine transparency. It's not just metaphorical, it's also prophetic. When you stand face to face before the Lord on the ultimate day of exposure, every attempt at cover-up will crumble, you are not going to get away with anything, in the end, God's going to reveal the truth about every hidden secret! A stark reminder that every hypocrite is going to be revealed for what they really are! Have you noticed recently that God has been exposing the hidden actions of many devout Christian family man, who have long upheld the name of Jesus Christ, as their pristine, once-spotless reputations are suddenly being shattered as the reality of their hidden behaviors are being unveiled? In Jesus' day, there were no safety deposit boxes, no wall safes or even basements, the "inner rooms refer to private, secluded areas in the middle of the house, often used for confidential conversations and typically, it was also where a persons valuables were kept, the outer walls were made of mud, a thief could easily dig through. I'm sure you remember when Jesus warned against the pursuit of earthly treasures which are vulnerable to thieves breaking in at night to stealing them, then, urging His followers instead to lay up treasures in heaven where such threats do not exist. He was also underscoring the futility of trying to conceal one's actions or true intentions of the heart from God, warning that nothing is hidden from His sight.
In verses 4 and 5, Jesus says, "But I say to you, My friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! " I'd like you to notice that Jesus isn't scolding His disciples, He's tenderly providing reassurance, comfort and strength to them amidst the warnings, by instructing them not to fear those who can only kill the body, as their power ends upon your death, then, there's nothing more human persecutors can do to you. God alone holds ultimate authority over both body and soul, including the power to judge and to cast someone into Hell. I believe Jesus is emphasizing the importance of spiritual faith over physical fear, as well as the eternal consequences of one's actions. False teachers desire to profit from godliness, so they attempt to usurp the Holy Spirit's role by creating a sense of fear and dependency, they want you to bow at their feet so they can take all that you've got, the price you pay for being connected you to God. No wonder Jesus warns us in Matthew 7, to "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." In 1 Timothy 5, Paul even taught that persistent false teachers should be rebuked publicly, so that the rest may stand in fear. Never once are we told to fear Satan, only to resist him and flee from his temptations.
Then, in verse 6, Jesus reinforces His point that fear should be reserved for God alone by using the imagery of five unremarkable sparrows, valued at only a few coins, highlighting that yet not one sparrow on the planet is forgotten by God. "Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God." Two assaria was pocket change, amounting to 1/16th of a denarius, a laborer's daily wage.
And, if He knows and cares for every sparrow, surely He knows and cares about you, who is worth much more than they. The author of Psalm 84:3 declares, "Even the bird has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she sets her young, at Your altars, O Yahweh of hosts, my King and my God." In Matthew 6:26, Jesus echoes this same sentiment, when He says "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" Jesus isn't peddling pleasant platitudes, He's arming us against fear's grip.
That brings us to verse 7, "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows." Your worth isn't earned; it's predestined. This isn't hyperbole, its hyper-reality. God is not subject to our limitations, He inventories the seemingly insignificant by human standards, to serve His greater, eternal plans, when aligned with His will, demonstrating that His power and wisdom are not diminished by smallness but are significantly magnified through it. In 1 Corinthians 1:27-31, the apostle Paul echoes this principle when he wrote, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may abolish the things that are, so that no flesh may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."
Beloved, this is where fear flees, knowing that if God sustains the sparrow, surely He'll sustain you. So, how do we apply what we've learned here today? When anxiety knocks on the door, trust in God's provision, and the peace of God will guard your hearts, remembering that no one is forgotten, not even a single sparrow. God made us all in His image, and yet, we tend to sell people short every day.
Next, whatever we do for others, we do for God. In Matthew 25,, "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’"
Then, He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
You can't out give God, I know, I have personally experienced this in my own life. So, even in your poverty, give generously, it proves we trust God to provide for our needs. Finally, since we are God's masterpieces, we can trust the Artist. We must be sure to share our story of salvation with even just one person every day, tell them how God completely changed our lives. In other words, we must live noticed, love noticeably, fully present, cultivating mindfulness and gratitude, recognizing every opportunity presented to us to mirror God's loving care to those around us, so that your transformed life may be made manifest to be visibly observed by others that will ultimately leave a lasting impact on the lives we touch. God sees you—and that's enough!