LUKE 12

 The crowds following Jesus had swelled and people were trampled. 

Jesus told His disciples, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisee, which is hypocrisy." Nothing will be kept secret. Also, do not be afraid of those who can only kill the body; but fear Him who not only can kill the body but can send your soul to hell. Know that God values His own more than the sparrows, whom He does not forget. 

Jesus also told them that whoever confesses Him before men, He will confess before God; but he who denies Him before men will be denied before God. Anyone who speaks against Him will be forgiven, but if he blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Do not worry what you should say when they bring you before authorities because the Holy Spirit will help you.

Then a man in the crowd wanted Jesus to tell his brother to share half of the inheritance, and Jesus said He was not come to arbitrate and warned him of covetousness because life is more than our possessions. Then Jesus gave a parable: A man enjoyed plenty from his fields and decided to build a bigger barn to store all of his goods. He told himself that he could relax for years: "eat, drink, and be merry." But the Lord called him a fool because that night God required his soul, and after his death, his possessions were no longer his but someone else's. 

So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Jesus told His disciples not to worry about their lives, what they will eat or drink or wear because life is more than food and the body is more than clothing. You cannot add to your life by worrying. God cares for His creation, how much more will He care for you, "O you of little faith?"

Seek the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you. 

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Jesus also warned them to be ready and waiting for when the Master returns. Watch and be ready for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Be a faithful and wise steward that when the Son of Man returns will find his servants doing his work. Those who slack will be cut off. 

And those who do not know better will be given less punishment, but to those who knew and still slacked, much more will be required of them. 

Jesus told His disciples that He came to send fire on the earth, but first He must be crucified. Jesus did not come to bring peace, but division. There will be divisions among families where some believe and others do not. 

Finally, He pointed out that Israel knows the sign of the skies, but they are not able to discern the times. 

COMMENTARY

Jesus did not want to judge the man regarding the inheritance with his brother because that is not why He came the first time; He came to save. However, during His Second Coming He will sit in judgement. However, Jesus did warn the man to be careful of covetousness, which is why He told the parable of the foolish rich man who stored up his goods in a barn and then died the next day. His attitude was sinful because he was selfish, self-centered, and materialistic. He coveted wealth and luxury. Better it would be if he stored up his treasures in heaven. Life is not all there is. Man has an eternal soul, and one day he must give an account for his life in the presence of God. 

The parable about the master returning from the wedding pertains to Israel regarding Jesus' Second Coming. When Jesus returns for His Church at the time of the rapture as the bridegroom, He should find His believers ready and doing His will, and they will rise to meet Him in the air. However, where "bridegroom" changes to "thief in the night," that is an unexpected return. That is His Second Coming.

Believers should live in the "expectancy of His return." But we must be working for the kingdom until that day. Christians will appear before the judgement seat of Christ to give an account for their works. It is not a judgment for salvation because that had already been determined. It is for rewards, just as there will be degrees for punishment.  

Second Coming of Christ -