Can you imagine going out driving and not knowing the significance of the road signs along the way? Such an attitude would not only be highly irresponsible but rather stupid. There are signs and warnings and cautionary indicators in the spiritual field too and it would be wise to pay heed and give serious attention to those matters God draws our attention to in Luke Chapter 12.
It is most interesting to see how the pace can suddenly change when reading a New Testament Gospel. We certainly note that in Luke Chapter 12. The momentum appears to be increasing. The crowds are increasing - the pace is becoming faster - the conflict is becoming sharper. Why? What is happening? What is going on? And, what is the relevance for us today?
There is this growing open conflict between Jesus Christ and the religious leaders of the day. That very often happens.
There is a conflict between Jesus Christ, The Lord, the King - and those who thought they were important people. Many are gathering around Jesus for various reasons - but Jesus priority is to teach disciples. Jesus wants to give His Chosen Men words of advice and encouragement.
It is good to take time - to look at these scenes in the life of Jesus - the ministry of Jesus - the methods of Jesus - the priorities of Jesus - the conflict which confronted Jesus.
His resolute determined decision is to go to Jerusalem - to face Jerusalem - the Cross with all the accompanying painful agony and shame. Jesus is going to carry out His Father's Will. He is not giving in - not taking an easier route - not compromising - but facing it - confronting it - showing these disciples and us what it is really like - and all this is being done to save us - to show us mercy - to offer man forgiveness - to wash us from our sin - to rescue us from hell.
In the middle of doing all this - Jesus wants to give His Chosen Men words of advice and encouragement.
Over the years - many have said - "If only the Church would keep to the teaching of Jesus - forget about all the doctrine - all this teaching what you should believe - about sin and obedience - if only people would hear the words of Jesus and try to live as Jesus lived."
There are those who think that doctrine clutters up the Church - NO. False doctrine does. If there is no doctrine - no teaching - if we do not know what we believe and why - soon there will be no church - not that will ever happen - because Jesus will just give the kingdom to others.
"If only we kept to what Jesus did and taught - without things like having to be born again." Now, I have heard that.
But that is part of what Jesus taught - and part of what He did and does is pour out the Holy Spirit.
We need to be able to answer people when they confront is with very real questions. Many are sincere. They would like to live the way Jesus lived - but man cannot until he is born again - and even then it is hard.
Jesus never offered disciples a soft cushioned road to walk.
When you hear people saying - "If only the Church would stick to what Jesus did and said and taught - without having to go to services and meetings and that clutter." Think of that in the light of the Luke Chapter 12 passage.
"Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy." What does Jesus mean?
Watch out for those who come along - their hypocrisy could affect you - negatively - in a bad way - and give you a bad experience - like yeast in bread - influencing you in a wrong way.
There are times when I have wanted to say to people - "Eh, which words of Jesus do you want us to keep to - and which words of Jesus would you wish us to ignore and overlook and forget?"
Beware of the Pharisees - Jesus pointed them out to be hypocrites - those legalistic puritans - and they could influence you negatively and adversely.
The Christian Life is like a journey - and what Jesus is doing here is pointing out some of the hazards along the way. There are hazards - pitfalls - dangers - and Jesus wants us to avoid them. That is why He points them out.
As we travel through life we need signposts, and Jesus Christ gives us the signposts we need. Jesus warns us of what could hinder us, or even bring us to a halt, but He also shows us the way to go.
Jesus says to disciples, "Beware of hypocrites".
What is a hypocrite? It is important that we know. It is good to know what the sign means if you are out driving.
'Hypocrite' is a word from the theatre of the day. If you had gone to the theatre in the first century, and if you enjoyed the play, you would have come away saying, "These are good hypocrites. That production had some fine hypocrites in it." A hypocrite was an actor, and what you did was put a mask over your face to portray the part - a sad mask or a smiling mask - a serious mask or a comedy mask.
Jesus is saying to His men - "Beware of those who put on a front - watch out for those who are just playing a role in religion." No wonder they had this man arrested and crucified.
Religious sham and acting is futile in the eyes of Jesus Christ - and Jesus speaks about hypocrisy as being like yeast - it acts like yeast.
1. You need only a little to affect the lot.
2. Yeast spreads very quickly.
3. Yeast works invisibly and silently and secretly - it works in a hidden way - unseen - sometimes you do not know what is going on.
Nothing is covered up that shall not one day be uncovered. If we try to hide something, one day it will be revealed. Many discover that these words of Jesus just happen to be true, and very often they discover it too late!
Jesus goes on to refer specifically to our words - to our conversation - things we have said secretly and hypocritically - hoping that only some people would hear us - and hoping that some people would not hear us. One day - all will be revealed.
This is important teaching. Don't pretend. We are not in the theatre. What you are on the inside will show up sooner or later - the GOOD as well as the bad.
The article When Warned To Watch Out For Hypocrites We Had Better Know What Precisely A Hypocrite Is was Submitted by Sandy Shaw through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Sandy Shaw is Pastor of  irn son,ldren'svelled aching,ca,el stnisteringorsumu.diotes |
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