Luke Chapter 12 Continued
Luke
Jesus is reminding them here that they are not to be concerned about food and clothing.
The children of Israel (nearly five million strong), were fed Manna from heaven on their forty year journey, and their shoes and cloths did not wear out.
God miraculously provided for them in the wilderness, and He will provide for us as well.
Psalms 37:25 "I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."
Luke 12:24 "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have
storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?"
Jesus illustrates His point by referring to objects in nature that were immediately at hand, the birds of the air and the flowers of the field.
The key point of this passage is currently found in the phrase “how much more are ye better than the fowls?”
We see here, that all of nature is provided for by Almighty God.
These animals last from year to year without any storehouses or barns.
Man is made in the image of God and is of a higher order than the animals and birds.
If God takes care of the ravens of a lessor order, He will surely care for man from a higher order.
Luke 12:25 "And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?"
You can take all the exercise you want to and even stretching machines; but no way can man add to his height and especially a cubit (18 inches).
A man or woman can put on high heels and appear to be taller, but it is just appearance; they are no taller than before.
Luke 12:26 "If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?"
Worrying will get you exactly nowhere, but in the hospital.
You can worry all you want to, and it will not change one thing.
Worry is akin to fear and is the opposite of faith.
Fear is displeasing to God.
Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Luke 12:27 "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
God's landscape is more beautiful than any painting you have ever seen.
There is nothing more beautiful than a field of lilies in bloom.
Solomon's finery was made by man.
Man does not have the ability to make things as beautiful as God.
Take a look at the western sky in the evening and see the beautiful sunset. No two sunsets are alike, but they are overwhelming in their beauty.
Flowers can be planted out in the old cow pasture and forgotten; and in the spring, the most beautiful flowers will bloom.
They haven’t done any work at all.
The beauty of a flower is unsurpassed for beauty.
God clothes the flowers and feeds them as well.
You can easily see how foolish it is to worry and fret.
Luke 12:28 "If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more [will he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?"
Jesus is just showing here the loving care of God toward the flowers which bloom and then just fade away.
Some of this could have been like hay or rice or some edible grass, as well. They, at any rate, are for a short while and man is made for eternity.
Mankind is the only thing on this earth made in the image of God, as I said, made for eternity. Even in creation, God created all the rest for the purpose of man.
He then climaxed His creation with man.
God is so concerned with mankind that He created the earth and everything that is on it for the use of man.
Now you must see how He would feed and clothe His most valued creation.
Luke
The world and the people are constantly trying to acquire big homes, fine cars, beautiful clothing, and jewelry and are forgetting about the things of the Spirit.
Jesus is saying in this, be separated from the worldly.
He is saying don't you remember how God brought the children of Israel (nearly 3 million strong) out of Egypt and across the wilderness?
Their clothes didn't wear out, and God fed them with Manna.
If you belong to God, it is not necessary to worry about these unimportant things.
He is also saying, don't you realize I fed the multitude (over 5,000 men) with just a few fishes and bread (one little boy's meal).
We are to be concerned about our relationship to God and all our needs will be added unto us (as we see in verse 31).
Luke
Jesus calls them His flock.
He is the great Shepherd, and we are His flock.
The Shepherd takes care of the needs of His flock.
Psalms 23 tells it all:
Psalms
You see, the Great Shepherd (Jesus) takes care of all His sheep's needs like food, clothing, and a place to lay our head.
Luke 12:33 "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth."
“Sell that ye have, and give alms”:
Those who amassed earthly possessions, falsely thinking their security lay in material resources (verses
Believers in the early church did sell their goods to meet the basic needs of poorer brethren (Acts
But this commandment is not to be twisted into an absolute prohibition of all earthly possessions.
In fact, Peter’s words to Ananias (in Acts 5:4), make it clear that the selling of one’s possessions was optional.
“Bags which wax not old”:
These belts that do not wear out (so as to lose the money), are defined as “treasure in the heavens that does not fail.”
The surest place to put one’s money is in such a belt, in heaven, where it is safe from thieves and decay as well.
Luke 12:34 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
“Will your heart be also”:
Where one puts his money reveals the priorities of his heart.
These people Jesus was speaking to were undoubtedly putting too much emphasis on riches of the world.
Jesus is not promising them a bed of roses if they follow Him.
They must forsake the world and the lusts of the flesh, if they are to be His followers. Jesus wanted their heart just like He wants our heart.
If He has our heart, He has our pocket book too.
Treasures that we lay up in heaven cannot be stolen.
Luke 12:35 "Let your loins be girded about, and [your] lights burning;”
“Girded”:
Speaks of preparedness.
Long, flowing robes would be tucked into the belt to allow freedom to work (Exodus 12:11; 1 Peter 1:13).
Luke 12:36 "And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately."
“When He will return”:
The servants were responsible to meet him with burning torches.
This statement "loins girded" indicates they are disciplined and ready to work.
Their "lights burning" indicates that they don't go to sleep on the job, but are awaiting the return of the Lord.
It appears to me here that Jesus explains that the disciples and we believers are to be good servants of the Lord, ever eager to serve Him, night or day.
We should not get weary in waiting and let our lamp go out.
While Jesus is gone away, we must keep His Light shining bright, doing the work that He would do if He were here.
Luke 12:37 "Blessed [are] those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them."
“Shall find watching”:
The key here is readiness at all times for Christ’s return.
“Gird himself”:
I.e., he will take the servant’s role and wait on them.
This remarkable statement pictures Christ, at His return, ministering as a servant to believers.
This jumps over to the time when Jesus will be coming to get the Christians to take them to heaven with Him.
When the Lord comes back, we are to be waiting: expecting Him at any moment, even if it appears He has delayed His coming.
Luke 12:38 "And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find [them] so, blessed are those servants."
“Second watch”:
9:00 p.m. to midnight. “Third”: Midnight to 3:00 a.m.
Jesus is coming for those who are looking for Him.
Blessed are the servants (Christians), who are found working and waiting for Jesus. We sing a song called "We'll Work Till Jesus Comes".
That is just what we are to do.
Luke Chapter 12 Continued Questions
1.Take no thought for your ________, what ye shall ______, neither for the_________.
2.Life is more ________, and the body more than ________.
3.How did God miraculously feed the 3 million Israelites?
4.In Psalms 37:35, we see that who is never forsaken?
5.By taking thought you cannot add what to yourself?
6.Why should we not worry?
7.Without ___________ it is impossible to please God?
8.What is the difference between Solomon's beauty and the beauty of the flowers?
9.What example does Jesus give to show that He will clothe us?
10.God created everything on this earth for whom?
11.In verse 29, we are told not to take concern over what?
12.People of the world seek after what things?
13.What is the important thing to seek?
14.It is the Father's good pleasure to give you what?
15.In the 23rd Psalm, who is the Shepherd?
16.What does the Shepherd do for the sheep?
17.In verse 33, what does Jesus tell His followers to do?
18.Where does Jesus tell us to store our riches?
19.Where your treasure is, is where your ________ is.
20.What were these people Jesus was talking to putting too much emphasis on?
21.What are the followers of Jesus asked to do?
22.Where is the only place treasures are not stolen?
23.What part of us does Jesus want?
24.What does it mean to have the loins girt?
25.What does it mean to keep the light burning?
26.What should we be always eager to do?
27.Blessed are the servants whom Jesus finds doing what?
28.What time is spoken of in verse 37 and 38?