Luke 12:1-7 (ESV)

In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

This is another one of those passages that loses something in the translation. The Greek word that is translated as “fear” (phobos) means fear or reverence or respect. Try to think of a single concept that means all of those. Phobos is the feeling you get in the presence of something intimidating (which can be good, even holy). Now consider how the second paragraph would sound with the word “revere” in place of “fear.”

“I tell you, my friends, do not revere those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to revere: revere him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, revere him!”

Well, that’s not exactly it either. The right translation is to split the difference and translate phobos as “reverently fear,” which is precise but clumsy. Note: in the last sentence “not phobos” has the sense of “not fear” more than “not revere.” Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

With phobos correctly understood, the second paragraph is clear, and so is the connection to the first paragraph. The whole passage makes an important point.

Hypocrisy is dangerous.

We tend to assume that we’re not hypocrites. But Jesus said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Beware, because this is a common trap, especially in modern America. Our culture is so steeped in hypocrisy that we don’t even notice it. Just ask someone how they’re doing. You won’t get an honest answer one time in a hundred.

And a typical resume is as optimistic as a seed catalog; everything is just amazingly wonderful. No one is real.

Asking the Lord to give us a culture of genuine people is a bit much, but we can ask Him to make us genuine. Ask Him to reveal to you the masks you subconsciously wear.

He will.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies