Chapter 12
I have a confession to make—I might be what some would call a “Trekkie.” I’ve always liked Star Trek. I grew up watching the Original Series. When The Next Generation came out, I resisted it for a long time. Privately, I even boycotted it. But eventually, I gave in—and I found that I actually loved it. I loved it so much I could sit and watch episode after episode for hours. Honestly, even now—much to my wife’s frustration—I could still do that today.
But I’m a bit of an odd Trekkie. I enjoy the stories and characters, but I don’t really know the actors’ real names. And, to be honest, I don’t care to. For example, even if I met Sir Patrick Stewart (yes, I had to Google that), I’d probably still call him Captain Picard. To me, that’s who he is. That’s the only version of him I really know or want to know. I like keeping him in that Star Trek world. And I think he—and the rest of the cast—did a great job.
Of course, I’m sure Patrick Stewart isn’t really like Captain Picard in real life. He’s an actor. The people we see on the show are characters, not real personalities. That’s what actors do—they take on roles so we, the audience, can be drawn into a story. It’s their job to make us believe and feel connected to that world. I imagine that’s both a challenging and rewarding job.
In the next chapter we’ll read, Jesus also talks about actors—but in a very different context. He warns about pretending—especially when it comes to our relationship with God. He’s not talking about the acting profession, of course. He’s talking about pretending in our faith.
He challenges us to be honest with ourselves and ask the tough questions:
- Am I just pretending with God, or do I truly have a heart for Him?
- If I’ve given my heart to Jesus, are there areas of my life where I’m still pretending instead of trusting Him fully?
As you read the chapter, take your time. Reflect on each part. You might find, like I did, that there are places in your life where you’re more like Captain Picard (a character) than Patrick Stewart (a real person). If that hits home, take a moment to talk to the Father about it. Let Him guide you toward living more genuinely with Him.
Warning and Encouragements
1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling [imagine a large crowd all pushing, this speaks towards the rudeness of the crowd.] on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy [the word used here describes an actor in a play, a pretender, hypocrisy is knowingly pretending to be something you are not]. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. [without the hypocrisy mentioned above] 9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. [Still today there is much confusion and poor teaching on this statement. It is NOT that this sin is too big to be forgiven. But because it is an attitude of the heart that the user will never want forgiveness. It is more than a formula of words; it is a settled heart and life that rejects the testimony and mission of the Holy Spirit – namely to testify of Jesus. Even if someone intentionally says such things, as we probably all have prior to our conversion to Christ, they can still repent. The ultimate blasphemy comes when a soul rejects the Holy Spirits work, with no regard or desire to repent, and then they die. There is therefore, now, nothing to save them from that final blasphemy.]
11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ‘
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry
22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you–you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Watchfulness
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” 42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Not Peace but Division
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” [This seems so contrary to what we know of Jesus. Yet history has confirmed this exact statement. Though individually we gain a peace that surpasses understanding, many families have been fractured and divided when one chooses to step away from family tradition, or family religion and follow Jesus. Many have fallen by the sword by their own family members to follow Jesus. It happens even in today’s “enlightened” world.]
Interpreting the Times
54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
