August 25, 2016
MISPLACED FEARS AND THE HAIRY TRUTH ABOUT YOUR VALUE TO GOD
Luke 12:1–12
Russ Brown
Central Truth
God cares about the simplest details and creatures, but none more than you. He knows everything about you, whether the hidden secrets of your heart or the precise number of hairs on your head. If you put your trust in Jesus, He promises that you have nothing to fear.
Key Verse | Luke 12:6–7
"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." (Luke 12:6-7)
Luke 12:1–12
Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees
1 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. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 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.
Have No Fear
4 I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. 1 12:5 Greek Gehenna Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? 2 12:6 Greek two assaria; an assarion was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/16 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer) And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Acknowledge Christ Before Men
8 And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Dive Deeper | Luke 12:1–12
In a chaotic world filled with war, death, famine, and 7.3 billion broken people, it’s easy to feel insignificant and fearful. Perhaps you’re more prone to fear and anxiety about matters close to home, such as the health and safety of your family, your job, or your finances. Are these fears and anxieties misplaced?
In these rich verses Jesus reprioritizes the emphasis we place on fear, commanding us not to fear even “those who kill the body” (verse 4). Our fear and reverence instead should only go to our Creator who has all knowledge and the power to determine eternal fate. In fact, nothing happens without God’s awareness, and even the simplest things in this world have value to Him. He uses Pharisees, sparrows, and a head of hair to make His point.
Pharisee means “set apart” in Aramaic. Jesus was not impressed with these special religious leaders. In the prior chapter, Jesus confronted the Pharisees and boldly exposed their hearts. He said these false teachers “cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside . . . are full of greed and wickedness” (Luke 11:39). In this chapter, Jesus again attacks the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and reminds us that He also knows what is hidden in our hearts.
In contrast to the Pharisee, the sparrow is arguably the most common bird on earth. Experts describe the bird as “unremarkable” and seemingly everywhere (the sparrow currently inhabits six of seven continents). Yet, Jesus says that “not one of them is forgotten before God” and that "you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7). In fact, Jesus shares that God knows you so well that He knows exactly how many hairs you have on your head. That’s precision!
The brilliance in these 12 verses is that Jesus’ words are designed to give you confidence that He knows you intimately; you are of great value to Him; and His loving grip will hold you upright and secure in every seemingly fearful situation. Therefore, fear nothing but Him; and go forward acknowledging Christ in your heart, to man, and even as you admire the flight path of a sparrow.
Discussion Questions
1. How do Jesus’ words impact the fears you’re facing right now?
2. Can you think of a moment in the past year when you should have acknowledged Jesus to man, but did not? How can you handle that situation better the next time?
3. Do you look at your neighbors, strangers, or the unborn differently realizing God knows the precise number of hairs on their heads?
4. Jesus tells us, “[W]hat you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops” (Luke 12:3). Is there anything in your heart right now that you should talk with God about that you haven’t yet?