Luke 12 – Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Luke 12:1-5: Warnings about the Pharisees  

A. Find Out:    

1. Who began to gather, with what effect? v.1a
   • Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another,
2. Yet who did Jesus speak to first? v.1b
   • Jesus began to speak first to his disciples,
3. What did he warn them to guard against? v.1c
   • saying: ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
4. What did he warn? v.2,3
   • 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.
5. Who does he say not to fear? v.4
   • ‘I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
6. But who does he say to fear? v.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.

B. Think:

1. How do these verses flow on from what has gone before?
2. How do verses 2 & 3 amplify what Jesus has said in verse 1?
3. How do verses 4 & 5 fit into all this?

C. Comment:

In the back part of the previous chapter, Jesus had been speaking against the Pharisees who had wrong priorities and wrong understanding of what God wanted. They pretended to be one thing but were, in fact, something else.

Hence it is now that Jesus speaks specifically to his followers to avoid being like the Pharisees.  Avoid their hypocrisy, he says. They try to cover up what they’re really like, but I warn you that God (implied) will reveal everything. Indeed, what is said in private will be made public. No one will get away with pretence, so this hypocrisy of theirs – pretending to be spiritual when in reality they are far from that on the inside – is a waste of time. You can’t kid God!

Indeed much of their activity is about pleasing one another, conforming to one another’s expectations, but I tell you, Jesus continues, that you don’t want to worry about what others think, only what God thinks! Look, he implies, this present life is limited, but you have an eternal life ahead of you, and so what God thinks and decrees for your long term future is what really matters, not fussing about minor details of outer cleanliness.

D. Application:

1. Our calling? Our call is to be Christ-like – full of grace and truth – that means being real in every way; no pretence! Is that you?
2. Man’s rules or God’s will? Our concern should not be about man-made rules, but about what God thinks and says. Is that you?

Passage: Luke 12:6-12: God’s Knowledge and warnings  

A. Find Out:

1.  What does God see? v.6
   • Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
2. What else does He know about? v.7
   • Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
3. What happens to he who acknowledges Jesus? v.8
   •  ‘I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.
4. But what happens if you disown him? v.9
   •  But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.
5. Who will and will not be forgiven? v.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.
6. When aren’t you to worry and why? v.11,12 
   • ‘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.’

B. Think:

1. How do verses 6 & 7 follow on from what’s gone before?
2. How would you summarise verses 8 to 10?
3. Why are verses 11 & 12 encouraging?

C. Comment:    

Jesus has just been saying don’t worry about what people think, only what God thinks, and now in verses 6 & 7 he is giving a reason why you can be like this: “God sees absolutely everything that goes on (the sparrows) and knows everything about you!” (the hairs on your head).    

Then he takes it on another stage. What he’s saying in effect is, “Indeed He sees all your actions and He sees how you respond to me! If you receive and respond well to me, He will bless you. If you reject me, He will ignore you. More than that you can speak against me, but don’t speak against what the Holy Spirit is doing, because He is my Father in action.”    

If we reject what the Holy Spirit is doing we are rejecting what God Himself is doing, and that is unpardonable. You may misunderstand what Jesus is saying, he infers, but when you see the power and presence of God, you’ll know that is my Father working, so don’t reject Him.    

Because he has been speaking against these two religious groupings (the Scribes and Pharisees), Jesus knows the opposition will always continue, and so having been talking about His Father moving, he now reassures them. When you are opposed, don’t worry, my Father will be there for you, he says, His Spirit will give you the words. It’s OK, He’ll be there for you then. Don’t worry. 

D. Application:

1. I’m known! God knows us through and through – and is for us! (Rom 8:31) . Does that bring me great reassurance?
2. A two-way street: God will be there for us. Will we be there for Him?

Passage: Luke 12:13-21: Parable of the rich farmer

A. Find Out:

1. Who asked what, and what did Jesus reply? v.13,14
   • 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?’
2. What did Jesus warn and what principle did he state? v.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.’
3. What ‘problem’ did the man in the story have? v.16,17
   • 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.”
4. So what did he decide to do? v.18,19
   •  ‘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.’”
5. Yet what then happened? v.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?”
6. So what warning does Jesus give? v.21
   • ‘This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich towards God.’

B. Think:

1. What was Jesus generally warning against?
2. How did the story (Parable) illustrate that?

C. Comment:

Jesus has been teaching about spiritual realities and someone in the crowd before him turns it to material realities, but Jesus won’t have any of it. I’m not here as a legal or economic adviser, is perhaps how we might interpret his response. Then he goes on to show that there are bigger issues behind this apparent family difficulty.

Be careful, he says, not to let greed overtake you when it comes to material matters to do with money or possessions. The reality of life isn’t all about money; that’s not the most important issue in life. Then he tells the story. It’s very simple.

A farmer has a good crop, an excellent crop, so much in fact that he can’t store it all. I know what I’ll do, he thinks, I’ll build bigger barns to store it all (so far, so good!). Then the farmer says to himself, why do I need to work any more, I’ll just retire and live off my wealth (again no apparent problem about that). However at that point the man dies, so what has he got left? Nothing!

The crowd might, at that point, have thought, “So?” So, says Jesus, you need to have an eye on eternity. What you have here, you can’t take with you! In fact, your main priority should be being concerned that you are rich towards God – that you have a good relationship with God – so that when you die, you will go to be with God. How many people never give a thought to that and simply work for money which will not help them when they die?

D. Application:

1. Beware Greed. Do we allow greed to rise up in our material dealings? Be honest!
2. Right priorities? Is our priority to be “rich towards God” or do we spend all our lives focusing on material things?

Passage: Luke 12:22-28: God will provide

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jesus say not to worry about? v.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.
2. Why? v.23
   • For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
3. What did he say to consider and why? v.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!
4. Why did he say worrying was pointless? v.25,26
   • 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?
5. What else were they to consider? v.27
   • Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.
6. Why? v.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!

B. Think:

1. How do these verses flow on from what’s gone before?
2. Why does Jesus tell them to consider birds or plants?
3. Why is this a major issue, do you think?

C. Comment:

Jesus has just been teaching through the Parable of the Rich Fool that life is more than gaining possessions. He started it by warning against greed, that desire to have more and more. Now he warns against worrying about where your food and clothing will come from.

Again (v.23) he reiterates that life is more than just the physical things we need. He uses two illustrations to make a point. First he says look at the birds of the field – they don’t work for their food but they always have some. Then he says look at the flowers in the hedgerow – they don’t work for their beauty. In fact, he adds, even Solomon in all his splendour didn’t have the simple beauty they have. The birds are part of God’s creation and He provides sufficient for them.  The flowers are part of God’s creation and He designs and creates them in their individual beauty, so if you can see all this, then understand that you, as the peak of His creation and partakers of His salvation, are much more valuable to Him than the birds or the flowers.

If God does that for them, how much more will He do it for you? Does worrying achieve anything? Does it extend you life? No! Then don’t do it! This is a faith issue (v.28c), it’s a case of will you believe that God loves you sufficiently that you can believe that He will care for you and provide for you, for ALL you need?

D. Application:

1. Secure in God’s love? Am I confident in God’s love for me? Am I totally sure that he loves me and is for me?  That IS the truth. Believe it!
2. God will provide? Does that confidence extend to believing in His provision? Can I be secure in the confidence that God will provide all we need as His children?

Passage: Luke 12:29-34: Right values   

A. Find Out:

1. What else does Jesus say not to worry about? v.29
   • And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
2. Why? v.30
   •  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
3. Instead, what are we to do? v.31
   • But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
4. What is the Father’s intent? v.32
   • ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
5. What does Jesus say to do? v.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.
6. What principle does he declare? v.34
   • For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

B. Think:

1. How is this an extension of the previous verses?
2. But how does it take the teaching further?

C. Comment:

Jesus has just said don’t worry about food or clothing (v.22) and now he repeats and extends his instruction to, don’t worry about food and drink. Then he gives us two reasons not to worry about this: first because anxiety over such things is the inheritance of the godless world and, second, we have a heavenly Father who knows our needs and (by implication) will provide for them.

So far it has been largely negative, i.e. “don’t” v.22,29, but now Jesus brings in the positive side (there are always positives in the Christian faith, it isn’t all “you shall not”). Instead of worrying, he says, positively seek after, look for, work for, God’s rule in your life, and you can leave the provision of all these things up to Him.

Then, as if to forestall the possible doubters, he says, it’s all right, it is God’s intention to let you experience His reign. You don’t have to worry about provision; in fact you can do exactly the opposite – you can sell your excess possessions that you don’t really need and give to those who are needy (for that will be expressing God’s rule) and so provide for yourselves a completely different sort of riches – the riches of shear goodness, that cannot be stolen from you, or which won’t rot or be eaten away.

     There’s your choice he says, material wealth or goodness. Decide what you consider is of real value because your heart will go after whatever you treasure!

D. Application:

1. What is my value system?   What do I make the focus of my life?  Is it riches or goodness?
2. Life focus? What, really, is the focus of my life?

Passage: Luke 12:35-40: Teaching on Preparedness

A. Find Out:

1. What 2 things does Jesus say we’re to do? v.35
   • ‘Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,
2. What picture does he give to reinforce this? v.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.
3. What will the master do for such servants? v.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 make them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
4. Yet what warning does he then give? v.38
   •  It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or towards daybreak.
5. How does he illustrate that? v.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.
6. So how does that apply to us? v.40
   • You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.’

B. Think:

1. How do verses 35 and 40 act as “bookends” here?
2. What does Jesus teach about WHEN he will come here?
3. What does he teach about our activity here?

C. Comment:

Jesus has taught about right priorities and about putting the kingdom of God first. Now he adds a time dimension to his teaching. A listener might have thought, “Well how long am I to carry on doing this?” Jesus’ answer, by implication, is until I come back again. Verses 35 and 40 give the instruction – ‘be ready’.

 The first ‘be ready’ says be ready to be available to God and have your resources topped up so that your spiritual vision is clear. To emphasise this, Jesus gives the analogy of servants waiting for their master to return so they can serve him the moment he arrives. Actually, he says, in this case when the master arrives he will serve them. When Jesus returns it is to bless his servants, yet until he arrives, the servants are to be ready to serve.

Then he starts giving warnings about the uncertainty of his time of return. He does it first by reference to a house owner who, if he had known a thief was coming, would have been prepared but, he is implying, he doesn’t so he’s just got to be prepared all the time. So it must be with us – we don’t know when it will be that Jesus will return so we just have to be ready the whole time – seeking the kingdom or rule of God for our lives, being available to the Lord, and ensuring that we are fully resourced with his grace throughout our lives.

D. Application:

1. Available? Are my eyes on the Lord, ready to do His will?
2. Resourced? Am I receiving His grace to serve and bless?

Passage: Luke 12:41-48: Parable of the Master & servants      

A. Find Out:

1. Who then asked what of Jesus? v.41
   • Peter asked, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?’
2. What question did Jesus ask in return? v.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?
3. What will happen to the good servant? v.43,44
   •  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.
4. What might a bad servant do, and with what result? v.45,46
   • 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.
5. Who will be beaten with ‘many blows’? v.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.
6. Who will be beaten with few blows, and why? v.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.

B. Think:

1. How do these verses flow on from the previous ones?
2. What point is Jesus making in verses 42-46?
3. What point is he making in verses 47 & 48?

C. Comment:

Jesus has just used the illustration of a master returning and finding his servants faithfully working. Peter wants further explanation but Jesus simply uses further illustrations, as if to say, “Well Peter, if the cap fits, wear it.”

Jesus simply asks who is the faithful and wise man appointed as servant, as if to ask, well Peter, is this you, but at the same time it could apply to everyone listening. Surely a servant giving the others their food allowance refers to spiritual leaders. Such a person, if they are faithful, will be rewarded when Jesus returns, is what he is saying. But a servant who abuses his position and abuses those he’s supposed to be looking after, will be severely dealt with when Jesus comes.

Then Jesus presses the illustration further. He speaks about what the servants know – the will of the master. If the servant knows the master’s will but doesn’t do it, he will be dealt with severely. If he doesn’t know and so doesn’t do it, he won’t be dealt with as severely. Then Jesus concludes it with a principle which could be summarised as – if you have been given a lot of understanding, a lot will be expected of you. If you’ve been put in a responsible position by God, He’ll expect a lot from you. The point that is coming over very strongly here is that in the kingdom of God there ARE responsibilities.

D. Application:

1. What am I doing? Do I use the knowledge / revelation God has given me?  Have I learned from all He’s shared with me?
2. What am I doing? Do I exercise the responsibility God has given me? Am I using the gifts He’s given me to bless others?

Passage: Luke 12:49-53: Coming Divisions

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jesus say he had come to bring? v.49
   •  ‘I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
2. Yet what did he say he had first to undergo? v.50
   •  But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!
3. What did he say he had come to bring? v.51
   • Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.
4. How did he say that would be? v.52,53
   • 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.’

B. Think:

1. What does fire do? What do you think Jesus meant by fire?
2. What do you think was the baptism he referred to?
3. Why is there division because of the Gospel?

C. Comment:

These appear strong words, yet they are words that convey stark truth. Let’s consider the pictures that Jesus gives us in these verses.   First he speaks about fire coming. Now the obvious thing about fire is that it destroys. When the Holy Spirit appeared on the day of Pentecost, he appeared as tongues of fire and as a mighty wind. The picture could be of a forest fire raging across the country. When the kingdom of God came, the word and Spirit poured across the country, delivering people from sin and bringing new life to them.

But then he refers to a baptism he has to go through. Baptism elsewhere in Scripture is pictured as a dying to self, going down under the waters as a picture of death soon to be followed by resurrection. Yes, the baptism that Jesus had to go through was the baptism of death which brought our salvation.

Finally he speaks about division – division in families. We sometimes think the Gospel brings unity – and it does among those who receive it – but it also brings a division between those who receive it and those who reject it. It is a hard truth that in any family one person my come to Christ and the rest reject him. Instantly there is division! Those who will not receive the good news object to the one who has. The one who has knows they are now different. However you look at it, the Gospel does bring division in families. It is sad and we should pray against it, but it is, nevertheless, a truth.

D. Application:

1. Purified? Have I experienced the word and Spirit coming like a fire, cleansing and purifying my life?
2. Careless division? May we be loving and gracious so that we do not accentuate division, by our careless words or actions.  Let any hostility that comes come because of our goodness.

Passage: Luke 12:54-59: Watch the signs

A. Find Out:

1. What weather did Jesus say they understood? v.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.
2. What also did they understand? v.55
   • And when the south wind blows, you say, “It’s going to be hot,” and it is.
3. So why did he chide them? v.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?
4. What general question does he then ask? v.57
   • ‘Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
5. How does he say they should act, to avoid what? v.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.
6. If they don’t what will happen? v.59
   •  I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.’

B. Think:

1. Summarise in your own words verses 54 to 56.
2. So what do you think Jesus was referring to?
3. Do verses 57 to 59 have a wider meaning?

C. Comment:

Jesus has been teaching in this chapter that the people need to be alert and ready for God’s coming (although we, of course, see it as his second coming). Now he chides them for their lack of understanding of these things.

He starts out by reminding them that when it comes to the weather, they are good at interpreting what is about to happen. Very well, he says, if you can do that with the weather, why can’t you do that with the spiritual signs?

Why was he saying this? Because the spiritual state of Israel had been very low and then John the Baptist had come to prepare the nation, challenging them to get clean before God. Then Jesus himself had come bringing in the reign of God with signs, wonders, miracles, healings etc. Here before them was a tremendous opportunity to receive the goodness of God. This was a unique time in history when the Son of God himself stood on the earth and the blessing of God poured through him. Were they awake to all this? Mostly no!

     Then he gives what seems to be a straight forward warning about the need for being reconciled when you have disagreements, but in the light of what he has been saying, this seems out of place unless it applies to God and salvation. Perhaps what he is saying is while you have the opportunity, be reconciled to God, or it might be too late!

D. Application:

1. Aware? Are we alert to the moving of God and our spiritual state?
2. Don’t presume: Do we presume of the Lord’s forbearance of our sin? Don’t take God’s forgiveness for granted but put your life right.