Teachings on Knowledge and Understanding

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Okay. Let’s wrap up chapter 11 – where Jesus finishes his WOES – three verses.

Analysis of Biblical Passages

Luke 11.52
Meat
December 29th 2019
52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
53 And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Keys in that day were made typically to open doors. The key of knowledge therefore was a non-literal symbol that would open up knowledge to others. By their false interpretation of the Old Testament they had taken away the true key (or method) of understanding it (or opening that door) therefore they hindered others from.

In this case they got in the way of people then knowing and understanding the Messiah – from receiving him and being free. And Jesus said to them:

“ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.”

So not only would they not enter into knowledge they ALSO, to the detriment of their character, hindered others from entering in themselves. Many people read the Bible today and suggest that its themes cycle around again in the modern world, calling this view historicism. They may be correct. I tend to see the themes as principles and that the principles will always manifest themselves in the human experience.

The Principle of Knowledge Restriction

For instance, the principle that those in control will despise upstarts and try to put them to deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God.. Of course we see this principle in Jesus' life with the religious leaders of his time, with Ghandi, with JFK and in principle every day on the school yard when the new kid arrives. I say this because what Jesus says here to these lawyers:

Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Is alive and well in the faith today with our religious authorities seeking to “take away the key of knowledge,” and that they are not only not interested in “entering into it,” they hinder others from the same. I’ve seen this in living color with men and women today taking control of other seekers and shutting them down to better interpretations of passages of scripture and theological definitions. Clearly there is no new thing under the sun.

I also think it's noteworthy to see that Jesus not only mentions “that while they themselves would not enter into knowledge,” they ALSO hindered others from doing the same.

Freedom in Faith

There is something to this. Some ideas are okay to reject ourselves but to step back and allow others to embrace them without interference. Within the faith there is SO much, “this is the right way, all the rest is not,” that to me it seems to take on a form of what Jesus is criticizing the Lawyers for. I have to tell you all as a warning: I have seen more parents destroy their children through dogmatism than I want to remember. Children of Christian parents need the room to think and challenge and wonder – even from a young age, and dogmatism from the top only serves to create division in their little hearts. My fingers and toes cannot tally the number of people I know who were raised in Christian homes and went to Christian schools who are not Christian today because of this approach.

Likewise with pastors and congregates. We all want to be free and to have the liberty to express our minds openly – to explore or not – when this is hindered the key to knowledge is taken away. If there is any sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. of peculiar magnitude, it is that of keeping the people in ignorance; and few men are so guilty as they who by false instructions prevent them from coming to a knowledge of the truth, and embracing it as it is in Jesus.

53 And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: 54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

The Encounter with the Pharisees

The scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Apparently, Jesus was striking a nerve, and in so doing the scribes and Pharisees, Luke writes, began to "urge him vehemently," and to "provoke Him to speak of many things." Ever been in the midst of some like-minded people and you express an opinion that is counter to the accepted view? If you haven’t you ought to try it sometime. Sit in the middle of round earth and mention flat earth, or in the midst of ardent political liberals and mention something conservative, or in the realm of Evangelicals and say something against the Trinity, or hell, or the second comingChrist’s return, fulfilled in 70 A.D., ending the old covenant—not the world..

You’ll experience to some degree at least being “urged vehemently,” and questioned ad nauseum. Why? The opposing forces want to trap you, make you look like a fool, and shut down your stance. And Luke adds:

54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him. In other words they were laying traps for him as a means to take his words and then accuse him of something worthy of death. I suggest that this continues, in almost every walk of life, to be a living and reoccurring principle.

The Warning Against Hypocrisy

Okay, so let’s get into chapter 12 and read our text for today. Jesus was pretty much just accosted by the Scribes and Pharisees. And what He says next is in direct relation to them and their ways to THEM IN THAT DAY. This is the obvious setting. So, let’s read.

12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. 4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

The Value of a Sparrow

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. 8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. 10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Understanding The Message

Alright, back to verse 1

12:1 In the mean time, (meaning while, during and after this engagement with the Scribes and Pharisees had taken place in the last verses of the last chapter) when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Where the scripture here says “when they were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people insomuch they trode one upon another,” the original word is myriads, or ten thousands – which could be representational and not literal in the least. What we can say is the number was really big, so much so people were stepping on each other. At this time Jesus takes the opportunity to compare the threats and words of the scribes and pharisees to other things the people should be aware of and here Luke says that he first spoke to His disciples. It does not appear that this means his disciples needed to hear the message on hypocrisy first, but that he simple shared

Hypocrisy of the Pharisees

What he had to say to them first. And what did he share with those disciples:

“Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which Jesus calls hypocrisy. In other words, the product of the Pharisees that invades and corrupts and puffs up the people is hypocrisy.

We all know that the purpose and product of yeast is to cause flour to rise and get airy, right? And of course we also know that God hates puffed up human beings. The proud look. His adoration of man falls upon the meek, lowly, humble, contrite.

Well, the opposite attitude of such things was that of the Pharisees, whose leven (the thing that puffed them up) was based in hypocrisy – something I think it is safe to say Jesus hated. Most of the woes Jesus spoke against them in the past chapter was based on them forcing or saying one thing and they acting or doing the opposite. What was particularly bad about the Pharisees and scribes is they were puffed up by it – they saw themselves superior and acted arrogant in the face of their hypocrisy. So, as an example, they appeared to love to place burdens on other peoples' backs but were proud of the fact that they did none of the work they demanded of others.

The Influence of Pride and Hypocrisy

That is pretty vile, when we think about it. The dangers of the Pharisees' hypocrisy were also found in the fact that, like yeast, it often existed without being immediately detected. Leaven mixed in flour is not known until it produces its effects. So it is with mixing in with Pharisaical types. They may seem really good and holy (at first) but in the end, they are proven to be vain. Additionally, these attitudes of pride and hypocrisy are insinuating, meaning they will ultimately invade everything around you.

I've met people who have rubbed shoulders with some of the top brass of a few major religious institutions and all three of them attest that the spirit of what is present at the top is very different than the spirit in the masses. Of course the results is something or someone filled or infiltrated with pride and vanity – as represented by the air pockets in leavened bread. When Jesus cautions them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, he means that they should be cautious about imbibing their spirit and becoming like them.

Jesus' Teaching on Revelation

Why? His ways is one of sincerity, transparency, humility, of the entire lack of disguise. It is humble and real and what Jesus says next play right into this idea of disguise, saying to them/then:

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

What is Jesus talking about? He has just described the leaven of the scribes and Pharisees being hypocrisy. The Greek origin of this word comes from their theater as we have said a number of times – the smiling masks and the frowning – where a single actor takes them and standing before the audience reflects the image he holds before his face. But when he switches the masks, he then embodies the expression of the other!

Two men walking on the road on a very cold morning. The one man (tell story here)

So intrinsic to hypocrisy is hiding or covering one position and promoting another. In some ways, perhaps Jesus hates hypocrisy because that is the primary form that Satan worked, how Judas worked, and how the Jews who killed him worked.

So, after speaking to their hypocrisy Jesus explains to his disciples:

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

He was speaking directly to that day when all things would be revealed – what day – that approaching day when all things of that age would be revealed and made plainly known. And he adds, continuing to speak of the end of that age and says:

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Matthew flips this verse around and has Jesus say, “And what I tell you in darkness.” The meaning is, in that day whatever was said in secret, in private, in confidence – whatever private instructions I have given you will

The Power of Fear and Who to Truly Fear

Become public knowledge, as if proclaimed from the house top. According to some modern sociologists, the Middle East practice of announcing things from the house tops—the flat roofs common to the area—continues to this very day. The point Jesus is making is that whatever the Pharisees and scribes kept hidden (meaning their hypocrisy) would be revealed—he promises this. See, at that time the power of the Pharisees and scribes was formidable, and the people were frightened by their threats. But they would be leveled to the ground in the coming years.

4
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Fear of Physical vs. Eternal Consequences

Who or what can kill the body and the body only? While there are a number of things out there that can kill our bodies (disease, accident, animals, etc.), Jesus is talking about other men (in reference to the Pharisees and scribes who were seeking to kill him). “Don’t be afraid of those who can kill the body” (because, Jesus adds,) “after that there is no more that they can do.” All of our bodies are going to die. They are not made to last, and if someone is threatening you with physical death, don’t fear them. The extent of their power is causing your physical body to shut down—which it's going to do anyway.

I love this. Men and their impact on our existence are really limited in the eternal spectrum. But then at verse five he says:

5
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Three times in this verse, Jesus uses the term fear toward them/then. In verse four, he tells them not to fear men who can kill the body, then he reiterates, as a forewarning, whom they should fear, and says “I forewarn you whom you should fear,” Then “Fear him…” Then again, “fear him.”

The passage best reads in the first line, “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, after the killing, hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” This might mean either someone else does the killing of the body OR that God, after He kills the body. In Matthew, Jesus says to fear him that can kill BOTH body and souls, so that gives us some good insights.

Understanding Whom to Fear

Are we to fear God, the Father, whom Jesus describes to them as to be feared? Unquestionably. But the fear ought to be seen in one of two ways. As an unbeliever as terror—yes, even still. As a believer, in terms of awe and utmost respect. God’s character has not changed, nor His makeup. He continues to be a consuming fire, and Jesus came to reveal him to us. As His children, we certainly approach him by faith saying papa, but from what I can tell, this by no means allows us to call him dude.

The transparency, humility, and contrition in those who are His somehow enables us, by the shed blood of His Son, to enter His presence, but the awe remains. To me, those who are not his, who are filled with darkness and lacking the regenerative light of the Spirit, at death, will not, cannot approach Him or His glory, and will, in fear, hide from his fiery presence in realms consistent with their spiritual state.

However, to these passages given in that day to them, I am convinced that these words are direct—don’t fear those who can just kill the body but him who can do that AND then cast you (meaning your soul because your body is dead) “into Gehenna.” Now, Gehenna is the actual word used here, not hell, but Jesus appears to use Gehenna as a symbol for afterlife punishment awaiting those who were rebellious or unwilling to receive Him as the Messiah. Gehenna is a transliteration of Ge-Hinnom, meaning, the “Valley of Hinnon” where children (as reported in 2nd Kings 23) were thrown onto the red-hot arms of the brass idol Molech. And even though Josiah abolished that abominable…

The Symbol of Gehenna and the Nature of God

In Jesus’ time, Gehenna was a place where people in Jerusalem disposed of dead animals, trash, and refuse. It burned continuously, so Jesus used it as a symbol for eternal punishment. I believe that after the victory over sin, Satan, hell, and the second death, the imagery of purging fire now comes from the Father for those who seek His presence without faith in the Son. This is my perspective. The core message here is that Jesus warned them to fear Him who could cast them into such suffering.

Interestingly, at this point, Jesus reveals more about the one who wields this power, and says:

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

Matthew’s account reads:

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

This comforting message follows the alarming statement about God’s power to cast souls into Gehenna. It reflects God’s caring and intimate nature. Encouragement is twofold: God cares for sparrows, the least of birds, consumed by the poorest and symbolizing sorrow, and solitude. As Psalm 102:7 states, "I am as a sparrow alone upon the house top," signifying despair.

God's Care for Us

Secondly, Jesus encourages the listeners:

7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

The living God knows when a sparrow falls and even counts your hairs. He says, “Fear NOT therefore, YOU are of more value than many sparrows.”

In verses 4-5, He advised fearing the one who could cast their souls into hell, but here He revises it, saying, FEAR NOT. What's the message? It’s context. If they were like the Pharisees, marked by corruption or hypocrisy, they should fear God, who would cast them into Gehenna as He would the Pharisees on the final day. However, if they were His children through faith in His Son, they have a God who knows even when a sparrow falls and counts their hairs, making them far more valuable than many sparrows. Thus, THEY SHOULD NOT FEAR.

Why not? The answer is in the next verse, as Jesus says:

8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

The Importance of Confession

“Confess” and “profess” are similar in scripture, meaning to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ. Is it about simply saying Jesus' name? No. It signifies dependence on Him for salvation, attachment, and reliance solely on Him. It’s not about a singular act, like saying a sinner’s prayer, but about true allegiance, relationship, and a devoted walk. It encompasses all our acts and life once He reveals Himself to us. This should be straightforwardly understood. Then Jesus adds at verse 9:

9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

This is directly linked to those times. Pharisees and scribes watched to identify those acknowledging Jesus as Lord before the final day. Jesus clarifies to His disciples: confess me in your life, and I will confess you before angels (as He states in Luke) and before my Father (as He states in Matthew). However, he who denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

At this point, Jesus introduces something crucial about confessing and denying Him. What He just mentioned may seem severe, but He continues to elucidate His teachings.

Understanding Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

The context of these passages help us understand what Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit really means. And we will wrap today up talking about it. Jesus is speaking to human beings in flesh and blood. He has been warning them about the threats and perils of the Pharisees. He has told them TO FEAR, and then he has told them NOT TO FEAR. He has told them that if they CONFESS Him before men that He would CONFESS Them before God and angels. And then he added that if they DENIED them before men then He would DENY them before His Father and the Angels. But now he gives us yet another paradoxical view, and says, after saying that He would deny whoever denied him,

Forgiveness and Blasphemy: A Biblical Perspective

10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

Matthew’s account includes the line: “neither in this age nor in the age to come.” Jesus, the man, was housed in flesh and to speak against him was an act of the flesh. We have opinions about people. And I am sure that there were some people who simply didn’t like Jesus of Nazareth the man. What I mean by this is that they could have resisted his dress or manner or eye color or whatever. That could all be forgiven, he says. Because it was against the Son of Man. But, he adds, “but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.”

The Purpose of the Holy Spirit

Why would this be – and what is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Well, let’s ask ourselves, what is the job of the Holy Spirit? What does it do? What is its purpose? And we have Jesus actually tell us in John 16, saying at verse 7:

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove (convince) the world (kosmos) of sin, reprove (convince) the world (kosmos) of righteousness, and reprove (convince) the world (kosmos) of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me

So, the Holy Spirit's purpose is to convince people that they are sinful in faithlessness.

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more

So the Holy Spirit’s purpose is to convince the world that Jesus was righteous (since he ascended up to His Father)

11 And of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

And the Holy Spirit’s final purpose is to convince the world that Jesus has made righteous, justified all things as evidenced by the fact that Satan has been judged himself.

Ready for this? Therefore, to resist and go against these stated purposes of the Holy Spirit, in that age, and in the age to come (ours) is blasphemy and will not be forgiven (Jesus says) which to me means, will not be forgiven until a person submits.

I say this because most people resist the Holy Spirit and its purpose when it initially comes into our lives. To forever do this is unforgivable in this world and the world to come, but once someone allows the Holy Spirit to convince them of sin, and of Jesus righteousness, and judgement, these stipulations are forgiven and forgotten – here, and in the world to come.

That is how I understand all of this to be.

We will stop here and continue on next week in 2020!

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.