Persecution – Luke 12:1-12

Gci.com’s article on Christians who denied Christ during the Decian persecution in 250 CE notes:  “The persecution under Decius was severe, but it did not last long. He died in battle just two years after attaining office. A decade later, Gallienus (260-268) was on the emperor’s throne. Under his reign the church began to enjoy about 40 years of freedom from persecution.  Many of the lapsed Christians then wanted to return to the church.  This situation created a great controversy. Should the lapsed be readmitted? Should they be required to do penance and “prove” their loyalty to Christ and the church? Should the lapsed be rebaptized before being readmitted? What about those who had renounced their faith, but then reaffirmed it even while the Decian persecution was in progress?”  Jesus spoke to this issue.

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.

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 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. 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, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”  (Luke 12:1-12 ESV)

The opposition is ramping up so Jesus makes it clear what the sides are.  Though not every Pharisee is guilty of hypocrisy, hypocrisy spreads through Pharisaism like yeast through dough.  Their propensity to value the outside appearance over internal purity will be exposed by God eventually, even as Jesus exposed it in his woes against the Pharisees.

Their opposition and that of others will lead to danger for Jesus’ followers, but the most they can do is destroy our bodies.  Only God can dispose of our souls in hell.  He is the one we should fear and yet for the believer there is the promise that God values us highly.  Hell will not be our soul’s destiny.

Nevertheless, we must not back down from acknowledging Jesus during this opposition.  If we try to deny him to keep safe, we will be shown not to be believers and will be denied by him in the judgment.  This can be forgiven if we repent, but there is a denial of Jesus that involves denying the power of the Holy Spirit at work through him, a complete abandonment of belief in Jesus, that cannot be forgiven.  It is this same Holy Spirit who will aid Jesus’ disciples with how to respond in the courts set up to persecute them.  Trust Him.