Author: Bill Hall

Friend,’ He said to him, ‘who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?’

Luke 12:14

Jesus had been speaking of His spiritual authority. His acknowledgment of a person will indeed matter. And He is The Judge over all.

However, in this case He knew this man wanted Jesus to get involved in material squabbles among the people. This Jesus had not come to do. As He states to this man, He was not in a position legally to judge in these matters.

But, in the verses to follow, Jesus gives this man and the others there listening an idea of how He, as The Judge of All, views greed.

Heavenly Father, thank You for this day! Thank You for another opportunity to live for You! You are glorious and wonderful beyond all that I can imagine. Your Word is so amazing and brings to our lives wonderful things. I love You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Luke 12:13

This individual was very clearly hoping to capitalize on Jesus’s teachings. This person had possibly heard some other teachings of Christ and assumed they knew what He would say in this case.

There are many people who will misunderstand or misapply the teachings of Christ. Why? Jesus is the most effective teacher in history. As a result, His message is hard to ignore. So, if a person can appropriate His words to their ends, they have a big supporter in the eyes of others. So to be able to identify Christ’s message as source material is very desirable.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your truth! You make it available even though it gets misinterpreted by those who are out for their own gain. You are merciful to even allow us to know You. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.

Luke 12:12

Ah the blessings of the church! The Holy Spirit of God is the One Who invigorates and empowers the church. He will lead on times of need and supply the words to say and the ways to go.

Heavenly Father, we can never thank You enough for Your beautiful gifts. To have the power of Your Spirit operating in our lives is just amazing. You have blessed Your church in so many ways. We will praise You forever! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say.

Luke 12:11

Jesus made it plain to His disciples on several occasions that they would be persecuted. But, they were not meant to plan ahead for the eventuality. Instead, Christians should allow the Spirit to lead in their defense.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your comfort through the Holy Spirit. You are so wonderful! I will praise You for Your loving kindness and truth. You are my defense! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Anyone 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.

Luke 12:10

How does this verse line up with the previous two? Didn’t Jesus just say the Son must be acknowledged? Yes. But what He is saying here is that those who have not personally responded well to Christ do still have hope for forgiveness. However, because the truth about Christ is proclaimed by the Holy Spirit, ultimate rejection of Jesus is unforgivable.

This is an important truth to understand. Though sin is a problem, it is a problem with a perfect solution. God has made a way through Christ to solve it. But, unbelief is different. The Scriptures make it clear that unbelief will not be forgiven. There is no provision for those who finally reject what the Lord has revealed to them about Himself.

Heavenly Father, we love You! You have made the way of salvation perfect. You are wise and good. We will forever sing praise to You in Your holy presence. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

Luke 12:9

Throughout the New Testament we get a very clear picture. To reject Christ is a serious offense. Those who do so have nothing to look forward to but the wrath of the Lord God Almighty.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus! Thank You for planning before the beginning of the world a way of salvation. You are so wise, holy, and just! Your grace truly is amazing! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,

Luke 12:8

By referring to the presence of the angels of God Jesus is clearly saying He has the authority to recognize someone in the court of God. Only God has the authority to do this.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Son! You are holy and just, and yet have justified us by Christ. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 12:7

Our hair is one of the less consequential things about us when it comes to survival. We could lose it all and live a healthy life. But, it is generally very consequential to us. Thus, the Lord cares about things in our lives that we care about.

This is one of the most amazing verses of Scripture to me. It shows that God takes an interest in the most minute of details. Surely if our hairs are numbered, much else about us is catalogued and cared for. The Lord is good, and He is infinitely good.

Heavenly Father, Your wisdom, love, and power are overshadowed only by Your holiness. You are altogether different from all of Your creations in that You are infinitely holy. You are the definition of good. Thank You for loving Your creation the way You do! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.

Luke 12:6

Even the smallest of God’s creatures is important to Him. He values and cares for every single one of them.

This verse is so comforting. It provides a glimpse into the Creator’s special watch care over His dear creatures.

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your love and care. It is easy for us to forget. Without You we would not understand love. Without Your work among us, we would be little more than brutes. Thank You for Your care and Your truth. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!

Luke 12:5

There are so many things that frighten people. But, truly, God is the only One to fear. It is He Who is indeed Fate. He has power to decide all.

Jesus is The Judge, and He will bring everything to light. And He has the authority to cast people into hell. He is the One people need to make a decision about.

Heavenly Father, thank You for telling us the truth. You are the One to fear! You alone can decide our eternal fate. Only Your Son is the Judge of mankind. I will honor Your holy Name. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.