Fear Him

Today's reading: Luke 11:37-54, 12:1-7

“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!" - Luke 12:4-5 ESV

The Pharisees and the Mosaic Law experts held a lot of power over the Israelite people during the first century. They had the ability to banish and exclude anyone who came into conflict with them. It is easy to fear people like this who are in authority over us, even if we know they are dead wrong. What makes this even worse is that these men were supposed to be the Jewish people's spiritual leaders.

Jesus described them as being like "unmarked graves" that people walk over.

No matter how influential someone is in our lives, there is no one we are to fear. The reason is that their authority is ultimately limited. Sure, they can kill us, but God can do better, including tossing us into eternal fire.

The deeper meaning of fear here is not the idea of jumping when you see a spider. It is a worship word throughout the Bible. When we "fear" someone, we are putting them in a seat that is only reserved for God.

This is the only place in Matthew, Mark, or Luke that Jesus calls His disciples friends. He says this as a concerned friend who wants what is ultimately best for them!