Meanwhile, so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. He began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees.
2 “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. 4 I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. 5 I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. 7 Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. 8 I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
10 “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. 11 When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. 12 For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
Crowds press around Jesus so tightly that people are being trampled. In this setting, Jesus first warns his disciples about danger from within the community. He says, “Beware of the leaven—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees” (v.1). “Leaven” means a small agent that quietly spreads through dough; here it means an influence that spreads through minds and hearts. “Hypocrisy” is pretending to be righteous while acting against God’s truth.
Jesus states that hypocrisy will not last. “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known” (vv. 2-3). Words said in the dark will be brought into the light. God will uncover false teaching and hidden motives. The disciples must not be persuaded by convincing words that do not match faithful lives. Truth will stand; pretense will be exposed.
He then turns to fear and courage. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body” (v.4). Human power stops at death. “Fear” here means reverent awe and obedient regard. Disciples should “be afraid” of God, who alone judges with final authority (vv. 4-5; cf. Prov. 1:7). Luke uses the word “Gehenna,” a term for final judgment. It is not a threat to crush hope but a sober call to live in God’s truth.
Jesus balances this warning with strong comfort. God notices small creatures. “Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?” Yet none is forgotten by God (v.6). God knows each disciple even more closely—“even the hairs of your head have all been counted” (v.7). If God cares for the least, he will care for those who follow his Son. Therefore, “Do not be afraid” (v.7). Confidence in God’s care and a holy fear of God’s judgment belong together.
Jesus then links present witness to final judgment. “Everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God” (v. 8; cf. Mt. 10:32-33). Public fidelity now leads to public recognition then. “Whoever denies me… will be denied” (v.9). Accepting or rejecting Jesus is the same as accepting or rejecting the Father, since the Son reveals the Father’s will (cf. Mt. 10:32-33). If the leaders oppose Jesus, they will oppose his disciples as well.
Jesus then speaks about sins of speech. “Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven” (v.10). This covers serious failure under pressure or ignorance, when the heart later turns back to God. “But the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven” (v.10). “Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” is a willful and obstinate defiance that speaks against the Spirit’s saving work—even attributing God’s works to evil (cf. Mk 3:22, 29-30; Mt 12:24, 31-32)— and, by refusing repentance, shuts itself off from forgiveness. It is not a single harsh phrase, but a hardened state that closes itself to mercy. Scripture warns that if someone has believed, shared in the Holy Spirit, and then decisively rejects him, such a person places himself outside the path of repentance (Heb. 6:4-6). The danger is final resistance to grace, not the limits of God’s mercy.
Finally, Jesus prepares his disciples for hostile settings. “When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about… what you are to say” (v.11). The “Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say” (v.12). Jesus’ promise of the Spirit’s help is not a shortcut that replaces learning the faith; we must keep being formed in Scripture, prayer, and sound teaching so that, when witness is demanded, the Spirit—who inspired the prophets—gives Christ’s servants faithful speech (Acts 2:42; 1 Pet 3:15; 2 Tim 2:15).
Lord Jesus, keep our hearts free from hypocrisy and our lips firm in truth. Give us holy fear of the Father, strong faith in your care, and ready obedience to the Holy Spirit. When trials come, place your word in our mouths and your courage in our hearts. Amen.
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Sources and References:
- The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011).
- The Navarre Bible: St. Luke, Faculty of the University of Navarre (2008).
- The Paulist Biblical Commentary, ed. Chiu et al. (2018), “Luke.”
- Brown, Raymond E., et al., The New Jerome Biblical Commentary (1990), “Luke.”
- Orchard, Bernard, et al., A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture (1953), “Luke.”
- Cross-references: Prov. 1:7; Mt. 10:32-33; Heb. 6:4-6.
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