BQ – Why fear play-actors?

He himself going out from there, the theologians and the Pharisees began to be terribly hostile and to question him closely about many things, lying in wait for him, plotting to ensnare him in something from his mouth. (Luke’s AD 60 research report re Jesus: Chapter 11:53 – 12:12)

The year is around AD 30. Deep hostility towards Jesus exists – covertly – on the part of these religious leaders. At which time, the crowd of unnumberable people having gathered together so then trampling one another, he began to state to his disciples first, “Protect your own selves from the leaven of the Pharisees, which is play-acting! But nothing is covered up which will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” The “play-acting” of “the Pharisees” was something to be avoided by “the disciples first”. All others as well? Why? Because it was “leaven” (otherwise known as yeast) and permeated everything in them? The “play-acting … of the Pharisees” was a facade. Not for disciples of Jesus. “Instead of which, those things you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and the thing you spoke in the ear in store-rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” Jesus wanted “the disciples first” (others after) to live their lives in total integrity of thought, word and deed - eliminating “play-acting.” Is it correct that nothing will remain secret? Nothing?
“But I state to you, my friends, you may not be afraid of those killing the body and having nothing more to do. But I will uncover to you of whom you may be afraid: be afraid of the one having authority, after the killing, to cast into the ‘Gehenna’! Yes, I state to you, be afraid of that one!”	.
It was the smooth-talking “theologians and Pharisees” who were intent on “killing the body” of Jesus. Jesus was teaching his disciples not to be afraid of them. Of whom – and of what - should they be afraid? “The one having authority, after the killing”? Who he? The AD 30 Jerusalem rubbish-dump plus constantly-burning incinerator was called “Gehenna.” “Are not five sparrows selling for two assarions and not one of them is being neglected in the presence of God? Instead also, the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid! You are worth many sparrows.” Jesus has just instructed the disciples not to be afraid of those merely “killing the body.” He gave two reasons, above, for them not to be afraid. “But I state to you, each one adhering to me in the presence of men, the Son of Man also will adhere to himself in the presence of the angels of God, but the one denying me in the sight of men will be denied in the sight of the angels of God.” The theme of “do not be afraid” continued. A contrast was drawn between those “adhering to me in the presence of men” and those “denying me in the sight of men.” Are there serious consequences in settling down into a fixed position about Jesus? “And each one who will speak a word to the Son of Man it will be forgiven him, but the one rendering vile the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” The words “Holy” and “Spirit” combined occur 13 times in Luke’s Report and always refer to the God and Father of the Lord Jesus. Here, the message seems to be that “each one” may speak to Jesus without being afraid but each one needs greatly to beware adopting a settled position of “rendering vile the Holy Spirit” who is the Lord God above all.
“But when they may bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, you may not be anxious about how or what you may defend or what you may say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour the things it is necessary to say.”	.
Followers of Jesus will not escape interrogation. In it, and at the very time of need, they will have “the Holy Spirit” teaching them what to say.

Sinner Syvret

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