Fear God not man

‘But I will show you whom you should fear. Fear him who after the killing of the body has power to throw you into hell.’ Luke 12: 5

The context of these rather frightening words is part of a run in that Jesus had with the Pharisees and the teachers of the law found in Luke 11: 37 – 53. It all started because Jesus had not washed his hands before the meal which was a ceremonial tradition started by the Pharisees and not something required by the law.  Jesus took the Pharisees to task for their traditions and hypocrisy. One of the experts of the law complained that Jesus was insulting them and then Jesus took these people to task as well for their hypocrisy especially over their forefathers killing God’s prophets and the current generation building elaborate tombs for these martyred prophets; endorsing what their forefathers had done.

All of this did not go down well with the Pharisees and teachers of the law who ‘began to oppose him fiercely’ (Luke 11: 53) and were waiting to trip him up with his own words. Meanwhile, despite a huge crowd who were beginning to trample one another, Jesus started to warn his disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and to fear God not man. Jesus was fearless in the face of men’s antagonism and anger towards him. He never stopped doing what the Father told him to do nor stopped saying what his Father was saying. He said, ‘For I seek not to please myself but him who sent me’ John 5:30 and ‘For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me’ John 6:38 and ‘For I did not speak of my own accord but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it’ John 12: 49.

Jesus wanted to encourage the disciples that they need not fear men. Acknowledging God before men was paramount because everything they said, even in secret, would be proclaimed from the rooftops. They were not to be afraid even if people had the power to kill them for what they had said. If they were brought before the authorities they would be given the words to say and Jesus assured his disciples that they were worth a lot in God’s eyes and God would look after them.
In our comfortable western world, it is very easy to let these words wash over us as we feel it is unlikely we will have to stand for our faith in this way. In many parts of the world though, these words are very meaningful. Many of other religions who become Christians are ostracised by the family and community and some are even put to death for their faith. Let us make sure that though we may not be persecuted for our faith, neither do we deny God in our home, family, community or work setting. Let us acknowledge Jesus without being over bearing or unpleasant.

Jesus does not want any of us to fear men but to joyfully acknowledge him before men, confident that God will look after us whatever the outcome.