Luke 12:4 Commentary and Bible Study

(Synoptics: Luke 12:4-12)Believers are the light of the world, and when they witness to this lost world and do their good deeds before men, they are letting their light shine. The fact that light is coming is a great encouragement to them. They will not have to fight against the darkness and put up with is persecutions forever. While it lasts, they should not be afraid. It is those who live by the darkness who should be afraid, for it is certain that their cover will be taken away. Here is Christ’s word of comfort to his persecuted disciples. The way to cope with persecution is to think ahead, to see from the perspective of heaven and of eternity. Christ requires that we remain faithful to him, and confess him before men, and are not ashamed of him. It is a small price to pay for the gift of salvation that we have received freely. Fear of suffering and of giving one’s life for Christ’s sake is to be overcome. We have conflicting fears at times, and the Lord says these words to strengthen the right fear and to diminish the wrong fears. We should not fear the hatred of the world, or its ill-treatment. We should not fear being excluded from its company – that may work for our good. We should not fear even the ultimate sanction against us, the taking of our lives. Christ’s logic is immaculate: after they have taken our lives, what more can they do? They have done their worst, and it has not separated us from the love of God. Indeed it has only accelerated us into the presence of God. The reality of God’s power to raise his children from the dead must be firmly established in the mind of every disciple.