"In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, 'Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.' '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! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.'" Luke 12:1-7
I. The leaven of the Pharisees involves man-centered mandates, which they believed would make them acceptable in the presence of a holy God. This leaven included the desire to win the favor and applause of their contemporaries without a sustained commitment to personal change (repentance) (Luke 11:39,42-43).
II. The futility of this "leaven" (vv. 2-3).
BATTLING THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEE BY WALKING IN THE FEAR OF GOD
“The fear of God is the soul of godliness. There is a dread or terror of the Lord, and there is the fear of reverential awe. There is the fear that consists in being afraid; It elicits anguish and terror. There is the fear of reverence; It elicits confidence and love.” John Murray, Principles of Conduct
Servile fear = the fear of a slave
Filial fear = the loving fear of a son.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." 1 John 4:18
The believer walks in the fear of amazing delight.
"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear" Isaiah 11:1-3
"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." 2 Corinthians 7:1
"Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust." 1 Peter 2:18
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." Proverbs 9:10
"In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death." Proverbs 14:26-27
"'Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.' 'Ooh' said Susan. 'I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion'...'safe?' said Mr Beaver..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.'” C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The fear of God: a happy, healthy fear that controls other fears.