Warn and Encourage

The crowd of people had grown to many thousands, to the point that they were trampling on one another. Then Jesus began to teach, speaking first to His disciples. He reminded them of what He had said in the boat after they departed the region of Magadan and Dalmanutha: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” 

Jesus then recalled some of what He told the twelve apostles before sending them out. “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed and nothing hidden that will not be made known. What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

“I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has the authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

“I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess them before the angels of God. But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say. For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

See Luke 12:1-12

Notes: 

1. “hell”: in Greek, Gehenna

2. “two pennies”: in Greek, “two assaria”; an assarion was a Roman copper coin that was worth about 1/16 of a denarius.