Fred Rogers didn’t set out to become one of the most memorable television personalities in American History. He only wanted to create a safe space for children in a growing media-driven culture. After Fred graduated from college with a degree in music and then graduated from the same seminary as R.C. Sproul, he took a step back and saw a world that was loud, fast, and frightening to children and set out to create a tv show that would be the antithesis. He created a show with no flashing lights, no noise, and no gimmicks. Instead it was full of kindness, honesty, and a tone that let kids know they mattered. Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood wasn’t a show to help kids escape reality for 30 minutes at a time, but rather it was a place where kids learned to deal with the reality they had to deal with each and every day. Fred helped children deal with real-life situations like fear, anger, sadness, divorce, and even death by making them a little less scary. He gave them the social and emotional tools to navigate these situations. One of the ways that Fred did this was on every show he would travel to the Land of Make-Believe, a world Fred created full of costumed characters, puppets, and all sorts of other types of whimsy. In the Land of Make-Believe the characters would deal with those same problems that Fred was addressing that day. He would do so in a way to help kids be more comfortable dealing with those problems themselves. Sometimes the characters dealt with them in light hearted ways and other times they would be dealt with in a more somber tone. One thing Fred wanted to make sure was communicated was that this world was in fact pretend. He communicated this in many ways such as through camera work, the use of the trolley, and even verbally talking with the kids about the difference between reality and make-believe. He would often tell them that while pretending is fun, there comes a time when we must take off the mask, lay aside the costumes, and deal with our issues in the real world. While Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood ran for almost 1,000 episodes over decades, some people didn’t get that part of his message and that’s what I want to look at this morning. If you have your Bibles this morning, turn with me to the Gospel of Luke and we will begin in Chapter 12. Jesus had just had a meal at the home of one of the Pharisees and the Pharisee criticized Jesus’ for not performing the cleaning ritual before eating. Jesus used this moment to teach the Pharisees’ of their problem and this caused all the religious leaders to become hostile. They tried to provoke Jesus into saying or doing something they could use against Him. This is what leads us to Jesus’ warning, Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees.
Hidden Hypocrisy: The Rot Within - Luke 12:1-3
Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!
The crowds around Jesus had continued to grow because of what Jesus was teaching and the miracles that were being performed. Here in Chapter 12 of Luke there were now thousands who were just standing around waiting for Jesus to address them again. However, before Jesus began to speak to this crowd, Jesus fixed His attention on His disciples in order to warn them of a danger He had just encountered. “Beware the yeast of the Pharisees!” Jesus uses a metaphor the disciples would have understood due to Mosaic law, but might be a little more difficult for us to understand depending if we are familiar with baking or not. One theologian said this warning might be better understood as “Beware the sourdough of the Pharisees”. While I’m not a baker, but just an enjoyer of baked goods, neither the sourdough nor the yeast make a whole lot of sense to me. If you are in the same boat as I am, let me explain what Jesus was warning about. Yeast does not just stay in one area when it is combined with water and flour. It permeates everything it touches and when it does it causes the dough to begin to puff up. That’s why Jesus used it in His metaphor because the danger of the Pharisees was once introduced into their lives, it would take over every part of their life and begin to make that life puffed up with pride. If you are a follower of Jesus, your life is supposed to be all about Jesus and His Gospel. If this “Yeast of the Pharisees” is introduced it will take Jesus’ place in your life and that is where the danger lies. So what is it Jesus is warning shouldn’t be in the life of a disciple and follower of His? It’s hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, in the Greek, is a term that was originally used in the theater. It was used to describe someone who would put on a mask to convey that they were someone else — they were playing a roll. This is the same way it is used today as well. Jesus was warning about the danger of hypocrisy because of the meal that He was sharing with the Pharisees. In Luke 11:37 we are told of the details of this encounter. During this meal Jesus confronts the Pharisees telling them they are like cups that have only been cleaned on the outside. They are just trying to fool everyone to the truth of their lives. He then points out the behaviors in their lives that made Him say that. They tithe just to be seen. Even though tithing is important they are neglecting the more important things. He calls out the fact they love to sit at the seat of honor at church because they are prideful and love the attention and titles. However, the truth is they are nothing more than open graves full of rot and corruption. Jesus was telling these men they were hypocrites who went around wearing a mask trying to fool everyone (and were doing a good job). They can’t fool God. The warning for the followers of Jesus is more than just don’t be hypocrites. The warning goes beyond that to warn others not to fall into the trap these men fell into to begin with — the trap of fear. They were afraid of the opinions of other people, therefore they let that fear drive everything they did even if it meant they had to lie. Proverbs 29:25 tells us the fear of men always lays a trap for us and Jesus is telling His disciples the same thing. Followers of Jesus need to make sure they are not being hypocritical, putting on a show or to win the approval of other people, because the results will always be dire. Jesus goes on to talk about the irrationality of hypocrisy because all hypocrisy is destined to fail. Many times when we are sinning, we are only focused upon the instant gratification we experience and not the consequences of those actions over time — Jesus is pointing this fact out. While the praise of men might satisfy our egos for a time, there is a time coming when everything will be laid out for all to see. This is a promise Jesus is making to everyone. Sometimes this promise is fulfilled in short order, just like the Pharisees who were confronted, or when the disciples thought they were having a conversation in private about who was the greatest when Jesus confronted them as they rested for the evening. Sometimes the fulfillment takes a little longer, like when Joseph confronted the deeds and lies of his brothers who had sold him into slavery some 20+ years later. It might even be in eternity before it is told to all. Revelation 20:11 tells us there is a time coming when mankind stands in front of the Great White Throne of judgement and all the books will be opened, including the Lamb's Book of Life. All of mankind will be judged because of what is in those books. Just as Scripture states over and over, you can be sure all your sin will find you out. God knows all and He is the final judge. He already sees past the mask that you think you wear so well. Therefore, if we are being warned not to be a hypocrite as a follower of Jesus, how do we make sure we don’t get mixed up with this yeast that permeates everything in our life? Jesus tells us we have to fight fire with fire.
Holy Fear - The Cure we Need - Luke 12:4-5
“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.
The term “fighting fire with fire” was first used by William Shakephere in 1595. However, the actual idea was seen played out many times in history like in the Great London fire of 1666 when they ended up burning down an entire city block in order to create a fire block to save the rest of the city. We see it played out here as well when Jesus tells His disciples you don’t need to fear men because the worst they could do is just kill your body — instead, fear God. Fight fear with fear. There is a popular saying that goes all the way back to 2nd century Christian writers. It says, “When you fear God, you fear nothing else”. That is exactly what Jesus is talking about here. When it comes to the people you are trying to impress, you need to see them honestly to understand why you shouldn’t care to impress them at all. First of all, why would you want the world's applause as a follower of Jesus? When Jesus is your Lord, He is the one you serve and He is the one whom you work to please. Why try to please the world? haven’t you seen what they applaud? Second, when it comes to fear it usually boils down to the fear of consequences like when you are afraid of heights. You aren’t truly afraid of heights but rather of falling. When talking about fearing people it’s usually fear of rejection, embarrassment, failure, or conflict — that list could go on and on. Even the most extreme of those things does not compare to our all powerful and sovereign Lord, Jesus Christ. In the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ we see the truth about Jesus revealed. These two truths about God Jesus is speaking of here are revealed to be true about Jesus because Jesus is God. In Revelation 1:17 we see John standing in the presence of the glorified Jesus. After John falls to Jesus’ feet like a dead man, Jesus tells him, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look - I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” Jesus is the one who holds the keys to death and the grave. If you are going to fear anyone, it needs to be Him, He is sovereign over death and the grave and holds the keys to both in His hands. He is also the righteous all powerful judge. Other than the Great White Throne of Judgment found in Revelation 20 we have already talked about. We can look right before the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20 and see how God deals with our greatest enemy — Satan. “Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” - Revelation 20:10. The greatest and most terrifying foe you will ever face will be Satan. However, it’s Jesus who takes Satan and without a bit of effort finds him guilty of deception and throws him into Hell for all eternity. It’s the one who has the power over life and death and can judge perfectly and cast into Hell that we need to fear. This is not like other unhealthy fears that will cause us to stray from Jesus, but it is a healthy and holy fear that brings us closer to Him. It’s something much deeper than just mere respect Jesus is calling us to here. When we fear God, God uses us for greater things. We saw this in the life of the disciples between the Gospels and Acts. In the Gospels these 11 disciples feared men. They slept when they should have prayed, they fled when they should have stayed, and they denied Jesus instead of declaring Jesus. However, after they witnessed the resurrection of Jesus and the Holy Spirit came to them, they no longer feared men — they truly feared God. We see the proof not only in their words but in their actions. In Acts 4:13, Peter and John stood in front of the men who killed Jesus and proclaimed that, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved!” Those men (some of whom Jesus was confronting their hypocrisy here) stood in shock at what had happened. Those disciples truly feared God, sure these religious leaders could have killed them but that is nothing. They served a King who ruled over death and the grave. Jesus isn’t done with the remedy for people pleasing and hypocrisy because just fearing God isn’t looking at both sides of the coin.
Heavenly Care - The God who Sees You - Luke 12:6-7
“What is the price of five sparrows - two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
In C.S. Lewis’ beloved children’s book “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" there is a statement that has to be my favorite of all of C.S. Lewis’. It explains how we balance verses 4-5 with verses 6-7. Lucy (one of the human characters in the book) has just come to Narnia and is unfamiliar with how things work there, but as she meets some talking beavers, they begin to tell her about Narnia and they describe the King Aslan who is a lion. “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 safety? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” What a perfect way to balance the fear of God with His goodness. God is to be feared because of who He is, but we cannot remove His goodness from that equation. God has not ever forgotten even a small bird in His plan, so why would you ever think He has forgotten you for even a moment. He knows you so intimately that He even knows all the hairs upon your head. You are valuable to God, so much so that He willingly laid down His life to pay the penalty for your sins and offer you forgiveness for your sins if you will just trust in Jesus as your Lord. He didn’t do that for any bird. Therefore, don’t fear men, fear God and know that He loves you more than anyone else will or could ever love you. We need to be honest. Are we wearing masks trying to show everyone we are something we are not? We must stop wearing those masks and start being real. Won’t that show everyone who I really am? Yes, but it shows you who you are as well so you can be changed by the Holy Spirit. When God changes us, He doesn’t put a mask on our old selves and set us on our way. We are transformed by the renewing of our mind. That can only happen when you are born again. Life as a follower of Jesus means you don’t have to pretend you are better than you are. You are loved and forgiven and Jesus is not done working on you. You aren’t perfect, but He who began a good work in you at salvation will continue it until the day He calls you home. He loves you and you are forgiven. Don’t try to please those who just care about you when you can do something for them. The religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus. The crowds were thronging Jesus, but He was neither afraid of the enemy nor impressed by the multitudes. He lived to please God alone. We need to be like Jesus.
