Pastor Scott Andrews | October 12, 2025
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Luke 12:1-3
We are living in interesting times in our world. We hear of the movement of God’s Spirit, for example, in Iran. Many coming to faith in Christ in a strong Muslim country where such confession could cost dearly. Clearly, God is at work for which I am deeply encouraged – there in Iran and in other places throughout the Middle East.
But let’s bring it home to our own country. In light of recent events, I keep hearing the word revival. Now, that word, of course, has both non-religious but primarily religious connotations. We use the word occasionally in Christian circles and even sing of it in old hymns. But what is religious or spiritual revival? It’s not when a bunch of people, perhaps college students, stay up all night singing their favorite Christian songs as someone strums the guitar and another bangs the cajon. That may be emotional and meaningful, I’m not sure it’s revival. Revival, according to theological historians, is defined as an extraordinary move of the Spirit of God through the fervent prayers of His people and the faithful preaching of the gospel to bring about repentance and faith.
It’s interesting to note the First Great Awakening of the 18th Century in the US was called the Evangelical Revival in England. I won’t get into all the specifics, although it’s fascinating reading, but it is generally agreed the Great Awakening was a movement of God brought by faithful prayer and gospel preaching, which saw many sinners born again with resulting new standards of personal morality. Perhaps the most famous of the sermons preached in that period was Jonathan Edwards’ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, preached in 1741.
True revival brings repentance in both believers confessing their sins, and unbelievers confessing and turning from their sins; and it brings increased faith in believers and new faith in unbelievers. In other words, revival is an unusual movement that can only be attributed to God’s Spirit, which brings change – repentance – and a renewed or new faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. To be clear, it is not emotional manipulation but a spiritual work, again only attributed to God. Work that highlights the gospel and makes much of Jesus. It causes the knee to bow at the Lordship of Christ.
Back to recent events. We are told many are flooding to churches, for which I’m thankful. Conservatives are rising up – being bolder in their proclamation of political and moral positions. Here’s my question – is that revival? Maybe it is – I’ve heard of mass baptisms happening – again, for which I’m deeply thankful. Simple question – not meant to quash a movement of God – how much of what we hear is a rise of political conservatism versus faith in Jesus Christ? It may be both, but I truly pray it is the latter. I pray that it is genuine revival. But is it possible that at least some of it is a bandwagon – since we are people of bandwagons? Where some are emboldened to stand up and be counted for their political and moral persuasions?
A bandwagon. Consider, in 310 AD, the Roman Emperor Galerius died. There were several claimants to the Imperial throne, which eventually boiled down to two, Maxentius who was in Rome, and Constantine who was away fighting battles. They eventually met at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 311. Now, Constantine was an able general with a faithful army, but he was outnumbered, two-to-one.
The night before the battle was engaged, Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky, under which read the words, “In this sign, conquer.” As a result, his soldiers painted crosses on their shields and standards and marched into battle. Constantine won an astounding victory that day. The next year, 312, he issued the Edict of Milan in which he made Christianity a legal religion. Now, there is some question as to whether Constantine truly converted, became a Christian, but as one historian stated, with the Emperor claiming the Christian faith and legalizing it, “The Roman Empire became Christian overnight without a single conversion.” Was that a Great Awakening, a revival, or simply a bandwagon event?
Where am I going? There can be vast movements for good causes or good reasons that may or may not be spiritual. You see, in His ministry, thousands flocked to see Jesus, the miracle worker from Galilee. He had fed them, healed them, exorcised demons. He had even raised the dead. And now, the day is fast approaching when He will ride into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the crowds will shed their coats and cut palm branches to pave the way. They will cry out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!” Five days later, the crowds will cry out, crucify Him. Seven days later, there will be 120 gathered in the upper room. What happened to the thousands? A spiritual movement, or a bandwagon? Yes, I have read the book of Acts, and within months, if not weeks, many thousands claimed faith in Jesus Christ and were truly converted.
But, there was a bandwagon – Luke chapter 12. We just finished the last half of the previous chapter in which Jesus called out the Pharisees and the lawyers or scribes in sustained condemnation – six scathing woes. In Matthew’s gospel, the longer denunciation takes place in chapter 23, on Tuesday after the Triumphal Entry. There, Jesus will say, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” some eight times. He finishes with, “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?” Which brings us to our text – three simple verses – Luke 12:1-3.
Sustained spiritual revival requires repentance and faith – surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. Here’s my point – what happened to the thousands, the myriads? Jesus had just left the infamous luncheon. The scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile toward Him, questioning Him closely, plotting against Him, seeking to catch Him in something He might say. Setting traps, they are circling like vultures. Under these circumstances, chapter 12 begins. Let me give you the outline as we jump into the text:
- The Setting (1a)
- The Warning (1b)
- The Reason [or motivation behind the warning] (2-3)
Starting with the setting. Luke’s wording is such that it was under these circumstances – more literally, meanwhile or at that time – right after the lunch. We’re not exactly sure where Jesus and His disciples were – somewhere between Capernaum in Galilee in the north and Jerusalem in Judea to the south. Remember, He had set His face toward Jerusalem, knowing this would be His last visit to the city. He knew what awaited Him upon His arrival and went anyway. Can I suggest Jesus was not looking for a movement, but true spiritual revival that would require His death and resurrection. I’ve said it this way before – He’s not looking for fans, He’s looking for followers. The trip would take about six months in which He gives significant teaching to His disciples, preparing them for His inevitable, coming departure.
So He prepares them, for example, through chapter 12, after this disappointing but expected interaction with the Pharisees and lawyers. Notice, He began saying to His disciples. This will continue off and on through much of the next several chapters as He continues to face rising opposition – He turns His attention to preparation of His followers.
Now teaching His disciples would certainly include the Twelve, but there would also be many others, to include the faithful women who followed Him all the way from Galilee. It would also include the many who were not yet convinced but were following Him anyway. He’s teaching, and evangelizing, much like we do. Yes, we teach, strengthening believers, preparing you, not for the departure, but for the return of Christ. That’s our primary purpose. But we also regularly share the gospel, inasmuch as there are those here not yet convinced. You may be part of a movement, but you haven’t been made alive yet.
The first twelve verses of chapter 12 are quite Trinitarian, where He encourages them to fear God and trust His care; to confess the Son before people, and to honor the Spirit who will empower them before their opponents. In the rest of the chapter, He’ll go on to tell them to guard against greed and trust God for their needs. To be found ready and waiting for the Son when He returns. To understand that Jesus came to divide people – ultimately between believers and unbelievers. It’s a great chapter.
But for now, verses 1-3. Notice, as He’s traveling with His disciples, there is still the ever-present and growing crowd – which will prove to be, at least for some, merely a bandwagon. Here, there were many thousands – the word is literally myriads which is a technical term for ten thousand, but was often used to refer to an innumerable number. There were many thousands of people gathered such that they were stepping on, trampling on one another to get to Jesus. Perhaps they wanted to eat, to be healed, to be delivered. Lots of good reasons for this bandwagon.
Jesus had a movement going on. He should capitalize on that, right? Instead, He turns to His disciples – no doubt in the presence and hearing of the crowd, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” That’s not particularly congenial, welcoming – to warn against the spiritual leaders of the day – lest they be false spiritual leaders. Think about it – Jesus calling out the recognized spiritual leaders would have made the Israeli Gazette, the Palestine Times.
Which brings us to the second point – the warning. Remember, this was right after lunch and the Pharisees were likely still around, seeking to trap Him. And He says, no doubt in their hearing, Beware, be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees. Throughout Scripture, leaven or yeast is used primarily – not exclusively, but primarily to speak of the evil, penetrating influence of sin. For example, in I Corinthians 5, when Paul warns the Corinthian church to expel an openly sinful man, he says, “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?” The idea is, a little sin left unchecked in the body affects the whole body, the whole church. There is a reason for church discipline.
It’s interesting to note the church at Corinth was proud of their tolerance of an egregious, unrepentant, sexual sinner in their midst. Paul said, I’m not even there, and I’ve already judged him. You need to deliver this one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus. Turn him out in hope that he will repent. Your boasting is not good. Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump [of dough], just as you are in fact unleavened. Your sin has been purged, For Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.
Do you see what He is saying? We cannot tolerate sin in our midst as if it’s the just and tolerant thing to do – no, purge out the sin with the intention that the sinner will repent, and the church will be pure. After all, you are unleavened, without sin – not sinless, rather, not glorifying sin, repenting when it comes – because, Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. Our sins have been forgiven, removed. Why would you tolerate sin? And remember, as these Jews would have known – when they observed the Passover, they were to remove the leaven from their homes. It was symbolic of sin and its permeating influence. Get rid of it, don’t tolerate it.
So, beware of the leaven, the evil, sinful influence of the Pharisees. They would have known right away that Jesus was calling their teaching evil – sinful – wrong. Remember, the Pharisees would have been right there, hearing what He said about them – but He was speaking to the disciples. Notice further, Jesus defines what leaven, what specific sin He has in mind. Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
That’s interesting. Jesus mentions the leaven of the Pharisees in the other two synoptic gospels, but only in Luke does He identify it as hypocrisy. So, let’s talk about that for a moment. The word hypocrisy is the Greek work hupocrisis. It was used to speak of the actors in Greek plays – tragedies or comedies – who wore masks. (happy, sad) The mask was simply a façade to display who they were portraying. It wasn’t the actor – it was a mask. The word came to be used of one who wears a mask. And in its biblical context, it’s quite negative.
Beware of the leaven, the teaching, the example, the lifestyle of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. It’s fake – it’s a mask. In what ways were the Pharisees hypocrites? Remember, Jesus said a number of times in Matthew 23, woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. In what ways? Too many to count, but consider, they wore a mask in their supposed self-righteous superiority, and wanted everyone to know it. So when they prayed, they prayed long, ostentatious prayers in public so all would see. When they fasted, they left themselves unkempt, contorted their faces so all would know what they were doing and admire them for it. When they gave, they sounded the trumpet so all would know of their sacrifice. They broadened their phylacteries, which were the little boxes that carried portions of Scripture on their foreheads or their arms. They lengthened the tassels around the robes.
They sought the places of honor in the synagogues, the elaborate greetings in the marketplace, and the title Rabbi as one of respect and superiority. My, they were spiritual. But like white-washed tombs, clean and shiny on the outside but were full of dead men’s bones on the inside. They were hypocrites through and through. It was all just a show – they wore the mask well.
Such that, when Jesus sought sinners – wanting to be with them to see them rescued from their sin, the Pharisees called Him a glutton and a drunkard, and friend of tax collectors and sinners. They would never do that, you see. When asked why He hung out with sinners, Jesus replied to the Pharisees, it’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Make no mistake about it – the Pharisees were not righteous – they just wore masks to appear that way. They failed to see their own sin-infested need.
So, Jesus says to His disciples, which includes us, beware of them and their leaven which is hypocrisy. Now, why would He say that? What did He mean? Well, the first obvious reason is that we don’t want to be sucked into their self-righteous legalism. We don’t want to fall into a trap that we think we can do things just right – obey our rules regarding righteousness – that will make us acceptable to God. By the way, it’s the damning lie of every false religion. Christianity alone is the gospel of grace through the death of God’s Son. That we, sinners, are saved through no merit of our own, but simply by the goodness and grace of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don’t be sucked into some legalistic system – either to make you saved or make you holy.
But it is also possible that He is warning His people to not be hypocrites like the Pharisees. Don’t be sucked into their false teaching, yes, but don’t wear masks, either. That one hits a bit closer to home. How often have Christians been called hypocrites? Now to be clear, if by that people mean we are sinners who condemn sin, that’s true. But we are also seeking to kill sin in our own lives.
But is it possible that we can be hypocrites in the way we wear masks? What do I mean? Lots of ways we can do that. You see, like the Greeks, we have masks that fit the occasion too. First, when we are around other Christians, say at church on Sunday mornings, we break out the holy mask. We wear the right clothes, carry the Bible, sing the songs, bow for prayer – no one would have a clue what yesterday looked like. We wouldn’t want them to know. There is no transparency about our struggles – our victories and our failures. The mask of self-righteousness often fits snuggly.
And further, going with that, we may also wear the happy mask. We paste on the smile and act as if everything is fine. The old song says, smile, make them think you’re happy. Lie and say that things are fine. We wear the mask, because the last place we want anyone to know that things are not fine is on Facebook, Instagram, or church.
If there is any place that we should be okay to share our struggles and failures, it ought to be here. Oh, not like the sinful man in I Corinthians 5 who had no intention of repenting. We share in grief, seeking to kill sin and be holy. We want to be like the tax collector in Luke 18 who entered the Temple and wouldn’t even lift his eyes toward heaven, but beat on his breast saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner. And not be like the mask-wearing Pharisee who was there that day praying to himself – that’s an interesting slip of the tongue for Luke, praying to himself, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” He then went on to give his resume – all the good things that ought to make God proud. His was a beautiful mask, a holy mask, and he would fit well in many churches today.
Can I encourage us to tear off the masks and be genuine followers of Christ. Oh, not revel in our brokenness, but share our struggles to seek holiness together. You’ll never receive the help of the Great Physician if you never admit you’re sick.
How do we do that? Let me take a quick aside to suggest it takes more than an hour or so on Sunday mornings. Now, I believe our corporate gatherings are incredibly important and biblical. But this is not all there is to the Christian faith. It takes genuine community. One on one, one on a few. Living life together, where you can share your victories, your struggles, and pray together – to pray for others and be prayed for. To be held accountable. There are lots of places where that can happen – like our Life Groups – the point is, you cannot do it alone. You need community – other Christians in your life who know your life. Who love you, pray for you, and hold you accountable. And vice versa.
Well, let’s quickly move to our last point and our conclusion. Verses 2 and 3 are interesting. If we wrench them from their context, they can be made to say what they don’t mean. Jesus has just warned them – beware of the leaven – the sinful influence – of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Which means, don’t be sucked into their self-righteous, mask-wearing legalism, and don’t wear masks like they do.
After all, this is the motivation behind the warning – there is nothing covered in hypocrisy, behind that mask, that will not be revealed. There is nothing that people have meticulously hidden that will not be known. There is a day coming when all the secrets of people’s hearts will be revealed. Don’t be hypocritical – don’t wear a mask. Pursue integrity.
Stop right there. The word integrity comes from the Latin word, integritas. We also get our word integer from that Latin word. You math people know the word integer speaks of whole numbers, without fractions or decimals. The point is, there is wholeness there – a whole number, undivided. The word integrity speaks of undivided wholeness, of inward honesty – when you are on the inside what you are on the outside, and vice versa. In other words, you don’t wear masks. It is when you are the same person at home as you are at work, and the same person at both those places as you are at church. The word integrity has been defined this way – when all the components of your life touch. I want you to get that – when all the components of your life touch – your home life, your public life, your church life. When there is consistency in every area of your life.
Verse 3 gives further warning. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetop. The inner room was typically a storeroom – the most secure room in the house since it didn’t have exterior walls that could be dug into. As the most secure, it was also the most private. Jesus is saying, what you have whispered quietly where no one can hear in the privacy of your inner room will be proclaimed. It will be heard.
You can take that to say, what some have said, that what you as disciples say quietly needs to be proclaimed from the rooftops. That is, the gospel needs to be shared far and wide. But that’s not the context. The context here is the leaven of hypocrisy. So when you think no one is listening and no one knows the real you, there is a day coming when all will be made known. Pursue righteousness and integrity. Be who Christ has made you to be.
Which brings us to our conclusion. The clear teaching of the text is to not wear masks. To make sure the revival of your own heart is real and life-changing. But let me suggest there may be another group of people here who wear the mask of Christianity on Sunday mornings. You may not even call yourself a Christian, but you’re interested, so you show up. I’m glad you’re here, but I want you to know Jesus. To shed any pretense and believe in Jesus – His death and resurrection – to repent for the forgiveness of sins, to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus in your life and He will begin a transformation in your life, leading to life eternal. Let’s take off our masks.