Luke 12:5-9- Anyone confused by it?

[jeffnevins]

5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

6Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

7But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

8Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

9But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

Usually, with six or so people in my small group, we can figure things out most verses fairly well (we're going through the NT).

So I'm here again- hope it's cool.

Who's the being mentioned in v5 & why isn't it named? Why go from fear in v5 to no fear in v7? Why the focus on angels of God instead of God? God's more important than angels.

A theory I have is God for v5. We should fear (respect) Him. Then the fear in v7 is a different Hebrew word which means scared (not respect). Except Him isn't in caps.

I thought nothing could seperate us from the love of God (except if we choose so). No clue on the angels.

Thanks for any insight. Hope your small groups, if you attend, go well also.

[tsth]

Dear jeff,

I think it is referring to God as well.

Also, with regard to your last question and the verse you're posting, this verse ALSO came to mind:

2 Tim 2:11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[Guest Biblicist]

Maybe in a different translation you can understand the meaning...

Luke 12 [NLT]

4 Dear friends, don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill the body; they cannot do any more to you.

5 But I'll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill people and then throw them into Hell.

6 What is the price of five sparrows? A couple of pennies? Yet God does not forget a single one of them

7 And the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.

8 And I assure you of this: If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I, the Son of Man, will openly acknowledge that person in the presence of God's angels.

9 But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before God's angels.

10 Yet those who speak against the Son of Man may be forgiven, but anyone who speaks blasphemies against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.

11 And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before the rulers and authorities, don't worry about what to say in your defense.

12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you what needs to be said even as you are standing there.

[EricH]

5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

6Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

7But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

8Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

9But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

Usually, with six or so people in my small group, we can figure things out most verses fairly well (we're going through the NT).

So I'm here again- hope it's cool.

Who's the being mentioned in v5 & why isn't it named? Why go from fear in v5 to no fear in v7? Why the focus on angels of God instead of God? God's more important than angels.

A theory I have is God for v5. We should fear (respect) Him. Then the fear in v7 is a different Hebrew word which means scared (not respect). Except Him isn't in caps.

I thought nothing could seperate us from the love of God (except if we choose so). No clue on the angels.

Thanks for any insight. Hope your small groups, if you attend, go well also.

The being denied before the anges is referring to God. It is known as the divine passive. God will deny people before the angels

[deut31:12]

5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

6Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

7But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

8Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

9But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

Usually, with six or so people in my small group, we can figure things out most verses fairly well (we're going through the NT).

So I'm here again- hope it's cool.

Who's the being mentioned in v5 & why isn't it named? Why go from fear in v5 to no fear in v7? Why the focus on angels of God instead of God? God's more important than angels.

A theory I have is God for v5. We should fear (respect) Him. Then the fear in v7 is a different Hebrew word which means scared (not respect). Except Him isn't in caps.

I thought nothing could seperate us from the love of God (except if we choose so). No clue on the angels.

Thanks for any insight. Hope your small groups, if you attend, go well also.

Verses 5 is speaking basically of man-pleasing. Many people deny Jesus in their actions before others and don't live their Christianity correctly out of fear of castigation. We should not fear what people think of us as being Christians. We should fear what God can do to us if we do NOT live as Christians.

Verse 7 is speaking of fear as in not fretting. We shouldn't be afraid of doing without as long as we are Christians. God will provide for us.

[jeffnevins]

Ah.

Thanks. Good looking it over with you.