Luke 12:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After the Lord chastised the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, guided His disciples away from such attitudes, and reiterated His condemnation with the words, "What ye have said in darkness shall be heard in light," He then turned His attention to His beloved followers to discuss higher truths. Having already removed the thorns of falsehood, He now sows the seeds of good derived from Himself, saying, "I say unto you My friends." The previous remarks were not directed at them but rather aimed at the Pharisees. Thus, I say unto you, My friends. This address pertains not to the masses but specifically to those who have devoted their hearts to Him, who can assert, "Who shall separate us from the love of God?" (Rom. 8:35). This assurance is fitting for such believers.

Endurance along with a resilient and brave spirit forms the impenetrable armor of the faithful, as these qualities are celebrated and encompass them with the accolades of devotion. The holy Apostles remarked, "In patience possess your souls," and also stated, "You have need of patience, in order that, by doing the will of God, you may receive the promise." Through these noble virtues, we achieve renown and earn respect and honor among people, qualifying for the rewards and blessings set aside for the saints: those which "eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard," as the wise Paul expresses. How could these cherished rewards not be exceedingly admirable, transcending our comprehension and logic?

Let us hold a reverent fear of the death dreaded by the three faithful men who addressed the king, saying, "God is able to deliver us from the furnace, but even if He does not..." (cf. Dan. 3:17-18). Their fear was of that very death which the Lord spoke of when they affirmed, "But if He does not save us in a visible manner, He can still honor us in a hidden way." Therefore, the Lord Himself, seeking to fortify the martyrs and to serve as their Head, proclaimed: "Do not fear those who can kill the body but have no power beyond that" (cf. Matt. 10:28; Lk. 12:4). What can they truly do when they have caused death? Once the body has been abandoned to the beasts and birds, it appears that cruelty still brings about some action. But against whom does it act?

Unbelief can arise from two primary sources: either from an underdeveloped wickedness or from an external apprehension. To prevent anyone from renouncing God, whom they inherently know, due to fear of authority, the Lord emphasized that the only thing to be feared is the punishment of the soul, rather than that of the body. Death serves as the natural conclusion to life, not as a form of punishment; rather, it signifies liberation from corporeal suffering. The eternal anguish of the soul is what should truly evoke fear, for it is God alone—whose authority knows no bounds and to whom all creation is submissive—that we must revere. Therefore, death ought not to cause dread, as immortality will abundantly restore what is lost.

Oh, boundless humility and love! He refers to His servants as friends, aware that they cherish Him with all their heart, soul, and mind. He also expressed the words 'And do not be afraid of them that kill the body,' as recorded in the aforementioned chapter of Matthew's Gospel, where one can find their deeper meaning. He frequently advised the Apostles in various situations, desiring to etch this truth into their hearts.

While the Pharisees and lawyers who invited the Lord into their assembly sought to entrap Him, they must have received His admonishments, yet attempted to twist His words for their own deceptive purposes. The crowd gathered in large numbers at the Pharisee's residence. After addressing the Pharisees, the Lord turned to His disciples and the throng, continuing His teaching based on the earlier dialogue. He cautioned His disciples once again to be vigilant against the leaven of the Pharisees, which signifies hypocrisy, as it is increasingly perilous and deceptive—a trait that warps their understanding of the Lord's words and teachings.

Do not be alarmed if you face persecution, suffering, or even death for your faith. Understand that those who seek to silence the truth can only take your physical life, but they cannot touch your spirit. Be wary of those who seek to lead you away from the truth. Through their deceit and insincerity, they may present themselves as allies, seemingly supportive of you; they will infiltrate your heart to bring about its ruin, and they will succeed if you yield to their influence. Remain vigilant against them! Let them cause you caution!

He bolstered their spirits by recalling His own sufferings and the hostilities He faced. They should not be daunted by their calling. The Lord who is mindful of even the tiniest sparrows that fall and counts every hair on their heads, the God who oversees not just the matters of life and death but the realms of everlasting life and eternal separation, should be revered above all earthly threats. He remains with them. He will acknowledge those whom His Son has acknowledged and will dismiss those whom He has turned away.

After cautioning His disciples about the influence of the Pharisees, particularly their hypocrisy, and encouraging them to boldly proclaim the truth of the Gospel while trusting in God's providence, the Lord also addressed another negative trait of the Pharisees—greed. This warning was prompted by a request from an individual who asked, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” The requester presumed that a single word from Christ would suffice to resolve his desire. However, the resolution of such matters rightfully belonged to the courts. Thus, the Savior, dismissing the notion of secular arbitration, spoke against the root of these disputes—the love of material possessions. “Who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” He asked. To illustrate this point and underline its truth, He shared a parable that powerfully demonstrated the futility of the aspirations of the greedy.