Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 12:6-7
The point of these two illustrations was that God is aware of more insignificant things than the disciples, yet He has concern for these things. It is an argument from the lesser to the greater (cf. Luke 11:13). Since God knows about and has concern for these less important things, He will surely care for the disciples. The cent (Gr. assarion) was a Roman coin worth about one sixteenth of a denarius, a day’s wage (cf. Matthew 10:29). These illustrations balance Jesus’ singular warning to fear... read more
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 12:5
Rather than fearing their persecutors the disciples should fear God more. God has the power to affect eternal, not just temporal, destiny. Jesus was not implying that the disciples would end up in hell if they proved unfaithful (cf. John 10:27-28; 2 Timothy 2:11-13). He was warning them about the possibility of losing an eternal reward. He cited God’s punitive power to deter hypocrisy. This is Luke’s only reference to hell (Gr. geenna), but elsewhere it is a place of eternal torment (cf.... read more