Grace and Space

Lk 12:1-7
God cares: As Jesus’ journey continues and gets closer to Jerusalem, the size of the crowds increases. In this way Luke describes the popularity of Jesus and his disciples, as well as the scope of the missionary challenge of the early Church.
The warning against hypocrisy, that is, not being inside what one appears to be externally, is issued by Jesus to the crowd. What leads to hypocrisy is fear, especially during a time of persecution. Followers of Jesus should have no fear of being persecuted and killed.
However, they should “be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna” (v 5). This is the route of hypocrisy. A hypocrite, according to Luke, will end up in the Jerusalem garbage dump, Gehenna. During a time of persecution, anyone who reneges on his or her faith is considered to be worthless garbage.
But fear of God should not be the motivation for steadfastness during persecution, according to Jesus. Authentic motivation should be the disciple’s trust in God’s benevolent care. If God is concerned about the sparrows, then how much more is God concerned about people.
Using hyperbolic language, Jesus emphasizes God’s care for people: “Even the hairs of your head have all been counted” (v 7). There is no limit to God’s care for those who refuse hypocrisy during times of persecution. They have nothing to fear.