Luke 12:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

NIV: There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

NASB: But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

CSB: There is nothing covered that won't be uncovered, nothing hidden that won't be made known.

NLT: The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.

KJV: For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

NKJV: For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.

Jesus continues applying His rejection of the example of the hypocritical Pharisees (Luke 12:1). At a dinner with Pharisees and their lawyers, Jesus condemned them for appearing holy while their hearts were like unmarked graves. They tithe on the smallest of herbs and love receiving honor in the synagogue, but they teach the people false doctrine, following the tradition of those who killed the Old Testament prophets (Luke 11:37–52).

Now, Jesus tells the disciples that the Pharisees' hidden sins will one day be made public. They will be judged for their secret plots (Luke 11:53–54). In fact, everyone's actions will be revealed in the final judgment, including the disciples' (1 Corinthians 4:5; Romans 2:16). The disciples might be enticed by the public approval the Pharisees receive, but they need to focus on Jesus, not the adoring crowds, even if such loyalty leads to their death (Luke 12:4–12).

The struggle is real. Much later, Peter will be faced with the choice between staying in the good graces of legalistic Jews-turned-Christ-followers or following Christ into unfettered community with Gentile Christians. Paul will chastise him when he chooses wrong (Galatians 2:11–14). It is not the extra-biblical regulations of the Pharisees that saves but God's grace, more specifically in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, which we receive through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:1–10).

Most likely, Jesus taught the same thing in different contexts. In Matthew's account, the phrases are a bit rearranged to show a different application: "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known" (Matthew 10:26). Matthew's account goes on to include the text in Luke 12:4–7 to show that the disciples should have courage to speak the truth, even if the Pharisees and other religious leaders threaten their lives. The disciples will follow Jesus' instructions in Acts 4—5.

Luke 12:1–3 is the first of several warnings Jesus gives about living under God's kingdom, not under the authority of the Pharisees who have denied their Messiah. In the previous chapter, Luke described how the Pharisees and scribes rejected Jesus. Surrounded by thousands of people, Jesus tells the disciples to reject the Pharisees' hypocrisy (Luke 11:37–44). Next, Jesus will exhort the disciples to hold fast to His teaching even if their lives are in danger (Luke 12:4–12). Matthew 10:26 and 16:6, and Mark 4:22 and 8:15 cover the same topics.

Jesus teaches the disciples about proper priorities. This includes recognizing that God knows all things, even secrets. Believers should honor God more than they fear death, or than they worry about things like food and clothes. Christians are to remain ready for Christ's return, even as faith separates those who believe from those who do not. These ideas revolve around the central theme of verse 34: that a person's heart reflects what they value most.

Luke 12:1—13:9 compares the world with the kingdom of God. Jesus has condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Luke 11:14–54). He now instructs His disciples to reject the fame and security that Pharisees crave, and hold lightly to their lives, wealth, security, and even family. He then warns the crowd to be wise about their relationships with other people and with God. The next two units each include a miracle and teaching on God's kingdom and salvation (Luke 13:10—15:32). Then the final section in the "travelogue" repeats that three-unit pattern (Luke 16:1—19:27) before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.