What do you fear?

Luke 20 Whom or what do you fear? Fear can be a healthy or an unhealthy emotion. It can drive you to decisions that may or may not be righteous. “In good men, the fear of God is a holy awe or reverence of God and his laws, which springs from a just view and real love of the divine character, leading the subjects of it to hate and shun every thing that can offend such a holy being, and inclining them to aim at perfect obedience.” [Dr. Constable]

The religious leaders came to test Jesus. They asked him by what authority was he doing these things. In answering He asked them about the baptism of John. Was it from heaven or the people? They responded that they did not know the answer. They refused to answer because as Dr Luke noted: they feared the people more than God. [vs 6 & 19] The Proverbs verse comes back to us: the fear of men is a snare and this is where we find the religious leaders. They were trapped by this emotion. 

• What do you fear? Do you fear men or God who has the authority to determine your fate? Listen to what Paul said: “the god of this world blinds the minds of men so they cannot see the glorious image of God.” [2 Cor 4:4] If Jesus came today and asked you the same question Jesus asked the religious leaders, how would you respond?