Luke 12:11, commentary and pictures

When followers of Christ are brought before councils, courts, rulers and magistrates to answer for their faith and loyalty to God's law, they are told not to be anxious or plan beforehand how to defend themselves. Christ Himself will stand with them, and the Holy Spirit will bring to mind at the needed moment the knowledge of Scripture they have diligently studied and reach the hearts of their hearers. The words so given carry heavenly wisdom and power, spoken clearly so that adversaries cannot refute them and souls in peril may recognize them as from the Lord. This promise calls for daily preparation by treasuring God's truth in the heart, feeding on Christ's teaching, and strengthening faith through prayer. It depends on prior faithfulness with undivided trust, for those who have neglected to fill the mind with truth and learn Christ's words cannot expect the Spirit to bring them to remembrance in trial, and when questioned they must rely not on their own ability but on obedience and meek trust in Him.

Brought Before Authorities

Being brought unto synagogues, magistrates and powers is being brought before councils, courts, judges, rulers, magistrates and lawyers, even imprisoned, to answer for faith and allegiance to God's law for Christ's sake. The trial is for His sake, when allegiance to God and His law is called in question before earthly authority. There the follower is to answer for that faith, not to rely on personal strength to decide what to say.

Take ye no thought means prepare no set speech for defense, and do not be anxious, worried, or planning in advance how or what thing to answer or what to say. No forethought about manner or matter of reply is required, and no worry about utterance before councils and judges. Christ promises to instruct and guide in that hour, to stand with the accused, with the Holy Spirit and angels beside them supplying the needed words. The Spirit of the Lord brings the needed words to mind, flashing knowledge gained by diligent searching of the Scriptures into memory at the exact time it is needed to reach the hearts of those who hear. Duty then is to obey God and follow Christ, trusting Him to give both words and utterance even amid strong opposition.

Words so given are heavenly wisdom, recognizable as distinct from one's own thoughts and as carrying God's wisdom, life and power. They are God's words, spoken clearly and with power, testifying to the indwelling Spirit Christ promised. Adversaries cannot refute or gainsay them, and even amid opposition the message can be heard and accepted as coming from the Lord. They are of great consequence for perishing souls, being the very truths fitted to reach hearers. That promise of wisdom to speak before rulers and magistrates was not a means of advancing selfish worldly interests, as when the man seeking his share of an inheritance wanted Christ's power used to make his brother yield what he considered his due.

Preparation and Faithful Witness

No set speech is to be prepared for defense, but preparation is to be made day by day by treasuring the precious truths of God's word in the heart, feeding upon the teaching of Christ, learning His words, and strengthening faith through prayer. Diligent searching of the Scriptures and daily devotion lay up the knowledge that the Holy Spirit can then bring to remembrance at the exact time it is needed to reach the hearts of hearers.

Believers must be prepared to explain the reasons for their faith, and knowledge of Scripture helps them present the truth intelligently. Those who keep learning can be made fit for work within their capabilities even when they begin with discouraging prospects, for Christ equips people for His work by giving them speech through the Holy Spirit. Those He uses are humble and teachable, receiving His Spirit, learning His ways, and representing Christ in meekness and lowliness, rather than relying on their own ability to know what to say when called to speak.

This promise depends on prior faithfulness and serving God daily with undivided affection and then trusting Him. If they neglect to fill the mind with truth, fail to learn the words of Christ, and have never tasted the power of His grace in trial, they cannot expect the Spirit to bring His words to remembrance. Daily devotion and diligent study are therefore no excuse to be neglected, but are what prepare them to trust God in the moment of trial.

When brought before authorities or questioned by opponents they are not to plan in advance what to say or how to answer, nor to rely on their own strength or ability to decide what to say. Their duty is to obey God and follow Christ and trust Him, for Christ stands with them and through the Holy Spirit supplies the needed words, with God's angel standing beside them to help them answer. They must speak with the meekness of Christ and avoid words spoken in anger or carelessness that the enemy could use.

The verse equips people for God's work by giving help when needed to speak truth to unbelievers, enabling them to speak clearly and with power. Anxiety about what to say need not hinder their work, for the Lord will give them words to speak, words of great consequence for perishing souls. Angels bring fitting words to the minds of those who show Christlike sympathy for people who have gone astray, and God makes their genuine testimony powerful.