Bible reading
49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54 And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
57 “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
Source: Luke 12:49-59 (New American Standard Bible)
Bible Study summary
This passage seem contradicts to John 14:27 where Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” We often think of Jesus as coming to bring peace, but this passage here seems is telling a different story.
How do we reconcile this difference / contradiction?
Jesus’s peace is different from the World’s peace
- In John 14:27, Jesus said that the peace he gives is not as the world gives
- In Luke 12:51, the key word is peace on earth. Jesus is saying that he is not bringing peace on earth
- Romans 14:17 “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” – This peace is in the Kingdom of God
- In Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased”. Peace is among men with whom God is pleased with
- Worldly peace often has to do with the external environment surrounding us. If the environment is peaceful, then you feel peace. If the environment is chaotic, then you feel unrest. Jesus’s peace is different. Jesus’s peace is internal, inside of us.
- We will need to be able to identify the type of peace in this world and the type of peace that Jesus is referring. Lots of problems today can only be fixed when it is dealt in the inside.
- True peace comes when we are willing to come to God to be changed
It is important to discern and identify what is from God and what is from men because a lot of things can be used in the same term, but could mean in a very different way. Example in the old times, people are looking for peace. They are looking for the type of peace that they can be set free from the Roman Empire. However, in today’s situation when we talk about peace, it is more about acceptance. Accepting the difference in each one and stay at peace with each other.
The division
This passage talks about separation. It is dividing up generation. Generation does not necessarily classify by age, but it could also be by the quality of people.
Parallel passage in Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword”. Jesus comes to bring a sword to separate and divide.
In what way is he dividing, we can see that Jesus’s teaching always demands a response – you need to take a stand. You are either with him or you are not and such choice will result in a division because of the different choices made.
In Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thought and intentions of the heart”
Here we see that God’s word is like the sword that divides and Jesus’s teaching will have the same effect
Analyze / Examine Ourselves
In Luke 12: 54 – 56, Jesus calls us to analyze or examine ourselves. We need to do a spiritual examination of ourselves to identify what is the state that we are in.
Today, many people are not able to tell what is right and what is wrong. Jesus is saying that we are great at discerning the trivial things, but we are unable to discern the spiritual things like the situation we are in and state we are in. We often think we have plenty of time and opportunities and that God can wait.
Luke 12:57-59 – Take opportunities to make right while you have the chance
The person is not willing to settle the matter before he is being taking into court because he is not aware of the consequence. He thinks it may just be a small thing. The consequence will not be that serious.
Jesus is saying while you have the opportunity, take the opportunity because once you are being taken to the court, then you cannot negotiate anymore, it is too late. Before you get to that stage, you still have a chance to make right.
Take the opportunity while you have it. If you choose not to, then you need to bear the responsibility.
Importance of discernment
Discernment is important, if you are not able to discern, then you don’t’ know how to respond.
At the beginning of chapter 12, we need to discern what should we be fear of and who should we fear. There is the right kind of fear and a wrong kind of fear
In the case of the rich fool, we need to discern physical richness and spiritual richness. Discern what is of value and what is not of value.
In the later section of chapter 12, it talks about be ready. Are we able to identify that maybe we don’t have a lot of time left?
In this last part of chapter 12 from today’s passage, we need to discern God’s peace from world’s peace and God’s plan from world’s plan. We need to discern sin and discern out spiritual state
Additional thoughts on Luke 12:49
Jesus said I have come to cast fire upon the earth, is this fire of destruction or a fire of salvation?
The story of Elijah asking God to send the fire down to consume the sacrifice in the presence of the prophets of Baal, fire of God comes down and make things clear and bring salivation to the people.
Jesus is saying that he will be that sacrifice, that he is going to lay down his life to cause the fire to come down. However, the result of it is that it will break household, it will cause division because not all the people in the household will respond in the same way.
Bible study by Pastor Pam
Summary by Mengping