Three Hard Phrases

Introduction

Read Luke 12:49-59

Luke 12:49–59 ESV

“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

I like to categorize this text as a lament of Jesus that ends with a warning. Jesus is lamenting what is currently happening.

Explanation

V49-50.

The fire that Jesus would cast on the earth would be a good one or a bad one.

At Pentecost, tongues of fire would be set upon the people.

The church would set the fire to the world meaning that hearts would be kindled to know Him.

However, elsewhere in Luke, the term fire has been used in a negative way.

I think Jesus is describing a trial that is coming because of him.

Fire that divides the people - those who will follow Jesus and those who will not.

Jesus is sharing of his upcoming suffering.

Baptism (in Greek) was often used as a military term of the ultimate destruction of a city. In the Roman world, when a “baptism” took place, it was the complete destruction of an old city.

Paul would use the term as a baptism of an old way of life. “Buried” in Christ.

V51-53.

Division will come because of Jesus.

Why would division come? Is it a good thing to set father against son, etc. etc.?

Jesus isn’t rejoicing that division will come, but he is stating a fact. Some families will be

In some families, when you make a decision to follow Jesus completely, you make the decision to forsake your family.

In some middle eastern countries, your family may try to kill you if you turn away from Jesus.

This reality makes Jesus no LESS worthy of our lives, but rather, shows that the world has no true desire to know Him.

V54-56.

Jesus says, “You aren’t stupid. You are a hypocrite.”

You can look at the weather and tell when something is happening, but you can’t figure out what I am doing.

V57-59.

Invitation