Sermon Tone Analysis

Service Notes

puzzle from two weeks ago

Beau Carpenter is preaching tonight

Bible Reading

Big Picture

In Luke 12:49–14:24, Jesus is calling on his audience to note the nature of the time—

a time when God is making divisions among people,

a time when people should be able to see what God is doing through Jesus

a time when Israel had better respond before becoming nationally responsible for rejecting God’s messenger.

After this section, Jesus’ attention will shift almost exclusively to his disciples, for Israel will have missed the warning he issues here.

Sequence

the cause of division (vv.

49–53), the call to consider the signs of the times (vv.

54–56), and the call to settle one’s accounts (vv.

57–59).

What holds them together is the theme of an expectation that life as we know it will end someday and it will be glorious and horrifying.

and this knowledge should impact the life of believers in the present.

The sequence is important.

Jesus’ ministry forces choices and divides families.

In considering such choices, one should examine the evidence that indicates that God has indeed sent Jesus, just as one reads the skies for the weather.

And one should remember that as debtors to God, we should settle our accounts

The Cause of Division

49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth?

I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Call to Consider the Signs of the Time

54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Command to settle one’s accounts

57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

Introduction

Growing up in the summer with a step brother and step sister that were roughly my age led us to drawing many lines that we would have to continually redraw.

Don’t cross this line.

Now don’t cross this line.

Life is full of artificial lines.

Some lines Jesus came and removed.

There is a line that came as a result of knowing Him that cannot be moved.

It runs from here all the way through eternity.

Some of you feel the consequences from being on the this side of the line.

Cause of division (vv.

49–53)

Luke 12:49-53 “49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth?

I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

Purpose Statement: I have come

Luke 12:49-50 “49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!”

statements are designed to summarize his ministry.

Image of fire

The image of fire can refer to judgment (3:9) or to the Spirit (3:16).

The Old Testament image of fire describes the purifying message of the prophets (Jer.

5:14; 23:29).

Jesus’ message reveals the judging and purging work that his ministry represents: to provide the way for people to make decisions about where they stand and to offer them the opportunity to be repent (5:31–32)

Robert Fulghum tells the odd story of a fire crew that broke into a house with smoke pouring out of the window and found a man in a smoldering bed.

After the man was rescued and the mattress doused, they asked, “How did this happen?”

The man replied, “I don’t know.

It was on fire when I lay down on it.”

That story strikes us as funny because it is so strange.

Who in their right mind would lie down on a burning mattress?

You can’t be passive about fire.

You have to deal with it or it will consume you!

Jesus draws a line that forces us to take sides.The offer of the gospel necessarily divides people into two opposing camps.

There is no neutral ground.

Line is drawn with the cross of Christ

Luke 12:50 “50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!”

Jesus is headed quickly to the cross.

The joy set before Him but the realized of such agony.

He would be immersed under the flood of God’s wrath against sin.

The great agony of the cross was the reality of the sinless One becoming the sin-bearer. 2 Cor 5:21 “21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Many will recognize their sinful state and embrace the message of the cross.

Most will reject any message that says they are sinners and in need of a Savior.

This separation runs along that line.

It runs through families.

We have missionaries among us today.

We will soon be separated from them by geographical lines.

But we rejoice in knowing we are both clinging together on the right side of the line that will matter for all eternity.

Jesus creates a crossroads

Luke 12:51 “51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth?

I tell you, Nay; but rather division:”

No doubt, it is one of the most staggering phrases to come from Jesus’s lips.

Jesus knows that he forces choices, so he does not bring peace “but division.”

Every combination possible gets mentioned: father and sons, mothers and daughters, in-laws against in-laws

What are we to make of this?

Jesus who told us to love our enemies.

Matt 5

One called Prince of Peace Isaiah 9

Jesus promised the world would know us by our love John 13

Now told to hate my wife, my children, and my parents?

Luke 12:52-53 “52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

Elsewhere, I am told to love my wife Eph 5

I am told to love my children Eph 6

I am told to love my parents Exodus 20

How do we reconcile this?

Here is a key to understanding.