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    Luke 12:49-59
    ​Lesson 136

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson: 
     
    Lessons 134 and 135 continue.
     
    Two warnings! 
    Study Tip:
     
    Go into Bible study with an idea of what you want out of it.  Make a list of things you're looking for while you study.

    The Gospel According to St. Luke

    The King James Bible    ​

    Luke 12:49-59
    Interpret the times

    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.

    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?

    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.
    ​Margin notes: 
     
    "I am come to send fire on the earth." (12:49) - Many Bible scholars believe the "fire" represents the cleansing power of Jesus through His crucifixion.  Others feel it is a warning of the final judgment that will consume the wicked (Luke 3:17).
     
    "What will I, if it be already kindled?" (12:49) - "How I long that it was already lit?"
     
    "Baptism." (12:50) - Jesus is referring to His pending crucifixion, the baptism of blood.
     
    "Straitened." (12:50) - "Distressed."  Jesus was deeply "troubled" over the thought of His death (John 12:27).
     
    "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth?" (12:51) - "Do you think I came to give peace to the earth?"  See also Matthew 10:34-36.
     
    "Nay; but rather division." (12:51) - There will be a division between believers and non-believers, as prophesized in Micah 7:6.
     
    "Straightway ye say." (12:54) - "Immediately, you say."
     
    "Ye do not discern this time?" (12:56) - "You don't understand the present time?"  Matthew also recorded this conversation in Matthew 16:2-3. 
     
    "As thou art in the way." (12:58) - "When you are on the way."
     
    "Give diligence." (12:58) - "Make an effort."  Jesus is telling us to settle our differences.  See also Matthew 5:25.
     
    "Till thou hast paid." (12:59) - "Until you have paid (the penalty).
     
    "Mite." (12:59) - Mites were made of copper and were the smallest denomination coin in Palestine. ​


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Luke 12:49-59
    Jesus Causes Division
     
    49 "I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!

    50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished.

    51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!

    52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against-or two in favor and three against.
     
    53 'Father will be divided against son
          and son against father;
       mother against daughter
          and daughter against mother;
       and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law
          and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.'"
     
    54 Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, "When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, 'Here comes a shower.' And you are right.

    55 When the south wind blows, you say, 'Today will be a scorcher.' And it is.

    56 You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don't know how to interpret the present times.
     
    57 "Why can't you decide for yourselves what is right?

    58 When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.

    59 And if that happens, you won't be free again until you have paid the very last penny."     

    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     
    1. Why did Jesus explain reading the weather? (12:54-55)
    ​           
         
    ​
    ​Questions?
    Answer: (Do you agree?)
     
    1. Jesus explained reading the weather as an analogy of His coming.  People in Jesus' day were very attuned to the weather, much of their daily lives depended on it.  In Judea, the westerly winds brought moist air from the Mediterranean (12:54), and the southerly breezes brought hot, dry air from the Arabian desert (12:55).  From the farmers to the Sheppard's, to the workers in the open-air markets, knowing what the weather would bring each day was critical to their livelihood.  People were good at reading the weather signs, yet were terrible at reading the signs that the Messiah had come (12:56).

    ​             
      
    Application thought for the day:
     
    In Jesus' day, people understood the weather but had trouble grasping the Messiah.  Can the same be said about you?
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible".  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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