Not Peace, but Division

49 (A)“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 (B)I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how (C)great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 (D)Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? (E)No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, (F)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.”

Interpreting the Time

54 He also said to the crowds, (G)“When you see (H)a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And (I)when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be (J)scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! (K)You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Settle with Your Accuser

57 “And why (L)do you not judge (M)for yourselves what is right? 58 (N)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. 59 I tell you, (O)you will never get out until you have paid the very last (P)penny.”[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:59 Greek lepton, a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)

Not Peace but Division(A)

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism(B) to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!(C) 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, 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.”(D)

Interpreting the Times

54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.(E) 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?(F)

57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.(G) 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”(H)

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