Christ Brings Division(A)

49 (B)“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But (C)I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is (D)accomplished! 51 (E)Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, (F)but rather division. 52 (G)For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 (H)Father will be divided 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 her mother-in-law.”

Discern the Time(I)

54 Then He also said to the multitudes, (J)“Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the (K)south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern (L)this time?

Make Peace with Your Adversary

57 “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? 58 (M)When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort (N)along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”

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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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