Luke 12,49-59
49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!
50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!
51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? 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, 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, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens.
55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.
56 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?
Settle with Your Accuser
57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
58 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, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
Introduction
Hello everyone, I am Kiki. The Chinese name of the second phase of our program is “读经大讲堂”, and the English name is “Bible Study.”
We will adopt a relaxed and enjoyable learning mode to guide you into a new world of learning. Each time, I will give a personal summary and analysis from the perspective of a learner, and then Sister Ingrid will help deepen our understanding and lead discussions with everyone.
I hope that this interesting and interactive process will bring a new learning experience to all of you. The following is my interview with Sister Ingrid on related topics. Today is the 36th lecture on the Gospel of Luke.
Everyone is welcome to leave a message in the comment section for discussion!
2. My Summary of the 36th Study of Luke
Well, everybody! First of all, here is my personal study summary for today.
Jesus says some surprising things here. He says He did not come to bring peace, but division. That sounds harsh, but He means that following Him can be difficult. Sometimes even your own family may not agree with your choices. This can lead to conflict, even between parents and children.
He also talks about “fire” and a “baptism.” The fire represents a passion for God that spreads. The baptism refers to His death, which He knows is coming, and this causes Him distress.
Then Jesus rebukes the crowd. He says they are good at reading the sky to predict the weather, but they cannot recognize what God is doing right in front of them. They are missing the bigger picture.
Finally, He tells a short story: if someone is taking you to court, try to settle the matter on the way. If you do not, the judge might put you in prison, and you will have to pay everything.
The main point? Pay attention. Following Jesus is a serious decision that may cost you something, but do not be blind to what is happening. Solve your problems now, before it is too late.
Now Sister Ingrid will give a deeper summary.
3. Sister Ingrid’s Comments on My Summary
Hello sister,
When Jesus says that He has come to cast fire on the earth, He is also referring to the Holy Spirit, who comes in the form of fire.
The baptism He is talking about is His own suffering on the cross at Golgotha, as well as our baptism with the Holy Spirit when we receive Jesus as our Savior.
As you correctly observed, Christianity can cause division, because it cannot be mixed with other religions or gods. In the Roman religion at the time of Jesus, it was easy to add another god.
However, the God of the Bible is a jealous God who does not allow other gods beside Him, and He describes Himself as a consuming fire. If we truly love Jesus, there is no room for other gods. If our family or friends expect us to worship traditional gods with them, this can lead to strong conflict.
Then Jesus rebukes the people of His time, because they choose to remain ignorant, even though they know the spiritual time they are living in.
The final part of the text is advice. In this case, the accuser is Jesus Himself, who walks with you on the way to the magistrate. The magistrate represents eternity. We should resolve our conflict before reaching the magistrate, because if we do not, Jesus Himself will judge us.
4. Question Section (Based on the 36th Study of Luke)
Based on the Bible study above, I would now like to ask Sister Ingrid some related questions. We hope these questions will help brothers and sisters who have recently become Christians.
1. Jesus mentions “fire” and God as a consuming fire. What does this mean?
The Holy Spirit is also symbolized as fire.
2. Jesus mentions a “baptism” He must go through. Why is He so stressed about it?
He is stressed because He is referring to His crucifixion.
3. If Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, why does He say He came to bring division?
We must understand the timing. On earth, Jesus brings division because not everyone accepts His peace.
However, this time will end, and we will enter eternity, where Jesus will reign in His kingdom of peace.
4. How might believing in Jesus cause problems within families?
Family members may expect you to follow traditional religions. However, the God of the Bible cannot be combined with other gods.
5. Why does Jesus call people hypocrites for predicting the weather?
It is easy to predict the weather, so why do they claim it is difficult to recognize the time of the Messiah? Jesus gave clear signs.
6. What does “interpret the present time” mean?
It means recognizing that the long-awaited Messiah has come.
7. What is the main point of the story about settling with your accuser?
The main point is to receive Jesus during our lifetime. After death, it is too late.
8. Why should we resolve problems before they worsen?
Because time is limited.
9. What happens to the person who does not settle matters before court?
That person will be judged.
10. What is the main lesson Jesus wants us to learn?
There is one God in three persons.
The Holy Spirit is mentioned at the beginning, God the Father gives time to act, and Jesus will return as Priest and Judge at the end of time.
