Three Things To Know
In Lk 12:49-59 Jesus told the multitude three things to know that they weren’t aware of.
Know Why I Am Come
I am come to send fire on the earth, v.49. In Matt 3:11 John said that Jesus would baptize with fire. In 2 Thes 1:7-9, he will return at his Second Coming in flaming fire. Ps 18:8, 12 describe the coals of fire that appear with hail stones. And in Joel 2:1-3 we read about a fire that devoureth before them. One thing is for sure, the God of the New Testament is the same as the God of the Old Testament.
BUT, Jesus said, I have a baptism… This is his death, burial, and resurrection. See Matt 20:22. In other words, he’s putting the fire on hold till he accomplishes this. That’s why he asked, “what will I”, in v.49.
I am not come to give peace on earth, but division. That is, in the time between now and the fire at his second coming, households will be divided over their belief in Jesus. When Jesus returns, he is the Prince of Peace and there is peace on earth, Is 9:6-7, 2:4, 11:6-9. But until then, division.
It’s because of this division, v.51-53, that Elijah comes to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers, Mal 4:5-6. The division over Jesus gets exponentially worse during the Tribulation, Matt 10:21-22.
Note: those who believe that Jesus came to give peace on earth will believe the antichrist, when he shows up, because he comes with peace, Dan 11:21, 8:25. “When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them”, 1 Thes 5:3.
Discern the Time
Ye can discern the face of the sky, he said. When the west is cloudy, showers come. With the south wind comes heat. In Matt 16:2-3 when the sky is red in the evening, there’s fair weather the next day. In the morning when the sky is red and lowering (dark and threatening; gloomy), there’s foul weather that day.
Jesus called them hypocrites because they could discern the face of the sky and earth, but not “this time”. The Samaritan woman figured out that the Messiah had come. And the Canaanite woman did, too. So did the centurion. Thus, they surely should have discerned the time of the Messiah.
He said that they didn’t even judge what is right, as in John 7:23-24. They judged that he was a Samaritan and had a devil, Jn 8:48, and that he was worthy of death for saying he is the Son of God. He was right and they were wrong.
Be Delivered From Thine Adversary
In v.58-59, Jesus stated, as a practical matter, settle out of court. Before the judge decides the matter, there is an opportunity for mercy, Matt 18:23-27. Once it’s before the judge, it’s too late… go to prison till all is paid.
In Matt 5:25-26, this is the law of the kingdom.
Spiritually, in the context of what Jesus had been saying in this passage, they should have given diligence to be delivered from the fire to come by reconciling with Jesus before their judgment.
Conclusion: After hearing Jesus teach on these three things to know, they should have believed them. They could have saved their lives.
To study the previous lesson click on Be Ye Therefore Ready.