Bible Study series: Luke 12:49-53. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. In a Jewish context, the follower of Jesus can expect opposition. Is he ready for it? (Today, division can also happen in a Muslim household.)
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn, so let’s learn together.
I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click here:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Luke 12:39-53
49 “I have come to start a fire on the earth, and how I wish it had already been ignited! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am hard pressed until it is fulfilled! 51 You think that I have appeared to give peace on the earth. No, I tell you, but division instead! 52 For from now on there shall be a dividing of a household, three against two and two against three!
53 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 mother-in-law! [Mic. 7:6] (Luke 12:39-53)
Jesus had a surge of emotions when he thought about his direction—towards Jerusalem. He shifts his focus from his future return and the judgment of good or bad behavior to the near future, virtually here and now.
Good news, however:
28 Then Peter said, “Look at us! We have left what we had and we have followed you!” 29 He said to them, “I tell you the truth: There is no one who has left household or wives or brothers or parents or children because of the kingdom 30 who shall not receive in return many times as much in this age and eternal life in the age to come.” (Luke 18:28-30)
49:
“start”: Jesus literally says “cast” or “throw” a fire, but “start” seems to be more easily to relate to a modern audience. Incidentally, “fire” is the first word in the sentence, for emphasis.
“wish”: it is the standard one for want or will or wish. The Shorter Lexicon says it means, “wish of desire, wish to have, desire, want”; (2) wish, will of purpose or resolve” (and so on). Either definition fits here.
“ignited”: it will be kindled or ignited at the cross, “the focus of all his activities” (Morris, comment on vv. 49-50).
So what is the fire? Fire speaks of judgment (cf. Ps. 97:3; Is. 10:16-17; 2 Amos 7:4; Thess. 1:7); God’s wrath (Ps. 89:46; Mal. 4:1); purging out wickedness (Mal. 3:2); burning or devotion for the Lord (1 Thess. 5:19); the word of God in the soul (Jer. 20:9); the fulness of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). Here it speaks of the utmost seriousness of following Jesus, no matter what. It is a fire that divides. It is a fire that burns down old religious systems and blazes a new path. Jesus wishes it to be already ignited, so that he can pass through his death and open up a new way for all to enter, and not just a few chosen people, which Judaism had taught.
50:
“baptism”: Mark 10:38 says this baptism is a cup, and the cup was Jesus’ giving his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Therefore, this baptism speaks of his suffering and death on the cross.
“hard pressed”: it means here “distressed” or “hard pressed.” It comforts me that Jesus would feel hard pressed in his soul at this stage. Recall that Jesus had firmly resolved or set his face like a flint that he was heading towards Jerusalem to die (9:51). And right now he feels his impending suffering and death. But how does he respond? He forewarns his followers that family division is coming, by the nature of the case. Jewish culture at this time would follow the logic of division.
51-53:
Incidentally, “daughter-in-law” has the connotation of a bridal daughter-in-law, or one who just married a mother’s son. What happens if the new bride were to convert? Apparently, she would feel the wrath of the mother-in-law!
In Israel at this time, thousands of Jews converted to the Messiah in Judea (Acts 2:41; 4:4; 6:7; 21:20). Then the persecution hit hard, mostly by Saul (later Paul) (Acts 7:8-15; 8:1; 9:1-2). No doubt households were divided, three against two and two against three. And no doubt fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, and mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law did betray each other. So it is very important that no one deny the Lord before people or Jewish synagogue tribunals (vv. 8-9, 11-12).
Sometimes one hears of reports which say that Jewish parents throw out a converted son or daughter from their household. That is one of the main themes of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.
Further, this rejection happens in Muslim households. Sometimes a son or daughter who converts is dragged before a shariah court and is punished in some way. A daughter may be “honor-killed” for giving her life to Christ.
During the decades when the old Soviet Union dominated eastern Europe, reports escaped from behind the Iron Curtain that said Christians were being betrayed by other members of their household. It is happening in China now, with the rise of new and severe persecution.
Let’s pray for the persecuted church.
GrowApp for Luke 12:49-53
1. Do you know of cases in which people suffered or are suffering persecution in their own households? What should you do about it?
2. Review Luke 12:8-9 and 11-12. What you do if you suffer family persecution?
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1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND MORE
To see the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the bottom. You will also find a “Summary and Conclusion” for discipleship.
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