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Luke 12

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled?

But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

What does Luke 12:51 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 12:51, "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division," is a statement attributed to Jesus, which on its face appears contradictory to many of Jesus's other teachings which advocate for peace and love.

The literal reading of the verse suggests that Jesus is saying his coming is not intended to bring universal peace, but rather to divide.

The deeper meaning explores the idea that the message and the radical changes Jesus brings to societal norms, religious practices, and personal beliefs can cause division among people, even among close family members.

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Historical Context

Luke 12:51 is set in the broader context of Jesus's ministry on earth, specifically during a period of teaching his disciples about various topics including hypocrisy, fear, greed, watchfulness, and readiness for His return.

The historical context is 1st century Judea under Roman occupation.

During this time, the Jews were expecting a Messiah who would lead them to political and military victory over their oppressors.

However, Jesus's teachings and actions were more focused on spiritual revival and the kingdom of God, which often contradicted the expectations and norms of the contemporary Jewish society and the Roman Empire.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse is significant in understanding the nature of Jesus’s mission.

It is often discussed within Christian theology as highlighting the cost of discipleship, meaning that following Jesus may result in opposition or division even among one's closest relationships.

Theologically, this division is not the goal of Jesus's mission but a consequence of the transformative demands of the gospel. Traditional interpretations have connected this division with the idea of choosing God's ways over the world's ways.

Practical Applications

In terms of practical application, this verse can be taken as a reminder that one's commitment to Christian principles may not always be met with agreement or approval by everyone in one’s life.

It can serve as encouragement in times of conflict due to religious beliefs, ethical stands, or moral values.

For modern Christians, it can mean the importance of standing firm in one's convictions even when faced with adversity or opposition.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:34-36: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."
John 7:43: "So there was a division among the people because of him."
John 9:16: "Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day.

Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them."

1 Corinthians 1:10: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek include:

"Peace" (εἰρήνη, eirēnē): typically denotes harmony or the absence of conflict but often signifies deep personal and communal well-being.
"Division" (διαμερισμός, diamerismos): refers to a division or separation, indicating a break in relationships or opinions among groups or individuals.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In drawing comparisons, many ancient myths and religions grapple with themes of conflict and divergence.

For instance, in the Hindu epic "Mahabharata," there is a conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas, which leads to a great war despite familial ties.

Similarly, the verse reflects an understanding that true commitment to one's faith tradition may sometimes result in socio-cultural rifts.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, one may look into the psychological and sociological effects of group identity and beliefs. Research suggests that strong belief systems can indeed create in-group and out-group distinctions leading to social division.

Additionally, cognitive dissonance theory suggests that when confronted with new ideas conflicting with existing beliefs, people tend to experience mental discomfort, which may result in the intensification of division as individuals seek to reduce this dissonance.

commentaries

Various Biblical scholars and commentators have interpreted Luke 12:51 differently.

Some, like John Calvin, viewed this division as necessary in distinguishing true followers of Christ from the world.

Modern commentaries, such as those by N.T.

Wright, suggest that the division Jesus speaks of is a natural result of the challenge his message poses to established religious, social, and personal norms.

It's generally agreed that Jesus is indicating a reality that his presence and teachings would not be universally accepted and would stir controversy and conflict, but that this was not his ultimate desire or purpose.

Luke 12

Luke 12

What does Luke 12:51 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 12:51 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?