Luke 12:49-59

Not Peace, but Division

49 1"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!
50 2I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how 3great is my distress until it is accomplished!
51 4Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? 5No, 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, 6father 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, 7"When you see 8a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming.' And so it happens.
55 And 9when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be 10scorching heat,' and it happens.
56 You hypocrites! 11You 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 12do you not judge 13for yourselves what is right?
58 14As 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, 15you will never get out until you have paid the very last 16penny."[a]

Cross References 16

  • 1. [Matthew 3:11]
  • 2. Mark 10:38
  • 3. 2 Corinthians 5:14(Gk.)
  • 4. For ver. 51-53, see Matthew 10:34, 35
  • 5. [Revelation 6:4]
  • 6. Matthew 10:21; [Micah 7:6]
  • 7. [Matthew 16:2, 3]
  • 8. 1 Kings 18:43, 44
  • 9. [See ver. 54 above]
  • 10. See Matthew 20:12
  • 11. Matthew 16:3
  • 12. Luke 21:30
  • 13. John 7:24; 1 Corinthians 11:13
  • 14. Matthew 5:25, 26; [Proverbs 25:8]
  • 15. [Matthew 18:34, 35]
  • 16. Luke 21:2; Mark 12:42

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Greek lepton, a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.