Lukas 12:49

49 Ich bin gekommen, daß ich ein Feuer anzünde auf Erden; was wollte ich lieber, denn es brennete schon!

Lukas 12:49 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 12:49

I am come to send fire on the earth
Meaning either the Gospel, which is as fire, that gives both light and heat, warms the hearts of God's people, and causes them to burn within them; though very distressing and torturing to wicked men; so the word of God is compared to fire, in ( Jeremiah 20:9 ) ( 23:29 ) . Or else zeal for it, and which would be opposed with sharp contentions by others; or rather persecution for the sake of the Gospel, called sometimes the fiery trial; which tries men, as gold is tried in the fire, what they are, and what their principles and profession be; unless the Holy Ghost, and baptizing with him, and with fire, should be meant; since Christ in the next verse, speaks of the baptism of his sufferings, which that was to follow:

and what will I?
what shall I say concerning this fire? what shall I wish and pray for? what would be pleasing and agreeable to me? even this,

if it be already kindled;
or "that it were already kindled", or "O that it were already kindled"; meaning either that the Gospel was warmly preached by his disciples, and zealously defended by them, as it was after his death and resurrection; or that hot persecution was raised against it which was now beginning, since the advantage of it would be far greater than the evil in it: or that the Holy Ghost was come down in cloven tongues, like as of fire.

Lukas 12:49 In-Context

47 Der Knecht aber, der seines Herrn Willen weiß, und hat sich nicht bereitet, auch nicht nach seinem Willen getan, der wird viel Streiche leiden müssen.

48 Der es aber nicht weiß, hat aber getan, was der Streiche wert ist, wird wenig Streiche leiden. Denn welchem viel gegeben ist, bei dem wird man viel suchen; und welchem viel befohlen ist, von dem wird man viel fordern.

49 Ich bin gekommen, daß ich ein Feuer anzünde auf Erden; was wollte ich lieber, denn es brennete schon!

50 Aber ich muß mich zuvor taufen lassen mit einer Taufe; wie ist mir so bange, bis sie vollendet werde!

51 Meinet ihr, daß ich hergekommen bin, Frieden zu bringen auf Erden? Ich sage: Nein, sondern Zwietracht.