Christ to Cause Division. Chides for Failure to Interpret Signs. Luke 12:49-59

Transcription

1 1 Christ to Cause Division Chides for Failure to Interpret Signs Luke 12:49-59

2 2 Text: Luke 12:49-59, Christ To Cause Division Chides the Multitudes For Failure To Interpret Signs 49. I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? 50. But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! 51. Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52. For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53. 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. 54. 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. 55. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 56. 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? 57. Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? 58. 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. 59. I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

3 3 Commentary: Luke 12:49, I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? I. When the gospel of Christ is preached divisions will result among the hearers. A. Jesus said he came to cast fire upon the earth. B. This fire was either already kindled, or Jesus wished that it had already started. II. What was this fire that was to be cast upon the earth? A. Barclay judgment. B. Alfred the Holy Spirit. C. Barnes discord and contention. D. Dummelow the fire of Christian love. E. Childers the fire of conflict. F. Wesley the fire of heavenly love. G. Coffman the word of God. 1. Jeremiah 23:29, Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? 2. The preaching of the gospel would produce pain, sorrow and division.

4 The preaching of the gospel would also produce joy, peace and salvation Corinthians 2:15, 16, For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? Luke 12:50, But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! I. Jesus stated that he had a baptism that awaited him and that he was under much stress until it had been completed, finished. A. This baptism was the suffering and death which awaited Jesus. B. It took great strength of character to negotiate all the entrapments laid by Jesus enemies along the way and not to have a nervous collapse when facing scouraging and death on the cross. Luke 12:51-53, 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. I. Jesus said His disciples are not to think He came to bring peace on earth at the expense of God s will.

5 5 A. His coming would bring division as some chose to accept Christ but others rejected Him. B. In a given household, three would be divided against two, and two against three. C. Jesus teachings would divide father against his son and the son against his father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother. D. Jesus teachings would pit mother-in-law against daughter-inlaw and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. II. The gospel will divide families, some believing it and others disbelieving it! A. Jesus did not want his followers to believe that following him would free them of all human and earthly problems. B. Truly following Christ may produce problems that people would not have faced had they not followed Jesus. C. Christ preached love, joy, peace and good will, but many would soundly reject this philosophy. D. Ask Paul about his sufferings for Christ s sake. Acts 9:15, 16, But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name s sake. Luke 12:54-56, 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

6 6 the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? I. Jesus chided the multitude saying they knew signs of weather change, but they didn t know how to discern the spiritual signs of the time. A. A cloud arising in the west indicated a coming shower in that part of the world. B. A south wind blowing off the desert indicated a scorching heat was coming. C. Hypocrites who could wisely recognize weather change indicators had no idea how to interpret the spiritual signs of the time. 1. People concentrated on the weather while neglecting spiritual matters. 2. Consequently they are wise in regard to earthly things and unschooled in regard to spiritual matters. 3. The people should have concentrated on the spiritual. If they had studied the signs of the time they would have been able to discern them as well as the weather. 4. They should have heeded the prophecies of Daniel, the preaching of John, the ministry of Jesus, signs of the time. Luke 12:57-59, 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.

7 7 I. Jesus exhorted his hearers to judge what is right! and to make peace quickly with adversaries lest the conflict with others escalate and the troubles, punishments faced become greater. II. Those who do not heed these words will be dragged before the judge, the judge will deliver them to the officer who will cast them into prison. A. They will serve their full sentences, pay their complete fines! B. We can never serve the full sentence nor pay the complete fine for our sins. C. Act right now to avoid trouble in the future. III. Lessons for us: A. Earthly courts decide questions in human conflicts: God is the eternal judge of the soul. B. All mankind is on its way to court. C. Those in this parable had a chance to settle out of court. We had better settle our differences with God immediately. D. Letting our conflicts with Christ escalate can only lead to an unspeakable disaster for all offenders. E. We sinners cannot win in a trial before the righteous eternal judge. Note: That generation and this one are in an adversarial relationship with Christ Jesus. A. We must humble ourselves and seek peace before God now!

8 8 Note: We are all rapidly moving toward the supreme eternal judge. We d better make our peace with God now!... immediately.

9 9 Christ to Cause Division Questions 1. When the of is preached will result among the. 2. What was the fire that was to be cast upon the earth? 3. What was the baptism with Jesus was to be baptized with? 4. The will divide. Jesus did not want his to believe that following him would free them of all and problems. Christ preached,, and, but many reject this. 5. The people could foretell changes by signs in the sky, but they could not spiritually the signs of that. 6. Jesus exhorted his to what is right and to make with

10 10 lest the and the, faced become greater. 7. We all are on our way to court before God on the great day of judgment. If you were required to appear before Almighty God today, how would you fare?