Luke 12:49-59 Jesus Divides

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1 SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDES Luke 12:49-59 Jesus Divides Luke 12:56 You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time NOTE FOR LEADERS This document is intended to be used as a discussion guide, rather than a curriculum. As small group leaders, please feel free to lead through the topic as most appropriate for your group. HOUSEKEEPING Tri Church Summit: information and registration forms available at church. May Volunteers needed for teams: Grounds, cleaning, morning tea, coffee team.

2 REFLECT This is a time to generate some discussion around the ideas in the sermon. Some ideas include: Ask the group to debrief for those who missed the sermon on Sunday. What stood out? Do you have any questions? Were there any special moments of clarity where God spoke to you clearly? Why is this important and worth discussion? THE BIG IDEA Welcome back to the Gospel of Luke! The first thing we need to reacquaint ourselves with is some of the context of chapter 12, or to put it another way, where we find ourselves in the story arc of whole book. Luke s gospel has two basic parts: the beginning until 9:51; and 9:51 until the end. The first basic section is the rise of prominence of Jesus, starting with the famous Christmas narratives of the angel appearing to Mary, and then the progression of public ministry from relative obscurity to a massively controversial and well known teacher. Luke provides something of a narrative transition in 9:51 when he writes: When the days drew near for him to be taken up [that is, his crucifixion], he set his face to go to Jerusalem. The rest of the book is the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem, including large amounts of His teaching set in the long looming shadow cast by the cross. This week s passage which serves as our reintroduction to Luke contains a confronting message to us: because the gospel by nature is divisive, Jesus himself is a divider. This is a reality that is held intension with its paradoxical counterpoint: the Gospel is the only path to peace with God and men and that Jesus himself is the prince of peace! EXPLORE Let s dig a little deeper. Use the biblical text to discover what God reveals to us in his Word. RELEVANT SCRIPTURES Luke 12: I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, 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, father 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.

3 54 He also said to the crowds, When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, A shower is coming. And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, There will be scorching heat, and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57 And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As 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, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny. 2 Corinthians 2: But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life Psalm 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, Psalm 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Luke 7:47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." UNDERSTANDING 1. Getting Started: What moments in your own life have you encountered division or rejection based on your Christian faith. 2. Read Luke 12:49-59 a. This section of teaching from Jesus is surprisingly abrupt and blunt. What stands out in this passage to you? b. What should we make of His bluntness? (Leaders Note: it seems his message has an tangible urgency to it: now is your opportunity to settle accounts and receive mercy, otherwise you ll receive justice at the end of the age!) APPLY Help your group identify how the truths from the Scriptures apply directly to their lives. Get group members to talk about the real life implications of the study. 1. Is there any immediate personal response to the sermon necessary for you?

4 2. The central application for this week s passage is remarkably basic: now is the time to settle accounts with God. 3. Read 2 Cor 2: How might you be the fragrance of both life and death to those in your life this week? 4. Back Luke 7:47 Jesus taught us that those who are forgiven much love much, and those forgiven little, love little. When we believe we aren t that bad and therefore that we have only been forgiven little, we will have a shallow love for God and others. But when we understand that our sin is an terrible affront to a holy God (the Old Testament prophets will use shocking words like whoring to describe our sin!), forgiveness will bring a deep genuine love for God and passion for the gospel. a. How would you rate the depth of your affections? Do you love much or little? What this might reveal about your view of your sin before God? b. Do you believe that the cross is actually effective in dealing with your sin? 5. Is God calling you to any practical application? What positive steps can you take? Is there any active repentance necessary? PRAY Close time in prayer, sitting at the feet of Jesus. Thank God for the offer of mercy through the death of his Son Jesus. Take time to pray for those in need in our church family, and in our wider community. HELPFUL NOTES A Reminder of Context (starting broad and getting more specific) Luke 9:51 19:27 The Journey to Jerusalem. Amid all the activities of his ministry of teaching, healing, and making disciples, Jesus set his face (9:51) for his final journey to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 13:21 The First Mention of the Journey to Jerusalem. Jesus resolves to fulfill the mission for which God sent him into the world ( set his face, 9:51; cf. must in 9:22) and accomplish his exodus in Jerusalem. Luke 11:27 13:9 Various Warnings and Teachings. As they continue their journey toward Jerusalem Jesus gives his disciples additional instruction. Our Passage Luke 12:49 53 Jesus came not only to bring salvation but also to become the Great Divider of humanity, as people decide whether or not to follow him. Cast fire on the earth probably refers not to final judgment but to the refining fire of division between believers and unbelievers (see vv ). I have a baptism. Whereas the fire affects the world, this baptism is Christ s own suffering and death, which would pour over him like a flood (cf. Ps. 88:7; Jonah 2:3). great is my distress until. Even though it would mean suffering and death (cf. Luke 13:32 33), Jesus earnestly sought to fulfill

5 the divine plan. Though in many ways Jesus did bring peace to the world, it could also be said that he brought not peace but rather division, involving even father against son as one chose to follow Jesus and the other chose to reject him. Luke 12:54 56 A cloud rising in the west over the Mediterranean would have brought moist air that condensed (a shower) as it climbed the cooler hills of Palestine (cf. 1 Kings 18:44). The south wind blowing involved a sirocco (hot, dry wind) blowing in from the desert, bringing scorching heat. The crowd could interpret these signs, but the spiritual emptiness of their hypocrisy blinded them from understanding the signs announcing the arrival of the kingdom of God in Jesus teaching and ministry (cf. Luke 11:20). Luke 12:57 59 This parable offers practical advice: it is better to settle with one s accuser before the dispute is brought before a judge. But within its broader context, the parable seems also to have in view the arrival of the kingdom that is, the need to be in right standing with God, the Judge of the universe, before it is too late. REFERENCE: Developed with the help of the following: Tom Wright. For Everyone Bible Study Guides Luke. Ada Lum. A LifeGuide Bible Study Luke: New Hope, New Joy. ESV Study Bible, Crossway.