Luke 12:49–59

Jesus the Cause of Division

⁴⁹“I came to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already kindled! ^50*I have a baptism to receive, and how distressed I am until it is over! ⁵¹Do you suppose that I came to bring peace to the world? No, not peace, but division. ⁵²From now on a family of five will be divided, three against two and two against three. ^53*Fathers will be against their sons, and sons against their fathers; mothers will be against their daughters, and daughters against their mothers; mothers-in-law will be against their daughters-in-law, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law.”

Understanding the Time

⁵⁴Jesus said also to the people, “When you see a cloud coming up in the west, at once you say that it is going to rain—and it does. ⁵⁵And when you feel the south wind blowing, you say that it is going to get hot—and it does. ⁵⁶Hypocrites! You can look at the earth and the sky and predict the weather; why, then, don’t you know the meaning of this present time?

Settle with Your Opponents

⁵⁷“Why do you not judge for yourselves the right thing to do? ⁵⁸If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, do your best to settle the dispute with them before you get to court. If you don’t, they will drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. ⁵⁹There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine.”