Luke 12:49–59

Not Peace but Division

⁴⁹“I came ^uto bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! ⁵⁰But I have a baptism to be baptized with, ^vand how it consumes ^wMe until it is finished! ^x51Do you think that I came here to give peace to the earth? ^yNo, I tell you, but rather division! ⁵²From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.

⁵³They will be divided, father against son,

son against father,

mother against daughter,

daughter against mother,

mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law,

and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” ^za

Interpreting the Time

⁵⁴He also said to the crowds: ^b“When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,’ and so it does. ^c55And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be a scorcher!’ and it is. ⁵⁶Hypocrites! ^dYou know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this time? ^e

Settling Accounts

⁵⁷“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? ^f58As you are going with your adversary ^gto the ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won’t drag you before the judge, ^hthe judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison. ⁱ⁵⁹I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last cent.” ^jk