Luke 12:49-59

Luke 12:49-59

So much of Americanized Christianity is narcissistic and focuses on our benefits and blessings. We reserved concepts of judgment for others, for the bad people we know and do not like. We are aware of the Judgment reserved or pornographers or abortionist or those of another political party. But this passage wrecks our comfortable “bless me and judge you” bubble.

Remember the context and flow of this chapter. We begin with the rich fool who is not rich toward God. Then came the command to live in trust and practice radical generosity. Followed by a warning that we are to be held to accountable for that with which we are trusted. Now Jesus talks about judgment!

Jesus did not come to bring peace to the world He came to bring judgment. The picture of Jesus as a cosmic Guru that will help everyone coexist is bunk. He did come to bring peace to the individual by his reconciling work on the cross. But the world, the flesh, and the devil are not part of this peace. Faith in Christ divides because for those that follow Christ are loyal to Him above all else, beyond any natural affections, or family, or business, or political party. Jesus warns us, in the parable of verses 58 and 59, that we all are headed toward an appointment with a judge and we have a losing case. We are wise to settle up with the judge early rather than later.

That is not just a warning and call to conversion. In verse 1 Luke tells us these remarks were directed to the disciples. We will give an account of the life and gifts God has given to us. Part of our daily prayers needs to be a prayer in an old prayer book, "Imprint upon our hearts such a dread of Thy judgments and such a grateful sense of thy goodness to us as to make us both afraid and ashamed to offend Thee."

“Lord, imprint upon my heart such a dread of Your judgments and such a grateful sense of Your goodness to us as to make us both afraid and ashamed to offend You. AMEN”