Luke 12 (6)

Pray Psalm 139.23, 24.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Sing Psalm 139.23, 24.
(Ripley: Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul)
Search my heart, O Lord, and know me, as You only, Lord, can do.
Test my thoughts and contemplations, whether they be vain or true.
Let there be no sin in me, Lord, nothing that Your Spirit grieves.
Lead me in the righteous way, Lord, unto everlasting peace!

Read Luke 12.1-59; meditate on verse 49-59.

Preparation
1. What do these three vignettes seem to have in common?

2. What does Jesus want us to discern?

Meditation
The theme of judgment holds Jesus’ teaching together in these verses. Jesus came to bring fire to the earth, a judgment that refines those who are to be saved but consumes those who reject the Gospel (v. 49). He Himself must undergo a fire of judgment on the cross (v. 50), and the implications of His death and resurrection will divide people and families (vv. 51-53).

He calls on those who oppose Him to judge the times, that is, to see in His works and words that He is the One sent by the Father as the Judge of all men (vv. 54-56). Failure to rightly judge Jesus – Who He is and what that means for us – will lead to the fires of judgment when Jesus returns.

Finally, we must judge righteously among ourselves, working through our differences and disagreements so that we don’t have to bring our concerns to be judged by outsiders (vv. 57-59). Those who know Jesus as the true and righteous One will be able to judge with righteous judgment (Jn. 7.24). They will not fall under the corrupt judgment of those who cannot rightly judge the times and thus do not know Jesus.

The fire of Jesus is a fire of judgment. It works to refine and purify all who know and love Him, but to consume and destroy those who reject Him and His Word. Every day we who know the Lord submit to the fire of His Word and Spirit, that we might be purified and strengthened for the work He has given us to do.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
After Jesus finished talking to His disciples, He turned His attention to the multitudes. He began with words of encouragement: “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is” (Lk. 12.54, 55). Look at you, folks, you really understand a lot about what is going on around you! But then the hammer drops: “Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?” (Lk. 12.56, 57). They thought they were doing so well. I mean, they had that weather thing nailed down.

But Jesus didn’t care if they were savvy meteorologists. What disappointed Him was that they didn’t, or couldn’t, or worse yet, wouldn’t bother to discern the times that they were living in. And most disappointing of all, they did not judge themselves nor the hypocrisy of their own lives.

And then He offered a word of warning: Don’t bother to think that you will receive justice from the world, as the world is incapable of giving it. If you have a problem with someone, try to figure out a solution with them privately, using the Law of God as the starting point (Lk. 12.58, 59).

Christian people today act as if someone has requested the hat of world sheriff be placed upon our head. However, we are remiss at not judging what is wrong with our own behavior. Take for example, the notion that we deem it appropriate that the Ten Commandments be placed on the lawn of the local courthouse, or religious Christmas decorations be allowed to infringe upon everyone’s personal decorating tastebuds. That might be perceived as a noble goal, but how many of these folks have bothered to write the Ten Commandments on their own hearts? Or made Jesus Christ’s birth the focal point of their own celebrations? Or bothered to follow the Law of God in their own day-to-day transactions of living? Solomon wrote, “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them” (Prov. 28.4).

Jesus cautioned, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10.16). Be wise. Follow the Law yourself. Be harmless. You, follow the Law. “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division” (Lk. 12.51).

Who is on the LORD’s side? “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Josh. 24.15). Let us make it evident that we have chosen Him by our every wise word and harmless deed.

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side, Savior, we are Thine.
(Frances R. Havergal, 1877)

For reflection
1. Why must judgment be part of our proclamation of the Good News?

2. Why must exercising judgment be part of our daily walk with and work for the Lord?

3. Why do we as Christian have no need to fear the eternal judgment of God?

Christ is here exhorting his disciples to perseverance, though a good part of the world should be at variance with them, and though their voice should be like a war-trumpet to call innumerable enemies to arms. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Luke 12.49-53

Pray Psalm 139.1-10.
Today you will need to make judgments in line with the coming of the Kingdom of God in righteousness, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit. Pray about each activity and situation, that God will give you discernment and right judgment to serve Him well.

Sing Psalm 139.1-10.
(Ripley: Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul)
You have searched me, Lord, and known me, when I sit and when I rise.
From afar, my thoughts discerning, all my path before You lies.
Every word, before it’s spoken, You behold and know it well.
Both behind me and before me, Your sweet Presence I can tell!

Just to know this is more wondrous than my seeking soul can know.
From Your ever-present Spirit there is nowhere I can go.
Whether high above the heaven or below the earth in hell,
even there Your hand shall lead me and Your Right Hand hold me well!

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.