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Luke 12:49
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47 And athat servant who bknew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  
48 aBut he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.  

Christ Brings Division

49 a“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!  
50 But aI have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is baccomplished!  
51 aDo you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, bbut rather division.  
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
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Luke 12:49

I am, come ... - The result of my coming will be that there will be divisions and contentions. He does not mean that he came "for" that purpose, or that he "sought" and "desired" it; but that such was the state of the human heart, and such the opposition of people to the truth, that that would be the "effect" of his coming. See the notes at Matthew 10:34.

Fire - Fire, here, is the emblem of discord and contention, and consequently of calamities. Thus it is used in Psalms 66:12; Isaiah 43:2.

And what will I ... - This passage might be better expressed in this manner: "And what would I, but that it were kindled. Since it is "necessary" for the advancement of religion that such divisions should take place; since the gospel cannot be established without conflicts, and strifes, and hatreds, I am even desirous that they should come. Since the greatest blessing which mankind can receive must be attended with such unhappy divisions, I am willing, nay, desirous that they should come." He did not wish evil in itself; but, as it was the occasion of good, he was desirous, if it "must" take place, that it should take place soon. From this we learn:

1.That the promotion of religion may be expected to produce many contests and bitter feelings.

2.That the heart of man must be exceedingly wicked, or it would not oppose a work like the Christian religion.

3.That though God cannot look on evil with approbation, yet, for the sake of the benefit which may grow out of it, he is willing to permit it, and suffer it to come into the world.




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Luke 12:49:

Malachi 3:2

 

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