In studying Luke 12:1-13:9, Jesus makes an interesting statement about our present age. The statement is found in verses 52-53 of Chapter 12. "For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
This is a very profound statement that we can delve into at great depths, but I'd like to ask one simple question. What is He saying? Verse 53 is a quote from Micah 7:6 which gives us some insight into the context in which He is speaking. Simply put, Jesus brought a Gospel to the nation of Israel that would most certainly bring division among their most precious relationships; the family. This is in no way saying that God does not care about the family unit and the relationships between family members. We have to understand the culture and their theology before fully understanding this statement.
The theology of the day was that your lineage was key to entrance into Heaven. That is why there is much written in the New Testament regarding the Jew and the Gentile. Paul makes it very clear that both can be saved. What Jesus is stating here is that the true Gospel will bring division in your midst that is so strong, it will divide even the closest of relationships. This is how we are to understand our relationship to Christ; that it is the most important relationship on this earth. In that relationship with Christ, we find peace in other relationships. This is evident in the New Testament by many teachings on loving relationships.
How does Micah 7 fit into this? Well, His statement was made to a people in a religious state much like the the religious state of the people when Micah spoke these words. Their leaders were corrupt accepting bribes and their Priests taught for a price (3:11). The people were pursuing evil with “both hands” and Micah saw total ruin of the nation Israel. Does this sound familiar? Jesus said, “From now on…”, indicating that this is what we will experience in this age and we most certainly do.
So what is our response? Consider Micah’s response (Micah 7:7-10): “But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication. Then my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, ‘Where is the LORD your God?’ My eyes will look upon her; now she will be trampled down like the mire of the streets.”
This is why Jesus made these statements in Luke 12:1-13:9. The people, much like us, are in need of repentance and faith in the One True God. This is a call for them to beware of the false teachings of their day, to confess Christ, to trust in the power of the Spirit, to consider the warning signs, to settle with the judge, to produce fruit unto God and to repent.
The same call rings out today and even more urgent is the call as with each passing moment we are drawn closer to the end of the age. This is made perfectly clear in the remaining verses. I encourage you to take a moment to read verses 12:54-13:9 to see what I am talking about.
This is a very profound statement that we can delve into at great depths, but I'd like to ask one simple question. What is He saying? Verse 53 is a quote from Micah 7:6 which gives us some insight into the context in which He is speaking. Simply put, Jesus brought a Gospel to the nation of Israel that would most certainly bring division among their most precious relationships; the family. This is in no way saying that God does not care about the family unit and the relationships between family members. We have to understand the culture and their theology before fully understanding this statement.
The theology of the day was that your lineage was key to entrance into Heaven. That is why there is much written in the New Testament regarding the Jew and the Gentile. Paul makes it very clear that both can be saved. What Jesus is stating here is that the true Gospel will bring division in your midst that is so strong, it will divide even the closest of relationships. This is how we are to understand our relationship to Christ; that it is the most important relationship on this earth. In that relationship with Christ, we find peace in other relationships. This is evident in the New Testament by many teachings on loving relationships.
How does Micah 7 fit into this? Well, His statement was made to a people in a religious state much like the the religious state of the people when Micah spoke these words. Their leaders were corrupt accepting bribes and their Priests taught for a price (3:11). The people were pursuing evil with “both hands” and Micah saw total ruin of the nation Israel. Does this sound familiar? Jesus said, “From now on…”, indicating that this is what we will experience in this age and we most certainly do.
So what is our response? Consider Micah’s response (Micah 7:7-10): “But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication. Then my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, ‘Where is the LORD your God?’ My eyes will look upon her; now she will be trampled down like the mire of the streets.”
This is why Jesus made these statements in Luke 12:1-13:9. The people, much like us, are in need of repentance and faith in the One True God. This is a call for them to beware of the false teachings of their day, to confess Christ, to trust in the power of the Spirit, to consider the warning signs, to settle with the judge, to produce fruit unto God and to repent.
The same call rings out today and even more urgent is the call as with each passing moment we are drawn closer to the end of the age. This is made perfectly clear in the remaining verses. I encourage you to take a moment to read verses 12:54-13:9 to see what I am talking about.
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