Luke 12:51 Commentary and Bible Study

Here is a misconception that is often found in the world, and one which is perfectly answered by the Lord. Was the gospel sent to make the world a better place? Did Christ come to solve all the world’s problems, and turn rebellious, God-rejecting human beings into peace-loving communities having social coherence? No, let us not misunderstand. The world is incurably opposed to God. It can never be turned into anything other than what it is: a world of sinners in rebellion against God and under his condemnation. Christ’s solution is far more radical than to try to change the world into anything better. It is to call people out of the world, to create within them a new nature, to establish his kingdom, a rival to all the kingdoms of the world, and to build his church composed of those who have been totally transformed and no longer belong to the world. In Old Testament times there were genuine believers in Israel, but the plan of God was that they would continue to be part of the nation of Israel and not called out into a different unit. No doubt there were tensions between believer and unbeliever – and this is seen with great clarity in the way the prophets were persecuted – but they continued to live together. That will not continue, as the explanation in the following verses makes clear. There will be a fire lit; there will be divisions within the most basic units of society.