Quotes & Notes on:     Luke 12:49    John Wesley,  Notes On the New Testament (1755): -To spread the fire of heavenly love over all the earth. Reginald Fuller's Preaching the Lectionary (1984):  To be posted.   William Baird, Interpreter's Commentary, 1971:  To be posted.   J. McNicol, The New Bible Commentary, 1954:  To be posted.   I.H. Marshall, The New Bible Commentary, 1970:  To be posted.   David Guzik, Study Guide: To be posted.   Chuck Smith, Study Guide: To be posted.   Catechism of the Catholic Church: To be posted.   J. Norval Geldenhuys, Bible Expositor, 1960: To be posted.   Abingdon Bible Commentary (1929): To be posted.   D.D. Whedon, Commentary on Luke, 1866: To be posted.   Joseph Parker, People's Bible, 1901: To be posted.   Anchor Bible: To be posted.   The Fourfold Gospel:   The object of Christ's coming was to rouse men to spiritual conflict, to kindle a fire in the public mind which would purify the better part and destroy the worse. But the burning of this fire would excite men and stir up their passions and cause division and discord. The opposition of the Pharisees showed that this fire was already kindled. What therefore was left for Jesus to desire? His work as a teacher was practically accomplished. But there remained for him yet his duty as priest to offer himself as a sacrifice for the world's sin. To this work, therefore, he glances briefly forward. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: * come. Lu 12:51,52; Isa 11:4; Joe 2:30,31; Mal 3:2; 4:1; Mt 3:10-12 * and. Lu 11:53; 13:31-33; 19:39,40; Joh 9:4; 11:8-10; 12:17-19   Robertson's Word Pictures: I came to cast fire (Pur êlthon balein). Suddenly Jesus lets the volcano in his own heart burst forth. The fire was already burning. "Christ came to set the world on fire, and the conflagration had already begun" (Plummer). The very passion in Christ's heart would set his friends on fire and his foes in opposition as we have just seen (Lu 11:53). It is like the saying of Jesus that he came to bring not peace, but a sword, to bring cleavage among men (Mt 10:34-36). And what will I, if it is already kindled? (kai ti thelô ei êdê anêphthê;). It is not clear what this passage means. Probably ti is be taken in the sense of "how" (pôs). How I wish. Then ei can be taken as equal to hoti. How I wish that it were already kindled. Anêphthê is first aorist passive of anaptô, to set fire to, to kindle, to make blaze. Probably Luke means the conflagration to come by his death on the Cross for he changes the figure and refers to that more plainly   William Burkitt's Notes: Our Saviour in these verses declares what will be the accidental event and effect, but not the natural tendency, of his religion; so that we must distinguish between the intentional aim of Christ's coming, and the accidental event of it. Christ's intentional aim, was to plant, propagate, and promote, peace in the world; but through the lusts and corruptions of men's natures, the issue and event of his coming is war and division; not that these are the genuine and natural fruits of the gospel, but occasional and accidental only. Hence learn, that the preaching of the gospel, and setting up the kingdom of Christ, though it be not the genuine and natural cause, yet it is the accidental occasion of all that war and tumult, of all that dissension and division, of all that distraction and confusion which the world abounds with: I am come to send fire on the earth. He is said to send the fire of dissension, because he foresaw this would be the certain consequence, though not the proper and natural effect, of the preaching of the gospel. There was another fire of Christ's sending, the Holy Spirit; this was a fire to warm, not to burn, or if so, not men's persons, but corruptions; but that seems not to be intended in this place. Observe farther, the metaphor by which Christ sets forth his own sufferings; he styles them a baptism: I have a baptism to be baptized with. There is a threefold baptism spoken of: a baptism with water, a baptism of the Spirit; both these Christ had been baptized with: but the third was the baptism of blood: he was soon to be drenched and washed in his own blood, in the garden, and on the cross; and he was straitened or pained with desire, like a woman in travail, until his sufferings were accomplished.   Family Bible Notes:  To send fire; in the same sense in which he came to send a sword. Mt 10:34. Fire and sword are emblems of contention, distress, and ruin: not that this was the object of Christ's coming, or the tendency and proper effect of his gospel, but it would be the effect of the opposition which wicked men would make to it. What will I, if it be already kindled? did he regret the publication of the gospel, or would he desist from it on account of the contention it would occasion? No; he desired its publication, and that, as soon as practicable, it might be universal. Opposition to the best things often produces the greatest mischiefs. But no good thing, rightly done, is to be charged with any of the evils which opposition to it occasions.   1599 Geneva Bible Notes:  The gospel is the only reason of peace between the godly, and so it is the occasion of great trouble among the wicked.   People's New Testament Commentary: I am come to cast fire on earth. Conflict and persecution. This was the effect of preaching the gospel. It aroused opposition. If it is already kindled. The conflict had already begun. The enemies were seeking his death.   Albert Barnes' Commentary:   I am come, &c. 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 men to the truth, that that would be the effect of his coming. See Barnes for Mt 10:34. Fire. Fire, here, is the emblem of discord and contention, and consequently of calamities. Thus it is used in Ps 66:12 Isa 43:2. And what will I, &c. 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-- 1st. That the promotion of religion may be expected to produce many contests and bitter feelings. 2nd. That the heart of man must be exceedingly wicked, or it would not oppose a work like the Christian religion. 3rd. 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.   Jamieson-Faussett Brown: to send--cast. fire--"the higher spiritual element of life which Jesus came to introduce into this earth (compare Mt 3:11), with reference to its mighty effects in quickening all that is akin to it and destroying all that is opposed. To cause this element of life to take up its abode on earth, and wholly to pervade human hearts with its warmth, was the lofty destiny of the Redeemer" [OLSHAUSEN: so CALVIN, STIER, ALFORD, &c.]. what will I, &c.--an obscure expression, uttered under deep and half-smothered emotion. In its general import all are agreed; but the nearest to the precise meaning seems to be, "And what should I have to desire if it were once already kindled?" [BENGEL and BLOOMFIELD].   Spurgeon Devotional Commentary:  No comment on this verse.   Adam Clarke's Commentary: From the connection in which these words stand, both in this place and in Matthew, it appears as if our Lord intended by the word fire, not only the consuming influence of the Roman sword, but also the influence of his own Spirit in the destruction of sin. In both these senses this fire was already kindled: as yet, however, it appeared but as a spark, but was soon to break out into an all-consuming flame.   Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:  No comment on this verse.   Quotes on Luke 12:49-56   The fire is indeed the strife which the Gospel will eventuate.  The baptism is the passion of the garden and the cross which he was about to undergo. - D.D. Whedon, Commentary on the Gospels, Vol. Luke-John, p. 132 The spiritual tradition has retained this symbolism of fire as one of the most expressive images of the holy Spirit's actions. - Ratzinger, Joseph, Imp., Catechism of the Catholic Church,  ¶696 See where you are baptized, see where Baptism comes from, if not from the cross of Christ, from his death.  There is the whole mystery:  he died for you.  In him you are redeemed, in him you are saved. - St. Ambrose, as quoted in Catechism of the Catholic Church,  ¶1224 Though Jesus came to bring Peace, he knew he would be the occasion of Strife. - Henry H. Halley, Halley's Bible Handbook, p. 511-512 The baptism Jesus is to be baptized with refers to his martyr's death.  This death releases the Spirit, which both judges and purifies the earth. - William Baird, Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary: Luke, p. 691 The fire would purify and cleanse, as well as destroy. - J. McNicol, New Bible Commentary (1954): Luke, p. 853 Some understand the preaching of the gospel, and the pouring out of the Spirit, holy fire;  this Christ came to send with a commission to refine the world, to purge away its dross, to burn up its chaff, and it was already kindled.  The gospel was begun to be preached;  some prefaces there were to the pouring out of the Spirit.  Christ baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire;  this Spirit descended in fiery tongues.  But by what follows, it seems rather to be understood of the fire of persecution.  Christ is not the Author of it, as is the sin of the incendiaries, the persecutors;  but he permits it, nay, he commissions it, as a refining fire for the trial of the persecuted. - Matthew Henry, Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 716 The fire symbolizes the spread of the message or of the power of the Spirit, and Jesus longs that it might spread the more quickly. - I.H. Marshall, New Bible Commentary, Revised (1970):  Luke, p. 909 Even though Luke does not appropriate the language of atonement for his own theology, he does have his own theology of the cross.  It is that the cross is for Christ the divinely willed pathway to glory.  Believers in turn are drawn into the same pathway of suffering.  This suffering may take various forms:  rejection, ostracism from family and society, and... martyrdom. - Reginald H. Fuller, Preaching the Lectionary, p. 498 I am come to send fire -- To spread the fire of heavenly love over all the earth. - John Wesley, Notes Upon the New Testament, Vol. 1, on Luke 12:49 In the OT, [the expression regarding the casting of fire upon the earth] is sometimes used as a means of purification, of discernment or discrimination, and of judgment... The fire has also to be related to that of Luke 3:16, the effect of which is now seen to touch even "the earth." - Fitzmyer, Joseph A., Trans., Anchor Bible, Vol. Luke X-XXIV, p.996

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