“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptised, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be 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.”

Deeper Dive

This gospel passage is one of Jesus’ most provocative teachings, emphasising the divisive impact of his mission. He begins with a bold declaration: “I came to bring fire to the earth,” which symbolises both purification and judgment. This statement shatters any assumptions that Jesus came only to promote peace in a worldly sense. Instead, he reveals the cost of discipleship and the deep social and relational ruptures it may cause. Jesus speaks of a “baptism” he must undergo—pointing to his suffering and crucifixion. His words reflect urgency and emotional weight, as he anticipates the turmoil his message will unleash. He then makes a startling claim: “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!”. This division cuts through the most intimate bonds—families will be split over loyalty to him. This passage challenges believers to consider the radical demands of following Christ. His call may cause conflict, even among loved ones, as truth confronts comfort and allegiance to Christ surpasses all else. It ultimately reminds us that the gospel, while offering peace with God, may provoke tension with the world. This division is not Christ’s ultimate goal, but a byproduct of his call to radical allegiance. The passage challenges the idea of a comfortable or socially acceptable faith. It confronts us with the reality that following Jesus may create tension, even with those we love, because the demands of discipleship are total. Luke reminds believers that Jesus came not merely to affirm us but to transform us—and that transformation, while life-giving, can also be costly. It forces us to ask: Are we willing to follow Christ, even if it means enduring misunderstanding, opposition, or division?

Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to be put to death because he is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.” King Zedekiah said, “Here he is; he is in your hands, for the king is powerless against you.” So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. Now there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud. So Ebed-melech left the king’s house and spoke to the king, “My lord king, these men have acted wickedly in all they did to the prophet Jeremiah by throwing him into the cistern to die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.” Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, “Take three men with you from here, and pull the prophet Jeremiah up from the cistern before he dies.”

Deeper Dive

This reading offers a dramatic glimpse into the life of the prophet Jeremiah, whose message of truth placed him in direct conflict with political and military leaders during the final days of Jerusalem before its fall to Babylon. Jeremiah had been warning the people and officials that resisting Babylon would lead to destruction, a message seen by the rulers as demoralising and even treasonous. Officials accuse him of weakening the resolve of the soldiers and the people, saying he “does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.” Their judgment is rooted not in Jeremiah’s loyalty to truth or God’s word, but in political expediency and fear.

King Zedekiah, though sympathetic, shows weakness and abdicates responsibility, saying, “he is in your hands, for the king is powerless against you.” This results in Jeremiah being thrown into a muddy cistern, left to die—a symbolic descent that reflects how truth-tellers are often abandoned or punished. However, verses 8–10 introduce Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian court official, who courageously intervenes. Risking his own status, he pleads with the king on Jeremiah’s behalf, calling the officials’ actions wicked and unjust. His appeal highlights themes of justice, compassion, and moral courage. Zedekiah surprisingly listens and commands Ebed-melech to rescue Jeremiah, showing that even amid corruption, justice can prevail when individuals act with integrity. This passage underscores the cost of speaking God’s truth in the face of opposition, as well as the importance of moral courage. Jeremiah’s ordeal reflects the suffering endured by prophets and, by extension, all who stand for righteousness in hostile environments. Yet, through Ebed-melech’s bravery, we see how God often works through unlikely individuals to uphold justice and protect his servants.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Deeper Dive

Hebrews 12:1–4 is a powerful exhortation to perseverance, drawing on the imagery of a race to illustrate the Christian life. The passage begins by urging believers to remember the “great cloud of witnesses”—the faithful individuals mentioned in Hebrews 11, who lived by faith despite trials and never seeing the fullness of God’s promises in their lifetimes. These examples are meant to inspire us to lay aside every weight and sin that hinders our progress and to run “with perseverance the race that is set before us”. At the centre of this encouragement is Jesus himself—the “pioneer and perfecter of our faith”. His life and death are the ultimate model of faithful endurance. For the joy set before him, Jesus endured the agony and shame of the cross and is now exalted at God’s right hand. His example is meant to focus and sustain us in times of hardship. It urges believers to “consider him who endured such hostility from sinners,” reminding them that faithfulness to God often provokes resistance from the world. But rather than be discouraged, we are called to draw strength from Christ’s endurance so that we do not “grow weary or lose heart.”

This is a sobering reminder: “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” This suggests that, while the Hebrews faced persecution, their suffering had not yet reached the level of martyrdom. It puts their trials—and ours—into perspective, encouraging steadfastness. It calls believers to faithful, enduring discipleship, inspired by those who have gone before, empowered by Jesus’ example, and sustained by the hope of joy and victory beyond present suffering.

“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptised, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be 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.”

Deeper Dive

Luke 12:49–53 is one of Jesus’ most provocative teachings, emphasising the divisive impact of his mission. He begins with a bold declaration: “I came to bring fire to the earth,” which symbolises both purification and judgment. This statement shatters any assumptions that Jesus came only to promote peace in a worldly sense. Instead, he reveals the cost of discipleship and the deep social and relational ruptures it may cause. Jesus speaks of a “baptism” he must undergo—pointing to his suffering and crucifixion. His words reflect urgency and emotional weight, as he anticipates the turmoil his message will unleash. He then makes a startling claim: “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!”. This division cuts through the most intimate bonds—families will be split over loyalty to him. This passage challenges believers to consider the radical demands of following Christ. His call may cause conflict, even among loved ones, as truth confronts comfort and allegiance to Christ surpasses all else. It ultimately reminds us that the gospel, while offering peace with God, may provoke tension with the world. This division is not Christ’s ultimate goal, but a byproduct of his call to radical allegiance. The passage challenges the idea of a comfortable or socially acceptable faith. It confronts us with the reality that following Jesus may create tension, even with those we love, because the demands of discipleship are total. Luke reminds believers that Jesus came not merely to affirm us but to transform us—and that transformation, while life-giving, can also be costly. It forces us to ask: Are we willing to follow Christ, even if it means enduring misunderstanding, opposition, or division?