As Prometheus, in the old Greek fable, brought fire from above in a reed, so Christ brought the fire of the Holy Spirit in the frail lantern of His humanity. But, first, He had to pass through a baptism of tears and blood. He was under pressure to enter it, because impatient to get through with it. Here was the prelude of Calvary. And what was true of our Lord must be true of His Church. Always the sword, always strife, always division, where the gospel begins to ferment like leaven in human hearts.
The signs of the time pointed to a climax of Hebrew history, for which most of His contemporaries were unprepared. The sands in God's hour-glass were running out. This was the great requirement of the hour-get right with God. The warning is applicable to us all, but it was specially spoken of the brief interval which, like the silence that precedes a thunder storm, preceded the fall of Jerusalem. [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 12
1Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy 13and warns against covetousness, by the parable of the man who set up greater barns 22We must not worry about earthly things, 31but seek the kingdom of God; 33give alms; 35be ready at a knock to open to our Lord whensoever he comes 41Jesus' disciples are to see to their charges, 49and look for persecution 54The people must take this time of grace; 57because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation
Discern [δοκιμάζειν] See on trial and tried, 1 Peter 1:7. It means here test or prove. You can test and prove the weather by your signs; but you cannot apply the proof which lies in the signs of the times. Rev., interpret, gives the idea. Wyc., prove. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 12:55
Luke 12:54To the multitudes also [και τοις οχλοις] After the strong and stirring words just before with flash and force Jesus turns finally in this series of discourses to the multitudes again as in Luke 12:15. There are similar sayings to these Luke 12:54-59 in Matthew 16:1; Matthew 5:25. There is a good deal of difference in phraseology whether that is due to difference of source or different use of the same source (Q or Logia) we do not know. Not all the old MSS. give Matthew 16:2,Matthew 16:3. In Matthew the Pharisees and Sadducees were asking for a sign from heaven as they often did. These signs of the weather, “a shower” (ομβρος ombros Luke 12:54) due to clouds in the west, “a hot wave” (καυσων kausōn Luke 12:55) due to a south wind (νοτον noton) blowing, “fair weather” (ευδια eudia Matthew 16:2) when the sky is red, are appealed to today. They have a more or less general application due to atmospheric and climatic conditions. [source]
John 3:8The wind [τὸ πνεῦμα] Some hold by the translation spirit, as Wyc., the spirit breatheth where it will. In Hebrew the words spirit and wind are identical. Πνεῦμα is from πνέω tobreathe or blow, the verb used in this verse (bloweth ), and everywhere in the New Testament of the blowing of the wind (Matthew 7:25,Matthew 7:27; Luke 12:55; John 6:18). It frequently occurs in the classics in the sense of wind. Thus Aristophanes, τὸ πνεῦμ ' ἔλαττον γίγνεται , the wind is dying away (“Knights,” 441), also in the New Testament, Hebrews 1:7, where the proper translation is, “who maketh His angels winds,” quoted from 1Kings href="/desk/?q=1ki+18:45&sr=1">1 Kings 18:45; 1 Kings 19:11; 2 Kings 3:17; Job 1:19. In the New Testament, in the sense of breath, 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 11:11. The usual rendering, wind, is confirmed here by the use of the kindred verb πνεῖ , bloweth, and by φωνὴν , sound, voice. Tholuck thinks that the figure may have been suggested to Jesus by the sound of the night-wind sweeping through the narrow street. [source]
James 1:11With the scorching wind [συν τωι καυσωνι] Associative instrumental case with συν sun In the lxx this late word (from καυσος kausos) is usually the sirocco, the dry east wind from the desert (Job 1:19). In Matthew 20:12; Luke 12:55 it is the burning heat of the sun. Either makes sense here.Withereth (εχηρανεν exēranen). Another gnomic aorist active indicative (Robertson, Grammar, p. 837) of χηραινω xērainō old verb (from χηρος xēros dry or withered, Matthew 12:10), to dry up. Grass and flowers are often used to picture the transitoriness of human life.Falleth Another gnomic aorist (second aorist active indicative) of εκπιπτω ekpiptō to fall out (off).The grace (η ευπρεπεια hē euprepeia). Old word (from ευπρεπης euprepēs well-looking, not in the N.T.), only here in N.T. Goodly appearance, beauty.Of the fashion of it “Of the face of it.” The flower is pictured as having a “face,” like a rose or lily.Perisheth (απωλετο apōleto). Another gnomic aorist (second aorist middle indicative of απολλυμι apollumi to destroy, but intransitive here, to perish). The beautiful rose is pitiful when withered.Shall fade away Future passive indicative of μαραινω marainō old verb, to extinguish a flame, a light. Used of roses in Wisdom 2:8.Goings (πορειαις poreiais). Old word from πορευω poreuō to journey, in N.T. only here and Luke 13:22 (of Christ‘s journey toward Jerusalem). The rich man‘s travels will come to “journey‘s end.” [source]
Greek Commentary for Luke 12:55
See on James 1:11; and Matthew 20:12. [source]
See on trial and tried, 1 Peter 1:7. It means here test or prove. You can test and prove the weather by your signs; but you cannot apply the proof which lies in the signs of the times. Rev., interpret, gives the idea. Wyc., prove. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 12:55
After the strong and stirring words just before with flash and force Jesus turns finally in this series of discourses to the multitudes again as in Luke 12:15. There are similar sayings to these Luke 12:54-59 in Matthew 16:1; Matthew 5:25. There is a good deal of difference in phraseology whether that is due to difference of source or different use of the same source (Q or Logia) we do not know. Not all the old MSS. give Matthew 16:2, Matthew 16:3. In Matthew the Pharisees and Sadducees were asking for a sign from heaven as they often did. These signs of the weather, “a shower” (ομβρος ombros Luke 12:54) due to clouds in the west, “a hot wave” (καυσων kausōn Luke 12:55) due to a south wind (νοτον noton) blowing, “fair weather” (ευδια eudia Matthew 16:2) when the sky is red, are appealed to today. They have a more or less general application due to atmospheric and climatic conditions. [source]
Some hold by the translation spirit, as Wyc., the spirit breatheth where it will. In Hebrew the words spirit and wind are identical. Πνεῦμα is from πνέω tobreathe or blow, the verb used in this verse (bloweth ), and everywhere in the New Testament of the blowing of the wind (Matthew 7:25, Matthew 7:27; Luke 12:55; John 6:18). It frequently occurs in the classics in the sense of wind. Thus Aristophanes, τὸ πνεῦμ ' ἔλαττον γίγνεται , the wind is dying away (“Knights,” 441), also in the New Testament, Hebrews 1:7, where the proper translation is, “who maketh His angels winds,” quoted from 1Kings href="/desk/?q=1ki+18:45&sr=1">1 Kings 18:45; 1 Kings 19:11; 2 Kings 3:17; Job 1:19. In the New Testament, in the sense of breath, 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 11:11. The usual rendering, wind, is confirmed here by the use of the kindred verb πνεῖ , bloweth, and by φωνὴν , sound, voice. Tholuck thinks that the figure may have been suggested to Jesus by the sound of the night-wind sweeping through the narrow street. [source]
Associative instrumental case with συν sun In the lxx this late word (from καυσος kausos) is usually the sirocco, the dry east wind from the desert (Job 1:19). In Matthew 20:12; Luke 12:55 it is the burning heat of the sun. Either makes sense here.Withereth (εχηρανεν exēranen). Another gnomic aorist active indicative (Robertson, Grammar, p. 837) of χηραινω xērainō old verb (from χηρος xēros dry or withered, Matthew 12:10), to dry up. Grass and flowers are often used to picture the transitoriness of human life.Falleth Another gnomic aorist (second aorist active indicative) of εκπιπτω ekpiptō to fall out (off).The grace (η ευπρεπεια hē euprepeia). Old word (from ευπρεπης euprepēs well-looking, not in the N.T.), only here in N.T. Goodly appearance, beauty.Of the fashion of it “Of the face of it.” The flower is pictured as having a “face,” like a rose or lily.Perisheth (απωλετο apōleto). Another gnomic aorist (second aorist middle indicative of απολλυμι apollumi to destroy, but intransitive here, to perish). The beautiful rose is pitiful when withered.Shall fade away Future passive indicative of μαραινω marainō old verb, to extinguish a flame, a light. Used of roses in Wisdom 2:8.Goings (πορειαις poreiais). Old word from πορευω poreuō to journey, in N.T. only here and Luke 13:22 (of Christ‘s journey toward Jerusalem). The rich man‘s travels will come to “journey‘s end.” [source]
Better, as Rev., prove. See on 1 Peter 1:7; see on Luke 12:55. Compare the phrase discerning of spirits, 1 Corinthians 12:10. [source]