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I tell you, no, but rather division;</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newcom.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/luke/12-51.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcom/luke/12-51.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/">Commentaries</a> > Luke 12:51</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../luke/12-50.htm" title="Luke 12:50">◄</a> Luke 12:51 <a href="../luke/12-52.htm" title="Luke 12:52">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/alford/luke/12.htm" title="Henry Alford - Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary">Alford</a> • <a href="/commentaries/barnes/luke/12.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/bengel/luke/12.htm" title="Bengel's Gnomen">Bengel</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/luke/12.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/luke/12.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/calvin/luke/12.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/luke/12.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/luke/12.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/luke/12.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/luke/12.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/luke/12.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/luke/12.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/egt/luke/12.htm" title="Expositor's Greek">Exp Grk</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/luke/12.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/luke/12.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/luke/12.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/luke/12.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/luke/12.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/luke/12.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/luke/12-15.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/luke/12.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/icc/luke/12.htm" title="ICC NT Commentary">ICC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/luke/12.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kelly/luke/12.htm" title="Kelly Commentary">Kelly</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/luke/12.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/luke/12.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/luke/12.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/luke/12.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/luke/12.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/meyer/luke/12.htm" title="Meyer Commentary">Meyer</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/luke/12.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pnt/luke/12.htm" title="People's New Testament">PNT</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/luke/12.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/luke/12.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/luke/12.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/luke/12.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/luke/12.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/vws/luke/12.htm" title="Vincent's Word Studies">VWS</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/luke/12.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/luke/12.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(51-53) <span class= "bld">Suppose ye that I am come to give peace?</span>—See Notes on <a href="/context/matthew/10-34.htm" title="Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.">Matthew 10:34-35</a>. The chief variations are “division” for “sword,” and, in <a href="/luke/12-53.htm" title="The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.">Luke 12:53</a>, the doubled statement of reciprocated enmity in each relationship.<p><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/luke/12.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>12:41-53 All are to take to themselves what Christ says in his word, and to inquire concerning it. No one is left so ignorant as not to know many things to be wrong which he does, and many things to be right which he neglects; therefore all are without excuse in their sin. The bringing in the gospel dispensation would occasion desolations. Not that this would be the tendency of Christ's religion, which is pure, peaceable, and loving; but the effect of its being contrary to men's pride and lusts. There was to be a wide publication of the gospel. But before that took place, Christ had a baptism to be baptized with, far different from that of water and the Holy Spirit. He must endure sufferings and death. It agreed not with his plan to preach the gospel more widely, till this baptism was completed. We should be zealous in making known the truth, for though divisions will be stirred up, and a man's own household may be his foes, yet sinners will be converted, and God will be glorified.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/luke/12.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>See the notes at <a href="http://biblehub.com/matthew/10-34.htm">Matthew 10:34-36</a>. <a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/luke/12.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>51. peace … ? Nay, &c.—the reverse of peace, in the first instance. (See on [1652]Mt 10:34-36.) The connection of all this with the foregoing warnings about hypocrisy, covetousness, and watchfulness, is deeply solemn: "My conflict hasten apace; Mine over, yours begins; and then, let the servants tread in their Master's steps, uttering their testimony entire and fearless, neither loving nor dreading the world, anticipating awful wrenches of the dearest ties in life, but looking forward, as I do, to the completion of their testimony, when, reaching the haven after the tempest, they shall enter into the joy of their Lord."<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/luke/12.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div>Ver. 51-53. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/10-34.htm" title="Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.">Matthew 10:34</a>"</span>, <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/10-35.htm" title="For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.">Matthew 10:35</a>"</span>. Our Saviour in these words doth but pursue the same argument which began <span class="bld"><a href="/luke/12-49.htm" title="I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?">Luke 12:49</a></span>, to show what would be the consequences of the doctrine of the gospel. And hereby they might have understood a design in our Saviour to convince them, that the business of the Messiah whom they expect was not to exercise a temporal but a spiritual kingdom and power, not to restore to their nation a civil peace, but to purchase their peace with God, and to bring them to that joy and peace which is consequent to believing. For as to the external state of things, it would be much more troubled than it was before; our Lord foresaw how tenacious both the Jews and pagans, and in succeeding ages Christians also, would be of their idolatries and superstitious rites and usages, with whom their believing relations not complying, there would be greater feuds and animosities arise than ever were before; the father would hate the son, the son the father, &c. Before the gospel came amongst the heathens, they were entirely the devil’s kingdom, which is not divided against itself. But when by Christ those who belonged to the election of grace should be separated, through the devil’s rage and men’s lusts, there would be continual feuds and divisions. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/luke/12.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth?.... To set up a temporal kingdom, in great pomp, and outward peace and tranquility? Christ came to make peace with God for men, and to give the Gospel of peace, and spiritual and eternal peace to men; but not external peace, especially that, which is not consistent with the preservation of truth: <p>I tell you, nay; whatever suppositions you have made, or whatever notions you have entertained, I solemnly affirm, and you may depend upon it, I am not come into the world on any such account, as to establish outward peace among men; <p>but rather division; so he calls the Gospel, which in Matthew is styled a "sword"; and the Ethiopic version seems to have read both here, since it renders it, "but a sword that I may divide": the Gospel is the sword of the Spirit, which divides asunder soul and Spirit, and separates a man from his former principles and practices; and sets men apart from one another, even the nearest relations, at the greatest distance; and is, through the sin of man, the occasion of great contention, discord, and division. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/luke/12.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2">Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:</span></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/meyer/luke/12.htm">Meyer's NT Commentary</a></div><a href="/context/luke/12-51.htm" title="Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, No; but rather division:...">Luke 12:51-53</a>. See on <a href="/matthew/10-34.htm" title="Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.">Matthew 10:34</a> f., where the representation is partly <span class="ital">simplified</span>, partly, on the model of <a href="/micah/7-6.htm" title="For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.">Micah 7:6</a>, <span class="ital">enriched</span>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ἀλλʼ ἤ</span>] <span class="ital">but only</span>, originated from <span class="greekheb">ἄλλο</span> and <span class="greekheb">ἤ</span>, without, however, its being required to write <span class="greekheb">ἄλλʼ ἤ</span>. See on this expression in general, Krüger, <span class="ital">de formula</span> <span class="greekheb">ἄλλʼ ἤ</span> <span class="ital">et affinium particul. etc. natura et usu</span>, Brunsvig. 1834; Klotz, <span class="ital">ad Devar</span>. p. 31 ff. Comp. on <a href="/2_corinthians/1-13.htm" title="For we write none other things to you, than what you read or acknowledge; and I trust you shall acknowledge even to the end;">2 Corinthians 1:13</a>. Otherwise Stallbaum, <span class="ital">ad Plat. Phaedr</span>. p. 81 B.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν</span>] Jesus already realizes His approaching <span class="ital">death</span>. Comp. <a href="/luke/22-69.htm" title="Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.">Luke 22:69</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>In <a href="/luke/12-53.htm" title="The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.">Luke 12:53</a> are <span class="ital">three hostile couples</span>; the description therefore is <span class="ital">different</span> from that at <a href="/luke/12-52.htm" title="For from now on there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.">Luke 12:52</a>, not a more detailed statement of the circumstances mentioned in <a href="/luke/12-52.htm" title="For from now on there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.">Luke 12:52</a> (Bleek).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/egt/luke/12.htm">Expositor's Greek Testament</a></div><a href="/luke/12-51.htm" title="Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, No; but rather division:">Luke 12:51</a>. <span class="greekheb">διαμερισμόν</span>: instead of Mt.’s <span class="greekheb">μάχαιραν</span>, an abstract prosaic term for a concrete pictorial one; exactly descriptive of the fact, however, and avoiding possible misapprehension as to Christ’s aim = Jesus not a patron of <span class="ital">war</span>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/luke/12.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">51</span><span class="ital">.</span> <span class="ital">Suppose ye</span>] as they were far too much inclined to suppose, <a href="/luke/19-11.htm" title="And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.">Luke 19:11</a><span class="ital">that I am come to give peace on earth</span>] It is only in His <span class="ital">ultimate </span>kingdom that Christ will be fully the Prince of Peace, as was understood even by Simeon, <a href="/context/luke/2-34.htm" title="And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;...">Luke 2:34-35</a>; see too <a href="/john/9-39.htm" title="And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.">John 9:39</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">Nay; but rather division</span>] “I came not to send peace <span class="ital">but a sword</span>,” <a href="/matthew/10-34.htm" title="Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.">Matthew 10:34</a>. “Near me, near the sword” (unwritten saying of Christ). “There was <span class="ital">a division</span> among the people because of him,” <a href="/john/7-43.htm" title="So there was a division among the people because of him.">John 7:43</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/bengel/luke/12.htm">Bengel's Gnomen</a></div><a href="/luke/12-51.htm" title="Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, No; but rather division:">Luke 12:51</a>. <span class="greekheb">Οὐχὶ</span>) <span class="ital">Nay; not</span> peace of such a kind as that which congregates together heterogeneous elements, the good and bad alike.—<span class="greekheb">διαμερισμὸν</span>, <span class="ital">division</span>) The sword has the power of ‘dividing,’ <a href="/hebrews/4-12.htm" title="For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.">Hebrews 4:12</a>. And the fire, of which <a href="/luke/12-49.htm" title="I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?">Luke 12:49</a> treats, separates heterogeneous elements, and congregates together homogeneous ones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/luke/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 51.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division</span>. But the Master quickly leaves himself and his own sad forebodings. He puts by for a season his own holy impatience and continues his warnings. "I have been dwelling on the troublous times quickly coming on. Do not deceive yourselves, my disciples; the great change about to be inaugurated will only be carried out in war and by divisions in the individual house as in the nation. I bring not peace, but a sword, remember." And then follows a curious picture of a home torn asunder by the conflict of thought which would spring up as the result of the cross and of the preaching of the cross. 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