On the surface, in Luke 12, Yeshua seems to be speaking about settling our legal affairs without going before a magistrate. Paul speaks about lawsuits within the church in 1 Corinthians 6. We may be tempted to assume it is the same or similar message.
57“And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58“For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59“I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
It is not the same message. We must look to context of the preceding verses.
49“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! 50“But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51“Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53“They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55“And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56“You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?
57“And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58“For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59“I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”
Looking a little earlier still in Luke 12 we see Yeshua teaching about readiness. He is speaking a parable about how important it is for us to be ready for the coming of the Lord. We should be actively prepared and looking for His return. Then He speaks about how He did not come to bring peace, but division. You can not have peace among the worldly and the wicked and stand firm on the righteous instruction of the Lord. They reject it and reject you for sharing it.
As He points out that He knows there will be division, He also criticizes the people who do not recognize who He is based on the signs. They know to predict the weather… they are smart enough to settle a case where they may be guilty before they come in front of a magistrate. They settle to avoid punishment that will be severe.
Those who are familiar with the instruction of the Lord should similarly have enough knowledge to recognize the coming of Messiah. They should be rushing to settle accounts with Him before they are judged before YHWH* where there may be severe punishment. They should be repenting, not plotting to kill Messiah.
It is easy to dismiss the Pharisees and Sadducees, callously assuming we would do better. But truly reflect on your life and ask the Spirit to convict you of sin and rebellion in your life. We each should take care to judge our lives based upon the Father’s word and not our cultural norms.
Are we repentant and submitted to the Lord, standing proudly and loudly for Him even in conflict? or are we blending with society and culture of the worldly and wicked in order to have peace?
Do we justify that we are “better than most” or “good enough”? or do we humbly and desperately throw ourselves upon the mercy of YHWH offered us through Christ our Savior?
It is important that we recognize and discern the reality of our situation and ask forgiveness before our Lord before we face judgment. Take time now in prayer before the Lord to evaluate your life and ask for Him to show you areas where He wants you to change and ask for His grace and power to enable you to change. It is through His grace and power, not our own effort, that we will ultimately succeed in becoming more like Yeshua.
*Note: YHWH is the four letter name of God in the Bible derived from the Hebrew. Because the Hebrew did not record vowel sounds, we no longer know how to pronounce it for sure. It is often pronounced Yehovah or Yahweh today. Interesting history if you want to study it. Try an internet search.
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