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Luke 12:53
ESV 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."
NIV 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."
NASB 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.'
CSB They will be divided, father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
NLT ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ '
KJV 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.
NKJV Father will be divided 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 her mother-in-law.”

What does Luke 12:53 mean?

Jesus teaches His disciples to anticipate the fulfillment of the kingdom of God. They think it means He will gather an army, overthrow the Romans, and become king of a united, independent Israel. They don't know that Jesus isn't interested in just saving the Jews from the Romans. He wants to save the world from their sin and eternal damnation.

He is anxious to get there, but He and His followers will face difficult situations. He will have to die on the cross (Luke 12:50). The disciples will have to choose faithfulness to Him over their own lives (Luke 12:4–5). Before God's kingdom arrives in full, the world will be judged (Luke 12:49). God-followers will be separated from those who rebelled against Him (Luke 12:52).

The disciples—and we—need to recognize that this division will split families. Our loved ones can be the best and sweetest people, but they will not be saved unless they repent (Luke 13:1–5). No one can ensure their spouse will accept Christ. No one can force their parents or their children to repent of their sins. On earth, this often leads to incredibly difficult choices. In some cultures, parents disown their children who convert to Christianity, or threaten to kill themselves, or even kill their children. In God's kingdom, it means eternal separation from those we loved on earth.

Jesus wants His disciples to await His arrival but do so understanding the consequences so that we are faithful with the work He has given us: to spread the gospel (Romans 10:14–15). Every moment Jesus is delayed from returning is a moment someone comes to faith in Him (Luke 13:6–9). God is patient, and we should be, too (2 Peter 3:9).
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Context Summary
Luke 12:49–53 expresses Jesus' frustration that the disciples still miss His point. They need to value and anticipate the kingdom of God, not earthly respect, riches, survival, or honor (Luke 12:1–48). To follow Jesus, they will even need to be willing to sacrifice family relationships. Next, Jesus tells the crowd they should notice that change is coming; they need to repent to each other and to God to be ready (Luke 12:54—13:9). Matthew 10:34–37 records a similar warning.
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Chapter Summary
Jesus teaches the disciples about proper priorities. This includes recognizing that God knows all things, even secrets. Believers should honor God more than they fear death, or than they worry about things like food and clothes. Christians are to remain ready for Christ's return, even as faith separates those who believe from those who do not. These ideas revolve around the central theme of verse 34: that a person's heart reflects what they value most.
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What is the Gospel?
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