Knowing The Word in Luke 12:54-59, Interpreting and Settling

Jesus accuses his fellow Jews of concentrating on the superficial and not on the purposes and movement of God. They are missing the significance of Jesus’ presence. He encourages his followers to make peace with God. People get the best settlement they can out of court instead of taking a hopeless case before a judge. This teaching is not about purgatory but about realizing Jesus is your advocate, your pro bono counsel!

54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

Prayer: We beseech thee, Master, to be our helper and protector. Save the afflicted among us; have mercy on the lowly; raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly; restore the wanderers of thy people; feed the hungry; ransom our prisoners; raise up the sick; comfort the faint-hearted.

Clement of Rome, 1st century