Luke 12:54-59 Be on the alert to settle out of court

Luke 12:54-59 Jesus talks about discerning the times, and warns of the consequences of failing to seek reconciliation with God. Verses 54-56 parallel Matt 16:2-3 in the sense that Jesus used the normal process of looking at specific aspects of the weather to make a forecast as a metaphor for a spiritual truth. In both cases, He was simply saying that if you can do the one, you should be able to also look at spiritual signs and discern the times. This continues the theme of this passage that we need to be on the alert and look for His kingdom coming.

        

Luke 12:57-59 parallels Matt 5:25-26. In the natural world, we look at the concept of a plea bargain (for criminal cases) or an out-of-court settlement (for civil cases) as an option to avoid putting our case before an impartial judge. In legal matters, this is a means by which to avoid the risk of a third party's opinion because, when we negotiate directly with the adversary, we have some measure of control. In this context, it seems that Jesus is recommending that we come directly to God to work out our salvation - the terms of which of course are very favorable - and become part of His kingdom while we have the opportunity, rather than waiting until the final judgment, when the consequences of our actions will be administered with perfect justice. We don't want justice, we need mercy and grace! Wake up and smell the coffee! Now is the day of grace, not the final judgment. At that point it will be too late, and we know from other passages what the outcome will be if we do not receive His grace. (Rev 20:12-15)

         There is another sense in which we need to be on the alert, and that is to watch for the signs of His kingdom in our life and in the world around us. This is a sense that can be learned through training, or so the saints and witnesses through the ages tell us. We are oft oblivious to the wonderful things that God does in our lives; He does them because He loves and cares for us; we are oblivious because we are worldly-minded and pre-occupied with the affairs of this life. At any given instant during the day, if we pause to consider what in that circumstance might be from God, we would be amazed at how pervasive and persistent His presence is. In the person who is polite in traffic and lets us merge in; in the co-worker who helps us  or unknowingly gives us encouragement in some challenge on the job; in the disaster that could have happened but didn't. The possibilities are multitude - we need to train ourselves to stop and recognize them. This is part of what Jesus is telling His followers.