Luke 12:54-59
54 And He was also saying to the crowds, “Whenever you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out.
55 And whenever you feel 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 how is it that you do not know how to analyze this present time?
57 “And why do you not even judge by yourselves what is right?
58 For when you are going with your accuser to appear before the magistrate, on the way, make an effort to settle with him, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
59 I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid up the very last lepton.”
Discerning the Time
The power to predict the weather
In this passage, Jesus is speaking to the crowd – especially to the Pharisees and experts in the Law. Jesus calls them “hypocrites” (v 56). The word “hypocrite” comes from Greek classical drama and originally referred to an actor who wore a mask. Over time, it came to refer to someone whose outward appearance does not match their inner reality. Their characteristic was that they were sensitive to external matters but dull to spiritual things. For example, they were skilled at predicting the weather. When they saw clouds forming in the direction of the Mediterranean (the west), it was a sign that a sudden shower would come. When the wind blew from the direction of the desert (the south), it was a sign that the temperature would rise. However, though they could read the changes in the sky, they could not discern the changes that had taken place in the kingdom of heaven. Though they could detect the movement of the wind, they could not understand the movement of the Holy Spirit. The word translated as “present time” is the Greek word “kairos,” which refers to “God’s appointed time.” The hypocrites were people who could not read the times from God’s perspective.
The power to discern the time
The “present time” that Jesus spoke of refers to the “appointed time of God” and the “time of grace” that had arrived through Jesus. Hebrews 1:1-2 says: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son…” And 2 Corinthians 6:2 says: “Behold, now is ‘a favorable time,’ behold, now is ‘a day of salvation.’” How are you discerning the present time? (1) Above all, now is the time of grace – the day of salvation. (2) Now is a time when the return of Jesus is closer than ever before. (3) Now is a time when there is an urgent need to be reconciled with God through the cross of Jesus. As you hold this understanding of the times, let’s take the time to reflect what in your way of life needs to change, and how should it change?
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, many people try to predict the future and prepare for coming changes. But not many seek to read the times from Your perspective. Please give me spiritual eyes to discern “this present time.” In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.