Luke 12:55 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.

NIV: And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is.

NASB: And whenever you feel a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way.

CSB: And when the south wind is blowing, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is.

NLT: When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is.

KJV: And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

NKJV: And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is.

Jesus continues His point that the people can predict the weather, but they seem incapable of recognizing the spiritual truths around them. First, He mentions the cloud over the Mediterranean Sea that promises rain (Luke 12:54). Now, He points out that a wind from the deserts in the south are a sure sign of a hot day. If the crowd (Luke 12:1) can predict the weather—without thermometers, barometers, or satellite images—why can't they see what is happening right in front of their faces? Often because they're so focused on their lives on earth (Luke 12:13–21).

Globally, God will delay His judgment (Luke 13:6–9). He wants to give people the opportunity to come to faith in Christ (2 Peter 3:9). That doesn't mean the people in the crowd have long. At a moment's notice, the Romans could execute them or a tower could crush them (Luke 13:1–5). They need to make peace—both with God and each other (Luke 12:57–59). They need to repent of their sins and be reconciled to God (Luke 13:6–9).

The Jews have seen far more signs than a cloud or a southerly wind. They are stewards of the Word of God and should recognize how Jesus fulfills the warnings of the prophets. If Jesus had performed the signs Jews have seen in pagan Gentile cities, those Gentiles "would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes" (Luke 10:13). Because the Jews refuse to see, they will be punished more harshly than Sodom, and Nineveh will have cause to declare them unrighteous (Luke 10:12; 11:32).

Luke 12:54–56 follows along as Jesus turns His attention back to the crowd. Previously, He warned them that seeking riches can take their attention away from building a reconciled relationship with God (Luke 12:13–21). Here, Jesus chastises the crowd for their refusal to see the signs that the kingdom of God has arrived. Their response should be to repent and reconcile with other people (Luke 12:57–59) and with God (Luke 13:1–9). Their time on earth is limited; if they don't act quickly, they'll face hardships on earth and eternal separation from God. Matthew 16:2–3 includes this warning, as well.

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.

Luke 12:1—13:9 compares the world with the kingdom of God. Jesus has condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Luke 11:14–54). He now instructs His disciples to reject the fame and security that Pharisees crave, and hold lightly to their lives, wealth, security, and even family. He then warns the crowd to be wise about their relationships with other people and with God. The next two units each include a miracle and teaching on God's kingdom and salvation (Luke 13:10—15:32). Then the final section in the "travelogue" repeats that three-unit pattern (Luke 16:1—19:27) before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.