What does Jesus' response in Luke 12:14 reveal about His mission on earth? Setting the Scene • A man in the crowd asks Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute (Luke 12:13). • Jesus responds, “Man, who appointed Me judge or arbiter between you?” (Luke 12:14). • Immediately after, He warns against greed and tells the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:15-21). A Deliberate Refusal • Jesus deliberately declines the role of civil judge over a family quarrel. • He redirects the conversation from earthly possessions to eternal priorities. • His refusal is not indifference; it is a purposeful clarification of why He came. What This Tells Us About Jesus’ Mission • Centered on Salvation, Not Civil Litigation – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). – “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:17). • Focused on the Heart, Not on Property – He immediately addresses covetousness (Luke 12:15). – His mission is to transform hearts, not redistribute wealth. • Proclaiming the Kingdom, Not Administering Earthly Courts – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me… to proclaim good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18-19). – “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). • Serving and Sacrificing, Not Arbitrating – “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Contrast with His Future Role • Present Ministry: Savior and Teacher – He came “once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). • Future Ministry: Righteous Judge – “He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed” (Acts 17:31). – “The Father has entrusted all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). • The refusal in Luke 12:14 highlights the distinction between His first advent (grace, salvation) and His second advent (judgment). Takeaways for Us Today • Guard against making earthly concerns the measure of Jesus’ work in our lives. • Recognize that His primary mission was—and is—our redemption and spiritual renewal. • Trust that while He did not come to settle every temporal dispute, He will ultimately judge with perfect righteousness. |
    |