Luke 12:53

KJV

The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

KJV (with Strong's)

The father {G3962} shall be divided {G1266} against {G1909} the son {G5207}, and {G2532} the son {G5207} against {G1909} the father {G3962}; the mother {G3384} against {G1909} the daughter {G2364}, and {G2532} the daughter {G2364} against {G1909} the mother {G3384}; the mother in law {G3994} against {G1909} her {G846} daughter in law {G3565}, and {G2532} the daughter in law {G3565} against {G1909} her {G846} mother in law {G3994}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Father will be divided against son
and son against father,
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Berean Standard Bible

They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

American Standard Version

They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 12:53 is a stark and challenging declaration from Jesus, revealing the profound and often disruptive impact His coming and the truth of the Gospel would have, even within the most sacred of human bonds: the family. Far from promising universal harmony, Jesus foretells an unavoidable spiritual and relational cleavage that would compel individuals to choose allegiance, thereby creating division between those who embrace His message and those who reject it, leading to strife between parents and children, and in-laws.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of a larger, sobering discourse by Jesus concerning the radical implications of His mission and the urgency of responding to His call. Immediately preceding [Luke 12:53](/luke/12-53 "Luke 12:53 - Familial Division") are Jesus' declarations in [Luke 12:49-52](/luke/12-49-52 "Luke 12:49-52 - Jesus Brings Fire and Division"), where He states, "I am come to send fire on the earth... Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division." This sets the stage for the specific familial divisions described in verse 53, clarifying that the ensuing conflict is a direct, albeit unintended, consequence of the Gospel's uncompromising demands. The passage underscores that following Christ is not a path of easy comfort but one that requires ultimate loyalty, often challenging existing loyalties and societal norms.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Jewish society, the family unit was the bedrock of social, economic, and religious life. Familial loyalty and unity were paramount, often superseding individual desires. Disruption within the family was considered a profound societal breakdown and a source of shame. Jesus' words directly confront this foundational social structure, indicating that allegiance to Him would transcend even these deeply ingrained and sacred familial bonds. This statement would have been profoundly shocking to His listeners, challenging their most fundamental understanding of social order and obligation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes in Luke's Gospel and broader New Testament theology. Firstly, it highlights the **disruptive nature of truth**, demonstrating that the Gospel, in demanding ultimate allegiance to God, often confronts deeply held beliefs, traditions, and relationships, leading to inevitable division between those who accept and those who reject it. Secondly, it underscores the **cost of discipleship**, emphasizing that following Christ is not always comfortable or convenient, potentially leading to alienation or opposition from family members who do not share the same faith, as further elaborated in passages like [Luke 14:26](/luke/14-26 "Luke 14:26 - The Cost of Discipleship"). Lastly, it points to **prophetic fulfillment**, echoing Old Testament prophecies such as [Micah 7:6](/micah/7-6 "Micah 7:6 - Prophecy of Familial Discord"), which speaks of similar familial discord in the last days, giving Jesus' statement a deeper layer of eschatological significance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **divided (Greek, _diamerízō'_):** From G1266 (diamerízō), meaning "to partition thoroughly" or "to separate." This word implies a complete and distinct separation, not merely a disagreement or minor dispute. It suggests a fundamental schism that cleaves relationships, aligning with Jesus' earlier declaration of bringing a "sword" (Matthew 10:34), a metaphor for the sharp division His teachings would introduce.
* **against (Greek, _epí'_):** From G1909 (epí), a preposition indicating superimposition or direction "towards" or "upon," but in this context, it signifies opposition or antagonism. The repeated use of "against" throughout the verse emphasizes the adversarial nature of the division, highlighting direct conflict and opposition between family members.
* **father (Greek, _patḗr'_):** From G3962 (patḗr), meaning "a father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote). This term, along with "son," "mother," "daughter," "mother-in-law," and "daughter-in-law," represents the core, foundational relationships within the family unit. Their inclusion underscores that the division Jesus speaks of will penetrate to the very heart of familial bonds, affecting all generations and marital ties.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father":** This phrase immediately establishes the reciprocal and comprehensive nature of the division. It is not a one-sided conflict but a mutual opposition, indicating a fundamental disagreement or spiritual misalignment that pits even the closest family members against each other.
* **"the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother":** Extending the principle, this clause highlights that the division will also affect the female lines of the family, demonstrating the pervasive reach of the Gospel's demands across all direct parent-child relationships. The repetition reinforces the idea of reciprocal opposition.
* **"the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law":** This final clause broadens the scope to include relationships formed through marriage, specifically the often sensitive mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamic. By including this, Jesus emphasizes that no familial bond, whether by blood or by marriage, is immune to the divisive impact of choosing allegiance to Him.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 12:53 employs several potent literary devices to underscore the radical nature of Jesus' message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically a form of **chiasmus** or **antimetabole**, seen in the "A against B, and B against A" structure (e.g., "father against son, and son against father"). This repetitive, inverted structure emphasizes the mutual and pervasive nature of the conflict, creating a sense of inescapable opposition. The cumulative effect of listing three distinct familial pairs (father/son, mother/daughter, mother-in-law/daughter-in-law) creates a powerful sense of **comprehensiveness**, suggesting that no family relationship will be untouched by this division. While the statement describes literal potential outcomes, it also functions as **Hyperbole**, using extreme examples to convey the intense and radical demands of discipleship, shocking the audience into understanding that allegiance to Christ must supersede all other loyalties, even those most cherished.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This challenging verse reveals a profound theological paradox: the "Prince of Peace" [Isaiah 9:6](/isaiah/9-6 "Isaiah 9:6 - Prince of Peace") brings not immediate social harmony, but division. This division is not an end in itself, nor is it advocated by Jesus as desirable, but rather an unavoidable consequence of the radical truth of the Gospel encountering a world resistant to God's kingdom. The peace Jesus offers is primarily a spiritual peace with God, which demands absolute allegiance and exposes the true loyalties of the human heart. When the ultimate loyalty to Christ clashes with existing loyalties to family, tradition, or worldly values, division becomes inevitable, forcing individuals to make a definitive choice for or against the Kingdom of God.

* [Matthew 10:34-36](/matthew/10-34-36 "Matthew 10:34-36 - Jesus Brings a Sword")
* [Micah 7:6](/micah/7-6 "Micah 7:6 - Prophecy of Family Division")
* [Luke 14:26](/luke/14-26 "Luke 14:26 - Hating Father and Mother for Christ's Sake")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 12:53 serves as a sobering reminder that the path of discipleship is not always smooth or socially convenient. It challenges believers to examine their ultimate loyalties, making it clear that commitment to Christ must supersede even the strongest familial bonds. While honoring family is a biblical imperative, Jesus demands supreme allegiance, preparing us for the potential reality that our faith may lead to misunderstandings, friction, or even outright opposition from those closest to us who do not share our convictions. This is not a sign of failure on our part, but a fulfillment of Jesus' own prophecy, underscoring the transformative and often disruptive power of the Gospel. It calls us to steadfastness, grace, and an unwavering focus on Christ, even when it creates relational tension, trusting that God's ultimate purpose is reconciliation for those who believe.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I balance my love and loyalty to my family with my ultimate allegiance to Jesus Christ?**
* **What specific areas of my life or relationships might experience tension or division because of my commitment to Christ?**
* **How can I respond with grace and truth when my faith causes friction with family members who do not share my beliefs?**
* **In what ways does this verse challenge my preconceived notions about the "peace" that Jesus brings?**

### FAQ
**Does Jesus actually want families to be divided?**

Answer: No, Jesus does not desire or advocate for family division as an end in itself. He is the "Prince of Peace" [Isaiah 9:6](/isaiah/9-6 "Isaiah 9:6 - Prince of Peace") and consistently teaches love, reconciliation, and unity. However, the division He speaks of in [Luke 12:53](/luke/12-53 "Luke 12:53 - Familial Division") is an unavoidable *consequence* of His radical message and the absolute demands of the Gospel. When individuals choose to follow Christ, they are called to a new allegiance that transcends all earthly ties. This commitment can expose fundamental differences in values, priorities, and spiritual allegiances within families, leading to a spiritual and sometimes relational divide between those who embrace the truth and those who reject it. It's a prophetic statement about the reality of the world's response to divine truth, not a command to break family bonds.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 12:53, though challenging, finds its Christ-centered fulfillment not in advocating for familial strife, but in revealing the profound and exclusive claim of Jesus as the Messiah and the Lord of all. Jesus Himself experienced rejection from His own family and community, demonstrating the very division He prophesied [Mark 3:31-35](/mark/3-31-35 "Mark 3:31-35 - Jesus' True Family"). His coming inaugurated a new spiritual family, where allegiance to Him creates a bond stronger than blood ties. This new family, the Church, is comprised of those who "do the will of God" [Matthew 12:46-50](/matthew/12-46-50 "Matthew 12:46-50 - Jesus' True Family"). Ultimately, Christ's work on the cross, while initially causing division by exposing sin and demanding a choice, also provides the only true means for reconciliation and unity—not based on earthly lineage, but on spiritual adoption into God's family through faith in Him. He is our peace, who "has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility" [Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Ephesians 2:14 - Christ Our Peace"), uniting Jew and Gentile, and ultimately, all who believe, into one new humanity in Him. The division described in Luke 12:53 is therefore a necessary, temporary consequence on the path to the ultimate, Christ-centered unity of His redeemed people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Micah 7:6

For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies [are] the men of his own house.

Matthew 24:10

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Matthew 10:21

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against [their] parents, and cause them to be put to death.

Matthew 10:22

And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Zechariah 13:2

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

Zechariah 13:6

And [one] shall say unto him, What [are] these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, [Those] with which I was wounded [in] the house of my friends.