Luke 12:49 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I am come to send fire, &c.— Jesus concluded the charge with foretelling the divisions which should be occasioned by his gospel: I am come to send fire on the earth, (see on Matthew 10:34.) and what will I, if it be already kindled?— τι θελω,— what wish I. "Do I wish to escape that fire myself, if it be already kindled?" The fire that our Lord here speaks of, as the effect of his coming, being the fire of divisionandpersecution, it was already kindled, and about to seize himself: but by this question, and whathe immediately subjoins, he declared he was willing to be the first victim who should be consumed in that fire, as it would tend so abundantly to the spiritual welfare of mankind. Our blessed Lord seems to have glowed with the most ardent zeal for the good of the human race, when he breathed out this generous wish. Some render it, and how do I wish, or how desirous am I, that it were already kindled?