A.T. Robertson Commentary Luke 12:54

"And he said to the multitudes also, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it cometh to pass." — Luke 12:54 (ASV)

To the multitudes also (κα τοις οχλοις). After the strong and stirring words just before with flash and force Jesus turns finally in this series of discourses to the multitudes again as in verse 15. There are similar sayings to these verses 54-59 in Mt 16:1f; 5:25f. There is a good deal of difference in phraseology whether that is due to difference of source or different use of the same source (Q or Logia) we do not know. Not all the old MSS. give Mt 16:2,3. In Matthew the Pharisees and Sadducees were asking for a sign from heaven as they often did. These signs of the weather, "a shower" (ομβρος, Luke 12:54) due to clouds in the west, "a hot wave" (καυσων, verse 55) due to a south wind (νοτον) blowing, "fair weather" (ευδια, Matthew 16:2) when the sky is red, are appealed to today. They have a more or less general application due to atmospheric and climatic conditions.