I have not come to bring peace, but a sword...

 

What did Jesus mean when he said, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” ~ Matthew 10:34.

Matthew 10: 34-39 ~ “Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Luke 12:51
Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.

Does that mean we should be at war with people around us, whether in our own household, community or even nation?  We will have to choose Jesus over family. Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me…

No, we are not at war with our community or nation in the way the world sees ‘war’. We do not wage war as the world does… the Word of God is a two-edged sword and that is enough to bring division.

So yes, there will be division among us. What about loving your enemies? Division does not mean you don’t love the way Jesus instructed us to love… having mercy and compassion -Good Samaritan.

Everyone has the choice to make Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior… to pick up their ‘cross’ and follow Him. That means to give your life for Him, for His truth not the world’s. You see, folks the gate is narrow… Matthew 7:14.

Hebrews 4:11- 13 ~ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that ‘gate’ which is a place of rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. That ‘rest’ is His peace within us… to be at peace with being reconciled to Him… and not to the world.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.…

Hebrews 10:30-31 ~ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

Philippians 1:30
since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

2 Corinthians 5:11
Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.

Hebrews 3:12
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.

Hebrews 12:29
"For our God is a consuming fire."