Smoodock's Blog

This passage (Matthew 10:34-39; esp. verse 34) is taken as controversial among many scholars. The sword is very political and points toward ‘war’ among the nations. However, this couldn’t be the intent Jesus had in mind. Obviously, in his explanation, he points to family and friends, not to national relationships. After all, the prophecy is that swords would be pounded into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, and one nation won’t rise up against another (Isaiah 2:4). How, then, could Jesus’ words have a political meaning. Even Pilate didn’t consider Jesus a treat to Caesar, when Jesus told him that his Kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).

Until the coming of Christ, any nation, wishing to spread its agenda to another nation, had to make war with that nation. Not so for the Gospel! The Gospel is spread by preaching, and by dialogue. Its warfare isn’t after the flesh; its weapons aren’t carnal, and the strongholds it pulls down are those of the mind (2Corinthians 10:3-5). Christ’s implements of warfare are seeds (words), not swords!

Therefore, as though to answer the question of persecution due to the spreading of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus said, he had not come to spread peace on the land, vis-à-vis of the Jews, but the gentile experience is similar, but perhaps not as severe (Matthew 10:34). Rather, he had come bearing a sword (of division; cp. Micah 7:1-6). On the other hand, for those who receive Jesus as their Messiah, he is their Peace, because he has broken down the middle wall of partition, which technically refers to the wall separating Jews from gentiles, but in reality, in Christ, both are one and he makes peace between them and God (Ephesians 2:14-18), vis-à-vis bringing all of us back to God from our original rebellion in Adam (Genesis 3:1-6, 22-24).

Worldviews are not changed peacefully. Those who are closest to the one who receives Christ as Savior, vis-à-vis receiving Christ changes one’s worldview, will protest the strongest, and because emotions are strong, the response will be strong, usually without thinking how their opposition will affect us. In other words, our enemies will be of our very household: fathers against sons, mothers against daughters, including marital relationships, and vice versa (Matthew 10:35-36).

The point developed in the coming of Christ and our receiving of him is that our relationship, our trust in him etc., must be stronger than all other relationships, and this is where the sword (verse-34) comes in view. Those who were closest to Jesus’ disciples held strongly to the stronghold, the worldview created by the Jewish authorities at that time. Namely, that the Messiah cannot die and will live forever (John 12:34; cp. Matthew 16:21-22), and that he comes to deliver the Jews out of the oppressive hand of the gentile kingdoms. Yet, Jesus commanded his disciples to love their enemies (Matthew 5:44), don’t resist evil done to you (Matthew 5:39) and if your oppressor compels you to carry his burden, do more than he asks (Matthew 5:41). This wasn’t the Messiah Jews were expecting, and confronting that worldview would be costly in terms of close relationships. Jesus said a man’s foes would be those of his own household, father, mother, brethren, sons and daughters (Matthew 10:35-36). So, if these close, personal relationships are enough to sever one’s relationship with Jesus, then that man isn’t worthy to call himself a disciple of Christ (Matthew 10:37). For, he who isn’t willing to “take up his cross” vis-à-vis pull up stakes and move on, or sever ties with one’s opposing family, isn’t worthy of what Christ can do for that person.

To conclude, those, whose stakes in this life are too strong to change for the sake of Christ, are destined to lose their lives. In other words, the phrase “you can’t take it with you” in terms of the afterlife, comes to mind. Everything one does in this life that is opposed to Christ, will be for naught. Empires are built and great names and awards are given to folks who put forth the effort, but, if this is their life, it will all be lost to them, when they finally meet the Lord on his terms in the afterlife. What they’ve given their lives to in this world is nothing but the wood, hay and stubble that the fire shall burn away. They’ll be saved, but nothing of this life will go with them (1Corinthians 3:11-15). It is rather for them that lose their lives in this world for the sake of Christ who gain life here that is rewarded there (Matthew 10:39).