The Hard Saying About Peace
By Pastor David Kuntz

 This time of the year is filled with all kinds of statements about peace.  Here is a statement about peace that hardly gets any attention during this time of the year.  In Matthew 10:34  Jesus said unto his disciples, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”  This is a hard saying because it seems to contradict the angel’s message on the night of Jesus’ birth.  The angels said, Jesus came to bring “peace on earth” but Jesus said, “He came not to bring peace but the sword.”  Why would Jesus make a statement like this?  The implication is that His disciples thought His coming would bring world peace.  Jesus already made it very clear that would not be the case.  He warned His disciples of persecution and conflict with other believers.  When Jesus said that He came not to bring peace but the sword, He meant this would be the effect of His coming, not the purpose of His coming.  Jesus said His coming would bring war and division.  Who and what was Jesus waging war against?  He came to wage a spiritual war against sin, the devil and the sinner’s heart!  Jesus was not telling his disciples to fight.  As far as conflict is concerned, He told his disciple to turn the other cheek. 

The immediate result of the Gospel message is conflict and division.  What kind of division was Jesus talking about?  Jesus was preparing His disciples for battle and war among their own families.  This interpretation comes right from the context in Matthew 10:35-37.  The decision to follow Jesus Christ may mean you’ll experience strained family relationships.  Jesus was warning his followers that their allegiance to Him might cause conflict in the home and even expulsion from the family.  Jesus spoke about this division from personal experience.  His very own family was divided over His coming.  In Mark 3:21 “His own family said he is out of His mind.”  In Mark 6:3 “His brothers and sisters were offended at Him.” And in John 7:5 “Even his brothers did not believe on Him.”  The pathway to ultimate peace is not an easy road to follow.  It means persecution, hardship, and even family division.  Are you ready to take the challenge of division for the New Year?  Will you stand up for Christ despite the opposition?