Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword

Christ with sword, fresco, 14th cent., Sacred Monastery of the Ascension of Christ (Visoki Dečani) church, Kosovo

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who dos not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward.  And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

- Matthew 10:34-42

In chapter 10 we've been reading about Jesus preparing the Twelve to be sent out on their first apostolic mission.  In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught:  "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.  If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!  Therefore do not fear them.  For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.  Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.  I did not come to bring peace but a sword."  My study bible comments that just before Christ's extremely violent death on the Cross, He promised peace to His disciples (see John 14:27).  But, my study bible says, the existence of evil necessitates spiritual warfare.  The earth to which Christ came was under the authority of Satan (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4).  In this kind of warfare, my study bible adds, it is essential for Christ to do battle against the leader of vice with weapons of virtue (Ephesians 6:11-18).  Jesus speaks of peace and division, even of the sword, on spiritual terms.  His peace is an internal rest in Him; His sword is His word of truth (see Hebrews 4:12).

"For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who dos not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."  Jesus speaks to the fulfillment of the prophesy of Micah 7:6.  My study bible says that in addition to the literal meaning here, which has been experienced in the Church since the time of Christ, the older generation being divided from the younger also symbolizes the change to the new covenant and its rejection by followers of the old, as well as the internal spiritual struggle between our old state and the work of the Holy Spirit -- ongoing conversion and repentance (in Greek, literally, "change of mind") and our renewal in Christ (see Ephesians 4:20-24).  In addition, to carry his cross, means a depth of commitment that we can't estimate.   This spiritual sword of Christ's word and truth, the impact of His peace that we must accept, may be so deep as to necessitate even the sacrifice of family relationships.  Christ assures us that this is where our true treasure is, what is worthy.

"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward.  And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."  My study bible notes that apostles are ambassadors, who represent the Lord.  Therefore, by extension, all who offer help to them are showing mercy directly to Christ, and will receive God's reward (see 25:40).

Jesus emphasizes, in varied ways, the spiritual nature of the project upon which the apostles are about to embark.  That is, He emphasizes that what they are doing isn't merely a worldly mission, but that it is also -- at the same time -- a spiritual mission.  They carry with them the Kingdom; they have been instructed to each as they go, saying "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."   Some people might mistake the military images, here in the Gospel and also in the Epistles, for allusions to physical combat or war, but they would be entirely mistaken, and lacking in understanding of Scripture.  When Jesus says He did not come to bring peace but a sword, Jesus is speaking of a spiritual battle in the world.  The sword is the word of truth that He brings.  The peace of which Jesus speaks is also not a worldly peace.  His peace, my study bible says, is not the false peace of a kind of shallow harmony which is the result of ignoring issues of truth.  Genuine peace has spiritual fullness, and includes a reconciliation to God, a surrender to spiritual truth in faith.  This peace is the peace which Jesus gives us, an internal peace which "surpasses all understanding," as it is not dependent upon external factors.  We find it when we rest in trust and abiding in God in faith, finding a way to supersede worldly circumstances.  It is like taking a moment to rest in prayer, and seeking out solitude to do so, even when there are squabbles around oneself.  Can this peace translate itself into circumstances around us?  Of course it can, as we seek to live it and share it.  But, my study bible says, this true peace of spiritual nature also has division as a byproduct, because not everyone wants that truth.  In fact, in this fallen world, it says, divisions are necessary for truth to be manifest (see 1 Corinthians 11:18-19).  Jesus further emphasizes the spiritual nature of preaching the Gospel when He teaches that "he who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me."  He speaks of a connection between those who bear the Kingdom and those who will receive what they bring.  If whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and those who receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward, then whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."   What we are to understand is that although we see only the worldly dimensions of life, there is a spiritual reality that is at work through faith, which the apostles carry with them.  And by extension, true faith will carry with us when we choose to live as His disciples, to do His word, to live His truth in the world.  This is not simple to understand, it doesn't not necessarily manifest instantaneously, in real time -- for even Christ, we see in the Gospels, refuses to issues proofs on demand.  Therefore it is highly unlikely that without faith, we will never understand it.  But it is a promise, and it is, nevertheless, a reality experienced by countless faithful over twenty centuries of faith in Christ, and through the work of the Spirit which is everywhere present and fills all things.  Surely we must know how much we need this peace, even when all others relinquish their place in it.  Let us dwell within His faith and truth, and sustain ourselves in His peace with our prayers for ourselves and for one another -- even for all the faithful, both seen and unseen.