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

 

 "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.  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, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

 

- Matthew 10:34-42 

 

We have been reading through Christ's appointment of the twelve disciples to become the twelve apostles, and His instructions to them preparing them for their first apostolic mission (see readings from Monday and Tuesday).  In yesterday's reading, Jesus continued:  "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 most violent death on the Cross, He promised peace to His disciples.  But 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).  Therefore, it's essential that Christ wage war against the leader of vice with weapons of virtue (Ephesians 6:11-18).  Moreover, peace, as we commonly think of it, may be simply a false peace which ignores issues of truth.  Genuine peace, according to my study Bible, is reconciliation ot God through faith in Christ and surrender to truth.  This genuine peace has division as a byproduct because not everyone wants truth.  In the fallen world, it says, divisions are necessary for truth to be manifest (see 1 Corinthians 11:18-19).

 

 "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.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."  In Christ's mission is a fulfillment of the prophesy of Micah 7:6.  In addition to the literal meaning, which has been experienced in the Church since Christ's time, the older generation divided from the younger is symbolic of the rejection of the new covenant by followers of the old, and also of the spiritual struggle between our old, sinful state and our renewal in Christ (see Ephesians 4:20-24).  To carry his cross, my study Bible explains, a true disciple must be ready, if necessary, to sacrifice even family relationships.  

 

 "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, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."  My study Bible notes here that apostles are ambassadors who represent the Lord.  So, therefore, all who extend help to them are showing mercy directly to Christ and will receive God's reward (see Matthew 25:40).  

 

 Once again, in today's reading, Christ's words convey the meaning and effect of His power.  That is the power with which He is sending out His apostles into the world to heal and to preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.   Here He first speaks of that power as a sword:   "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.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."  St. Paul also speaks of the word of God as a sword:  "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).  Here in Jesus' words, that sword pierces even families, for the love of Christ -- even as He says so Himself -- is the ultimate arbiter and discerner of reality, even beyond the things and people we love most in this world.  This also includes taking up our own crosses to follow Him; for our very lives are truly in His hands.  These words might seem harsh and extreme, but we need to consider that it is the author of our very lives who is speaking, the Creator of all reality that we know.  And at the same time that He's teaching us about sacrifices that may have to be made as we follow Him in carrying our own crosses, Jesus adds to another dimension of His power, that it is a blessing to all who honor it and those who receive another who carries this gospel and this kingdom within themselves into the world in His name:  "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, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."  The blessings of the Kingdom extend to all who may welcome it, or even show hospitality to one who does.  When that goodness is recognized and honored in another -- as a prophet, as a righteous man, even as one of the little ones in the name of a disciple -- this is honored by God.  Let us consider the graciousness of God, God's awesome power and the truly magnificent working of God's grace.   For His truth, His word is a two-edged sword that cuts both ways, depending upon the side of it on which we fall.  For this mysterious power works as Christ has indicated, in the myriad ways that pervade all that we know and do, and connect between people.  Let us seek His grace always and honor it.