- Jul 29, 2013
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Hey family...
Matthew 10:34 is one of those interesting verses that is often pulled out of context, so before discussing it, let's look at the surrounding Scripture:
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
So, onto the scripure in question:
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
I have seen both Atheists and Christian fundamenalists alike interpret this scripture to mean that Christians are "bringing a sword" to the world, presumably to destroy that which the Bible teaches against. The infamous Fred Phelps has used this line many times as a justification for his actions.
Personally, I think both of those camps missed the point.
The way I interpret this scripture is that Jesus is, indeed, bringing a sword -- not as a weapon of war -- but as a means of severing us from secular ties so that we may bond with Christ and His word.
In Matthew 10:35-37, Christ seems to be saying that there is no tie, not even family, that comes before His word. I see this as a exhortation to fully embrace Christ and put Him above all other obligations and beliefs that we may have.
What's your take on this scripture?
Matthew 10:34 is one of those interesting verses that is often pulled out of context, so before discussing it, let's look at the surrounding Scripture:
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
So, onto the scripure in question:
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
I have seen both Atheists and Christian fundamenalists alike interpret this scripture to mean that Christians are "bringing a sword" to the world, presumably to destroy that which the Bible teaches against. The infamous Fred Phelps has used this line many times as a justification for his actions.
Personally, I think both of those camps missed the point.
The way I interpret this scripture is that Jesus is, indeed, bringing a sword -- not as a weapon of war -- but as a means of severing us from secular ties so that we may bond with Christ and His word.
In Matthew 10:35-37, Christ seems to be saying that there is no tie, not even family, that comes before His word. I see this as a exhortation to fully embrace Christ and put Him above all other obligations and beliefs that we may have.
What's your take on this scripture?