Rev Dr Cecil Wayne Thorn, ThD
Introduction to “Not Peace, but a Sword” (Matthew 10: 34-39 (ESV)):
The message of Jesus Christ is often associated with peace, love, and reconciliation. However, in Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV), Jesus delivers a surprising and provocative statement that challenges this common perception. He declares that He did not come to bring peace to the earth, but a sword, signifying division and conflict even among the closest of relationships.
This passage, sometimes unsettling in its starkness, reveals a deeper truth about the nature of following Christ. The “sword” represents the inevitable divisions that arise when individuals commit their lives to Jesus, often leading to opposition, even within one’s own household. Jesus emphasizes the cost of discipleship, where loyalty to Him must surpass all other allegiances, including those to family and self.
In exploring these verses, we are confronted with the reality that following Christ is not merely about comfort and harmony, but about making difficult choices and enduring potential hardship. This introduction sets the stage for a deeper examination of what it means to truly follow Jesus, understanding the profound implications of His call to put Him above all else.
Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV):
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew Henry’s Commentary:
Verses 34-36:
Christ’s coming was not to send peace, but a sword. Though the design of the gospel was to bring men together in love, its effect would be, through the corruption of man’s hearts, to occasion division. The sword signifies strife and opposition. The worst enemies to a man may be those of his own family. The preaching of the gospel has generally occasioned more contention and persecution than anything else. As Christ’s people are one, so are the enemies of Christ, and they are often nearest to us. This division comes not from the gospel itself, which is a gospel of peace, but from the corruption of men’s hearts.
Verses 37-39:
Christ must be loved above all. The love we owe our relations, friends, and ourselves, must be compared with the love we owe Christ, and must be hatred (Luke 14:26 (ESV)). Not that we must divest ourselves of natural affection; but we must not permit ourselves to be hindered by the strongest affection. Christ must be followed, though we are likely to suffer by it. Though we lose friends, estates, and liberties, for His sake, yet we must bear the cross. Those who will not bear the cross shall be forever cast off; those who take up the cross and follow Christ will find that the burden they have to bear for Him is far less than the burden of sin.
This passage emphasizes the total commitment required to follow Christ. Love for Him must be greater than any earthly attachment, even to close family members. The call to take up one’s cross signifies a willingness to endure suffering and loss for Christ’s sake, but the promise is that such sacrifice will ultimately lead to eternal life.
My Thoughts
Conclusion on Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV):
In Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV), Jesus presents a stark and challenging message about the nature of discipleship. Contrary to expectations of earthly peace, Jesus acknowledges that His coming will bring division, even among the closest relationships. The “sword” He speaks of symbolizes the inevitable conflicts that arise when one chooses to follow Him wholeheartedly, often putting them at odds with family and friends who do not share the same commitment.
The passage underscores the radical demands of discipleship, where allegiance to Christ must take precedence over all other relationships, even those most cherished. Jesus calls for a love and loyalty to Him that surpasses even the natural bonds of family. This does not mean neglecting or abandoning family, but rather prioritizing one’s commitment to Christ above all else.
The call to “take up one’s cross” signifies a willingness to endure hardship, suffering, and even death for the sake of following Jesus. It is a reminder that true life is found not in clinging to worldly comforts or relationships, but in surrendering one’s life to Christ. Paradoxically, it is in losing our life for His sake that we find true and eternal life.
This passage challenges believers to evaluate their priorities and to embrace the cost of discipleship with the assurance that the rewards of following Christ far outweigh the sacrifices.
