matthew 10:34- do not suppose that i have come to bring peace to earth. i did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
i am sure there are a few different interpretations among you.
last question, ive reached my quota. thanks for all the well thought out answers.
2006-09-16 03:14:06 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
dont get upset that i dont capitalize "bible" and "jesus", as a non-christian i am not required to do so, just as non-muslims are allowed to draw cartoons of mohammed.
2006-09-16 03:35:31 · update #1
some of you think it is matthew speaking in the verse. i shouldve clarified, it is jesus speaking.
2006-09-16 03:41:03 · update #2
The interpretation of ANY bible verse is IRRELEVANT since ALL of it is FAKE like ALL other religious books.
2006-09-16 03:16:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
When the angels proclaimed "peace on earth, goodwill toward men," they spoke of peace between men and God, made possible by the arrival of the Savior. God sending His Son shows His goodwill toward us.
That being the case, I don't see Matthew 10:34 as a contradiction. As another respondent answered, in the next verse Jesus speaks of households that would be torn apart as the result of belief in Him. The first believers were Jews. Following Jesus would mean being cut off from those in their own families who were still under the influence of the Scribes and Pharisees and saw Jesus as a heretic instead of the Messiah.
There is also a sense in which it points to the inability for light and darkness to peacefully exist. They are at war. We experience even within ourselves the effects of that war. Why should we expect that it wouldn't spill out into relationships around us?
Of course, the closer we emulate Christ in our lives, the less inner war we experience and the less we visit the conflicts born of our own sins and insecurities onto those around us.
As Paul says, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. " Romans 12:18 It isn't always possible to have peace, but we should strive to be peaceable to the best of our abilities.
2006-09-16 10:50:02 · answer #2 · answered by Contemplative Chanteuse IDK TIRH 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my perspective, I think it means that Jesus didn't come to the earth to bring just happiness and peace. He came with a sword means that He cmae for a war. In this world, it's basically a war between Christians and NonChristians. It also meanas that anyone who follows the Lord must know it's not an easy task, so you better be preared for whatever comes your way.
2006-09-16 13:00:33 · answer #3 · answered by Sofa P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I am not sure that this is quoted from the "bible", but well...
Quote:
matthew 10:34- do not suppose that i have come to bring peace to earth. i did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
My explanation: someone who is/was named Matthew tells others that he (matthew) hadn't come to bring peace to Earth-planet, but a sword.
I think that that matthew is/was a bit megalomaniac. Anyway, he tells people that he doesn't come for peace but for fight.
I suppose then that the people listening to this were getting themselves ready for a fight with that matthew.
Who did win?
I don't see how else I could explain your quote.
Oh by the way: matthew said that at 10:34 a.m. local time.
2006-09-16 10:23:25 · answer #4 · answered by Axel ∇ 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Do not suppose?, I will say don't even assumed!!!!, that I have come to bring peace to earth!!, in my mind I will repeat this once more,and as it shows, Matthew did this Him self, apparently more than once, Plus if I stay with this writing, I am, and I will continue, pondering, in what he which, for us all to get, and understand!!!, do not, not yet, Don't even think, such thing, instead I have bring a Sword. my question is for whom??, has he?, broad a sword?, is he?, I believed, he was, has been and he is, for the grace of God!!!!, and because he broad not Only a Sword, he broad and left for all of us, something more important, THE WORD, God Word, that we should believed in, and trust, because there is no way everything will get better, before it get Worst. <
2006-09-16 10:32:29 · answer #5 · answered by paradiseemperatorbluepinguin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus came to bring peace in a persons heart, not to the world, as if the world will be at peace, But peace within a persons heart. He came to bring forth a sword, The Sword is the word of God, It cuts inward & outward, & is a discerner of thoughts, cutting both ways
2006-09-16 10:23:52 · answer #6 · answered by birdsflies 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. When I read the entire section in question in context, Jesus is speaking about conflict among families brought about by one person in the family believing in Him and the others not. It is a figurative "sword" that he is talking about, not a real one. The family is being "divided" by one family member being a Christian and the others are not. The best interpretation is always the literal one!
2006-09-16 15:02:21 · answer #7 · answered by kimba 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is the beginning of the harvesting work--selecting those who will be chosen to survive when those who do not know God and those who refuse to obey him are destroyed again as they were in Noah's day. The very nature of teaching right hearted people the truth divides them from the rest of the world--this, then, is the sword.
2006-09-16 13:13:15 · answer #8 · answered by Sparkle1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus’ ministry brought divisions, even within families
(LUKE 12:51-53), but it was because of his adherence to, and proclamation of, God’s righteous standards and truth.
Division resulted because many individuals hardened their hearts against these truths while others accepted them.
(JOHN 8:40, 44-47; 15:22-25; 17:14)
This was unavoidable if the divine principles were to be upheld; but the blame lay with the rejecters of what was right.
Any other questions? - email me
2006-09-16 12:47:09 · answer #9 · answered by **Bonita Belle** 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that there will be division in families and people groups of believers and non believers. People who will follow Christ willl be accepted into the kingdom of God and those who don't won't. It is a hard thing to live with when someone you love so much does not believe in Jesus and they don't want to follow Him. But when you know that you know that Jesus is real you leave everything and everyone behind to follow Him. It doesn't mean we quit loving the non believer or being with them you just don't believe the same thing.
2006-09-16 10:21:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "sword" is another term for the Bible... the Sword of the Lord is the Bible... He is talking here about spiritual peace not peace as it relates to war... people think they have spiritual peace when they really don't... their "spiritual peace" is disrupted by the truth of the Word (i.e., the Sword)
2006-09-16 10:22:16 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋