Christians what does this mean ?

Question

"34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—“ KJV-Matthew10

Answer 1

Just look at all the q & a on yahoo. There is so much controversy over Jesus that even professed Christians can't agree.

Answer 2

When someone comes to faith in Christ, they are often marginalized and criticized by their own families. If a child, they get grounded or some other punishment, in an attempt to stop them from engaging in "religion."

I have seen divorces happen because an unbelieving spouse refuses to stay married to a believer. Or, the unbeliever makes life incredibly difficult, mocking them at every turn.

In Islamic nations, it is the responsibility of the family to kill the apostate who converts to Christianity. So, these are examples of Christ's words being lived out in actuality.

Answer 3

In many cases families can and have had problems when one or more chose to follow Christ. This is as true now as it was then.

The Douay Rheims version:
Matthew 10:35
"I came to set a man at variance"... Not that this was the end or design of the coming of our Saviour; but that his coming and his doctrine would have this effect, by reason of the obstinate resistance that many would make, and of their persecuting all such as should adhere to him.

Answer 4

Matthew 10:34

Think not ye that I am come to send peace on earth…
The Jews had a notion of great outward peace and prosperity in the days of the Messiah; which was grounded on several prophecies of the Old Testament, not rightly understood by them; and the disciples of Christ had imbibed the same notion: wherefore our Lord thought fit to let them know the contrary; and that they must not expect outward ease and quiet, and worldly tranquillity would attend their ministry; for though he came to be a peace maker between God and sinners, by the blood of his cross; and was both the author and donor of spiritual peace to his people; and the Gospel he brought with him, and sent them to preach, was the Gospel of peace; which, accompanied with his power, would produce peace in the consciences of men, and be the means of cultivating and maintaining peace among the saints; yet "peace on earth" in a temporal sense, whether in the world in general, or in Judea in particular, must not be expected as the consequence of his coming; so far from it, that he subjoins,

I came, not to send peace, but a sword.
By the "sword" may be meant the Gospel, which is the means of dividing and separating the people of Christ from the men of the world, and from their principles and practices, and one relation from another; as also of divisions, discords, and persecutions arising from it: not that it was the intention and design of Christ, in coming into the world, to foment and encourage such things; but this, through the malice and wickedness of men, was eventually the effect and consequence of his coming; see (Luke 12:51) where, instead of a "sword", it is "division"; because the sword divides asunder, as does the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.
Matthew 10:35

For I am come to set a man at variance against…
Or "to divide a man from his father". Here our Lord opens and explains what he means by the sword, intestine divisions, domestic broils, family differences, as well as such as appear in towns, cities, and kingdoms, which are exemplified by other instances following;

and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against
her mother-in-law:
the case is this, a father believing in Christ, embracing his Gospel, and submitting to his institutions, is contradicted, opposed, and persecuted by his own son, and a mother by her own daughter; in both which relations, natural affection knit them together; and the mother-in-law by her daughter-in-law, who before lived together in the most peaceable, kind, and tender manner: which must be imputed, not to Christ, and the doctrines of Christ, and the natural tendency of them, embraced by the father, the mother, and mother-in-law; but to the natural enmity of the son, the daughter, and the daughter-in-law, to everything divine, spiritual, and evangelical, or "vice versa".

Answer 5

Does it really matter?
A book on which a religion is founded has hardly anything to do with what the followers are doing. People will interpret any holy book as they want to and then they will follow their best interpretations. It's the people, not their books.

Answer 6

Jesus came and did shake up the religious status Quo. calling many liars, thief's and frauds. His sword was his tongue and families came apart as some believed and followed and others did not. In fact that holds true to today.

Answer 7

I know that in our society the words of Jesus seem rather tame, but the things He said back then were extremely inflammatory. He dared to say that nothing was unclean, He dared to say that it was okay to work on the Sabbath, He literally shook things up.

This was the reason the Jews despised Him, hence the verses you quoted.

Answer 8

It means "Exactly" what happens when a follower of Muhammed finally realizes the truth and accepts Jesus as their savior.

They either get killed, or at best, they are banished from their family and community!

Answer 9

I wonder if muhammed's 9 year old bride barked at the moon,

Answer 10

It means there will be those in the same family that believe and those that do not and they will not agree.