I did not come to bring peace but a sword." Any idea what this means?
2007-01-20 04:40:32 · 32 answers · asked by Todd W 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes Todd, Jesus was speaking to the Jewish people. He knew that in the times to come father would be seperated from son and families torn apart by his coming and those who converted to belief in him. He goes on to tell that to follow him is a great cost as one must turn their back on the beliefs of others and follow him alone.
Though he may have only been talking about the near future at the time, his words have proved to be prophetic to this day. SW
2007-01-20 04:49:14 · answer #1 · answered by Dust in the Wind 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
You have taken two verses from Jesus' instructions to his Apostles, Matt. 10:1-42. Remember Jesus was a Jew and a Rabbi, so he usually refers to Holy Scriptures when he talks because his earthly ministry was address to the Jews who also knew scripture.
Let me first start with Matt 10:35, it is a quote from Micah 7:6. This is want to prophet foretold regarding the misery of the Jews. What is more important is Micah 7:7:
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.
Jesus stops at Micah 7:6 for he is the savor that God promised.
Now let me return to Matt 10:34. Remember Jesus is talking to his disciples about going out. There are two keys words: nomiz and bellO. Nomiz means "ye-should be inferring" and bellO means "to be casting". The actual verses reads: You should not be inferring that I came to be casting peace on the earth. I did not come to be casting peace, but a sword..
Jesus is clearly saying that his mission is not to peace as earth (as the Jews expected the Messiah would) but a sword. Sword is used in the New Testament 18 times (Mt 10:34, 26:52, 14:47; Lk21:24, 22:36, 22:49; Jn 18:10, 18:11; Acts 12:2; Rom 8:35, 13:4; Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12, 11:34, 11:37; Rev 6:4, 13:10, 13:14). If you take time and read these verses, you will see how sword is used. Remember a sword in our time would be a gun, not making peace but a gun. Remember a gun can be offensive as well as defenses.
2007-01-20 05:41:54 · answer #2 · answered by J. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. In Matthew 10:34-36 Jesus said He had come at this time not to bring peace to the earth, but a sword, a weapon which divides and severs. As a result of His visit to earth, some children would be set against parents and a man's enemies might be those within his own household. This is because many who choose to follow Christ are hated by their family members. Not a physical sword. It does not seem as though you have read the Bible.
2016-05-24 00:58:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a passage in Matthew which some scholars claim to be a later addition to his original teachings, because some sections are filled with apocalyptic imagery and seems to come from an oppressed community, which was not so much the case when jesus actually lived, the real persecution came later (on the other hand, this may be trying to explain away the controversial aspects of jesus' teachings and pretending he didn't actually say them, it's up to you to decide. some people claim the parables are actually the passages closest to what jesus actually said, not the 'apocalyptic' passages). So anyway, you could see it in several ways.
One: the persecuted christian sect will be emerge victorious, their teachings will be shown to be right, evil will be destroyed.
Two: it reflects the growing conflict between the developing christian religion and traditional religion. if you chose to be christian you were irrevocably (to the author) separated, ripped apart from your family. Cut off from your community.
2007-01-20 08:27:18 · answer #4 · answered by Nikita21 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some of the activity on this site, answers your question.
Many people hate Christianity because Satan rages against it and they choose to follow him.
He is intent on drawing people away from Christianity at all costs. Ever since the death of Jesus, Christians have suffered persecution in some form or other. So if you are a Christian you will have peace in your heart, but the world will not be at peace with you because you are like a thorn in the flesh to those who love worldly things. Even if you say nothing to them, they see the peace in your heart, and they hate you for it. So they rant and they rave and try everything to destroy that peace. This is the sword which will never go away, while Satan rules this world.
2007-01-20 04:55:56 · answer #5 · answered by A.M.D.G 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Great question! If you read 34-40 of chapter 10, you get a full picture of what Jesus is trying to say. He is talking here directly to His 12 disiciples and is telling them that following Jesus is not going to be easy. The message of Jesus will split some family bonds. And, if anyone cares more about their relationship with a family member than they do with their Lord and Savior, than that person has no place with Jesus in this life or the next. It could be a very difficult passage to understand, but Jesus just wants his closest followers to understand what they are getting into! Being a follower of Christ has never been stated to be something easy. Sometimes relationship need to be cut off for the sake of His message! Thanks for the question! I hope it was of some help.
2007-01-20 04:51:47 · answer #6 · answered by visitorparkingonly 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Verses like this have helped to turn parts of Christianity into an earthly plague. He also said in Matthew 5 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."
How do you make sense of a Bible that sends out such contradictory statements and encourages you NOT to think but just follow "the Word?"
2007-01-20 05:41:31 · answer #7 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Whatever you want it to mean. It's all nonsense written by men that did not have the benefit of modern science. The 'gospels' in the bible are just 4 of about 20. They all have conflicting versions of Jesus's sayings and his life. This can only tell us that some of them at least were wrong, but which? The council of Nicea under instruction of Emperor Constantine compiled the bible in such a manner as to amalgamate the then Christian and pagan beliefs. His clear aim was to retain control over the masses. The bible represents no truth, only the politics of a Roman emperor, the infantile myths of various sects and the constant meddling with the text by the church ever since.
2007-01-20 04:52:30 · answer #8 · answered by gbiaki 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Jesus was not talking about a physical material military sword. He was talking about the long double edged sword coming out of His mouth, which is the Word. Has christianity brought peace, or division upon division? Don't christian nations make war on other nations, in the name of Democracy, thier standard they carry on to the battle field?
2007-01-20 04:51:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
So Jesus said something and Matthew wrote about it 60 years later. Then, somebody in King James court (what the Hell does he know?) edited it several centuries later,
and you still believe it is an accurate transcript. This book was written and re-written so many times, parts of it discarded.
Why do we still take this so seriously?
2007-01-20 05:20:02 · answer #10 · answered by Dr. Sabetudo 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋