Explain this contradiction?

Question

Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God"

Matthew 10:34 "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."

So Jesus was not a Child of God?

I'm having too much trouble being unbiased here, so I am going to let voters decide best answer. There are some very thoughtful answers here. Thank you all.

Answer 1

The bible is false, so it's full of contradictions.

Your last sentence is correct.

Answer 2

A referee at a sports contest is a peacemaker. He brings peace to the situation. While harmony is restored to the situation not everyone is "at peace" with the results and betimes some are even thrown out of the game.

Again, they had a name for the old Colt .45. It was called the peacemaker! But this is external or organized peace kept by force and not true peace which only exists in subjection to the authority of Christ Jesus.

You need to recall the comment -- Peace, peace where there is not peace. There can be no peace before your eyes when there is no peace in the hearts of men. Those lacking peace will always be at odds with those who have peace. If it was otherwise, everyone would follow the Prince of Peace.

The contradiction comes from attempting to equate God's peace with human order and a hope for tranquility; where everybody is free to do their own thing --- except as a delusion for a time it will never happen.

Answer 3

Seems to me that the contexts of the two quotations are different. The second quote contains a figure of speech, IMO. The "sword" that Jesus sends is the truth of the Word of God which will be accepted by some and denied by others even in the same family. And in times of persecution, some family members might turn in other family members who had chosen Christianity over the worship of the emperor.

Those who are peacemakers are those who would fulfill the law of love that Jesus teaches, bringing people together.

Answer 4

First off you have taken Matthew 10:34 out of context (like most of the questions on this site).

Second, why is it so hard to understand that when you are pitting good vs. evil there can be no peace until evil is gone. Evil, even if it won and it banished good, would in time self destruct and turn to fighting among itself. Everyone would like to have peace and everyone respects a leader than can bring peace, but that does not mean you just ignore everything someone does to you when it threatens the existence of your very being.

In Matthew 5:9 - Christ is saying that those who bring forth his word of love, that practice charity and compassion and do there best to honor God will be called the children of God. He is not saying that fighting won't be necessary at some point as it is always a last resort, but there are times that fighting is honorable!

In Matthew 10:34 - Christ is letting his followers know that he did not come at that time to save the entire world. He came to lead people with his words and to die for our sins. He knew that following him would cause conflict (a.k.a. the sword) till his second return.

Answer 5

Matthew 5:9 speaks on a blessing that comes to those who make "peace", not in the sense of ending wars (the original Greek word (eirēnopoios) has nothing to do with that), but in the sense of restoring relationships between God and man. Jesus certainly did that on the cross. And there is a blessing for those who do likewise in helping to restore people to God.

In Matthew 10:34, Jesus uses the same word and explains that his teachings will not bring "restored relationship" for many people. Rather that when a person accepts his teachings and begins to walk in them, the results will often be persecution and mocking from even his own family. And that you have to be prepared to love God more than your own family if you are going to follow him. (Remember Jesus two commandments - First love God, and second love others)

No contrdiction. He is talking about two different subjects in those verses. Thefirst is an action for which you are blessed. The second is the results on some of the message he is preaching.

Answer 6

This is not a contradiction. In the verse in Matthew 5:6, it says "Blessed are the peaceMAKERS---------". It does not say 'peacekeepers'. In order to make peace, you need to do what our soldiers are doing in Iraq and Afghsnistan, which means they have to fight the ones disrupting the peace.
The verse in Matthew 10 states -----: I came not to send peace, but a sword". The sword mentioned there is " The Word Of God". In Scripture, the Word of God is quite often referred to as " the Sword".
The phrase, " children of God" refers to we believers, we are all God's children. Jesus is surely the Son of God, but not a child of God in the sense meant in 5 : 9

Answer 7

Jesus is not a child of God he is the Son of God. Matthew 5:9 is correct I see some do read their Bibles. Jesus came not to send peace but a sword, the Bible says the sword of the spirit.So the Holy spirit is a sword. Jesus brought the Holy spirit as a gift to man.It is part of the Armor of God.Finally be strong in the Lord,and in his power and might.Put on the full armor of God so that you can take a stand against the Devil and his schemes.Our struggle is not against flesh and blood(other men and women),but against the rulers ,against the authorities,against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.warfare

Answer 8

Jesus Is the Only Begotten Son of God.

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers... Because the Gospel is the Gospel of peace.

Matthew 10:34 Jesus doesn't send peace, He is the Word of God. The spoken Word of God is a double edged sword. Dividing between the souls & the spirits. There is the persons soul and there is the spiritual rebirth of the person where they are whole again; body, soul & spirit. God is Spirit (Holy Spirit) and also there is worldly spirits (ungodly). The Word of God divide the lies of the ungodly spirits from the Truth of the Holy Spirit. And when one in the family turns to Christ, and one rejects Christ. This is a sword that divides in the family. There is not peace/agreement where one is a Christian & the other antichrist. Jesus does give peace that the world doesn't give to those who trust in Him. But those who reject Jesus, the world gives worldly peace to them. And there is disagreement that divides.

Jesus is our peace. He has broken down every wall. He is our peace that restores when others of other nations also receive Jesus as their personal savior. Saved from their sins.

Two boys, one with Muslim parents, the other with Judaism parents. Both boys parents reject Christ. Both boys received Jesus Christ as their Savior. These boys are restored in peace with God and part of the family of God, but their parents are still antichrist. And the sword is between the Parents (antichrist) and their boy (baby Christian).


So, there isn't a contradiction with these verses. But they are verses I had asked the Lord about in prayer before.

Answer 9

Matthew 5:9 describes one who strives to bring about justice in the world. Matthew 10:34 describes Jesus as the Word of God, convicting the world of it's sins. (Luke 2:34-35)

Answer 10

God and Jesus love peace and justice. Jesus is named in the book of Isaiah "Prince of Peace" and the same passage says

"To the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to establish it firmly and to sustain it by means of justice and by means of righteousness"

Jesus, as appointed judge, will righteously execute justice, this will ultimately mean anhilation for the truely wicked, for the Bible says in Psalm 37:

10 And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more;
And you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will not be.

11 But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth,
And they will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.

29 The righteous themselves will possess the earth,
And they will reside forever upon it.

When this earth is cleansed and the wicked removed, this is at the hand of Jesus Christ, it is an act of violence that it justified and executed in righteousness for the benefit of mankind and it will bring an era of true peace. In the mean time there is no complete peace, and even for Christians there is conflict with others, this is the point Jesus is making in Matthew 10, even within a family some will become Christians and others won't and this will cause conflicts and problems. Jesus knew that not everyone would follow him and take a stand for God's kingdom but that complete peace would come through that kingdom and his kingship by means of a time of divine judgement as is described for example in Matthew 25.

If you want to learn about the Bible you can request a free home Bible study at watchtower.org

Answer 11

We that have peace with God, through His son, can be peacemakers with those around us. In the second verse, Jesus is talking about those who do not believe. The sword is "the separation of those who believe, from those who do not. Peace cannot be found apart from God. Peace is only given to those who believe.