2007-09-01 03:05:58 · 34 answers · asked by anil m 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Great question!
The passage in the Bible that this quote comes from is Matthew chapter 10:verse 34.
If we start reading at verse 32 on we have a clearer understanding of the context of what he is saying.
32 "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth, 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—36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household [Micah 7:6] 37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
The one key element in this lengthy passage is the word "sword," and its meaning is clear. It indicates that following Jesus in his original Jewish society may not bring peace to a family, but may "split" it up, the precise function of a metaphorical sword. Are his disciples ready for that? This kind of spiritual sword invisibly severs a man from his father, and daughter from her mother, and so on (Micah 7:6). Given Jesus’ own family resistance early on (they later came around), it is only natural he would say that no matter what the cost, one must follow him to the end, even if it means giving up one’s family. But this applies only if the family rejects the new convert, not if the family accepts him in his new faith; he must not reject them, because the whole point of Jesus’ advent is to win as many people to his side as possible, even if this divides the world in two, but never violently.
History demonstrates that Jesus never wielded a sword against anyone, and in Matt. 10:34 he does not order his followers to swing one either, in order to kill their family opponents or for any reason. But a true disciple who is worthy of following Christ and who comes from a possibly hostile family has to use a sword of the will (never a physical sword) to sever away all opposition, even as far as taking up his cross—another metaphorical implement for the disciples. It is true that Jesus divides the world into two camps, those who follow him, and those who do not, those in the light, and those in the dark. However, he never tells his followers to wage war on everyone else, and certainly not on one’s family.
This is a very long explanation, but I hope you read the web site to get even more insight into this message.
2007-09-01 03:23:02 · answer #1 · answered by crrllpm 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Isnt that the scripture that says mother will be against daughter and so forth? It means that the truth will divide people, even in families and if so, only truth matters , truth is like a ttwo edge sword, it cuts to the quick. People hear it and are repulsed by it, object to it, and refuse to beleive it, isnt that how many treated Jesus when he walked the earth?
2007-09-06 17:33:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I came to give you peace said Jesus.
Not like the world gives you peace.
The worlds peace believes it can obtain peace by control.
Jesus peace is different than the worlds peace.
Do not be conformed to this world.
The ruler of this world is a liar.
This liar says,kill and control to obtain peace well,that does`nt work does it?
Jesus came as a baby Beloved in Matthew,BUT is a grown man in Revelation,and the man will avenge us victims from the liar.
"Restored" in the true peace.
The sword of the spirit is the word of God.
Jesus is the word made flesh as to save us from the liar/ruler of this world.
The ruler of this world came from the Kingdom of peace and lied-kill one another and get peace.
Jesus came from the Kingdom of peace to lead us back to the real truth of peace-Love one another and get peace.
Who else is going to stop the LIAR?
Chose the sword of the spirit which is Love,OR
chose the peace of this world which is a lie.
peace
2007-09-01 03:40:42 · answer #3 · answered by flowerpower 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Simple: he is announcing his mission in the most uncompromising terms. The full quote is "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law." (Matthew 10:45.) He's saying "Nothing else should be of any importance to you except my doctrine." He also says "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26.) Same message. It's the standard injunction of the Eastern "sage" to people who come to him as potential disciples. "Give up everything for me; cut all ties; leave the world."
It's a very black-and-white, "either with me or against me" message. I'm always a little irritated when I hear people talk as if Jesus has just been misunderstood by Christians, that he was really just a gentle hippie ball of sunshine and love. If you actually read the texts, he's as bigoted as Osama bin Laden, and as fond of threats of hellfire as Billy Sunday.
2007-09-01 03:15:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.
9 There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
2007-09-05 15:17:42 · answer #5 · answered by Verdade 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sword that Jesus spoke of was not a literal sword, but a spiritual sword, ... which is His Words:
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" - Ephesians 6:17.
Jesus' words are Spirit and life (John 6:63); His Words are truth:
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. - John 17:17.
Because the words of Jesus are truth; the truth will like a sword, seperate truth from untruth:
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2007-09-01 03:13:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
He was well aware that none can creat peace. It has always been there since time immemorial and will remain eternally. He brought 'sword' of 'love' to reduce the number of miscreants those disturb peace.
2007-09-01 19:57:08 · answer #7 · answered by keshav pd 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Peace comes from within your own heart and when you follow Christ you will be subject to a lot of harassment because a lot of people are not going to/or want to understand where you are coming from...
This 'sword' divides families and friends.
2007-09-01 03:11:09 · answer #8 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
There would be a division on account of his name, The knowledge of Jesus Christ is not practice in all religions and one religion differs from another, there will be a sword there that will cause a division just like you see it today, one religion attacks another.
2007-09-01 03:11:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I believe He meant that with his sword he will cut away at untruths, and as he does there will be ppl who will cling to these lies. There will also be those who will learn from Him. This does not cause peace, it causes even more unrest.
Blessed Be
2007-09-01 06:16:22 · answer #10 · answered by Linda B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋