Not peace but a sword!

 

'Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A person’s foes will be those of their own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.' Mat 10:34-37

'I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.' Luke 12:49-56

'If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t Hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple.' Luke 14:26

For many of us, the first time we came to read the Bible was once we had received Jesus as Lord and saviour. The trouble is, we now read it as if every word is an instruction for us as believers. But it is clear that a lot of what Jesus said was to people who had not yet received Him. This is also true for other parts of the Bible.

We should do a test when we read a passage. We should ask ourselves whether the passage makes more sense if it is speaking to someone who has not yet received Jesus.

For many people, the act of receiving Jesus will put them at odds with the members of their own families. Therefore, if they are not willing to put Jesus before the members of their own family they cannot receive Him. It is that simple. 

I can remember being told that there is a difference between being a believer and a disciple. As if Jesus is saying that you can quietly be a believer and get by unnoticed, but if you want to be a disciple then you need to stand up and be counted! It always comes back to this idea of a two-tier system, "Oh, you believe, but are you a disciple? have you been baptised in the Holy Spirit? Do you speak in tongues?" Take your pick! No, you are either a sheep or a goat. You are either in Jesus or in Adam. You are either a believer or an unbeliever. You are either saved or unsaved. There are no extra merit badges for those who want to see themselves as better than everyone else. 

In fact, the Greek shows that the emphasis is not on the word "disciple", but rather on the word "my." He is not saying you cannot be a disciple as opposed to a believer. He is saying you cannot be His!

Many of the people Jesus was speaking to were embroiled in the Jewish culture. For them to step out and follow Jesus was no small thing, especially as their families and everyone they knew were embroiled in the Jewish culture.  It would cause friction. It was not a simple optional extra. Jesus was telling them to take stock of the decision they make before they make it. He wanted them to face the reality of what could happen to them.

This is also true of many cultures around the world today.

The warning is simple and twofold, they persecuted Jesus therefore they will persecute His followers. Therefore, this has to be the reality of the choice we make. 

'Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than their lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.' John 15:20

'A disciple is not above their teacher, nor a servant above their lord. It is enough for the disciple to be like their teacher, and the servant like their lord. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of His household! Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.' Mat 10:24-28

When Jesus tells His listeners to fear God, He is proclaiming the Gospel to them. This is not speaking to believers. The choice is either to fear those who reject the Gospel and reject it with them or fear God and accept the Gospel to escape the coming Judgement. 

The peace Jesus promises is not peace here and now with the people around us, it is a guaranteed eternal peace with God.