I Have Come To Bring A Sword Series

Review of what we’ve covered so far this Lenten season:

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God

Jesus came to bring life

Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets

Today we'll be taking a look at another of the statements Jesus made about why He came to earth.

Matthew 10:34-39

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

“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, a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’”

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.”

So, why did Jesus come to earth? Lets go back to verse 34

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

Jesus didn’t come to bring peace? What’s that verse we always quote during the advent season?

Isaiah 9:6

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

How is it possible that the Prince of Peace would come to earth not to bring peace but to bring a sword?

And, what will this sword do?

It will divide families! Verses 35 & 36 say:

“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, a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’”

I remember this kid in High School who would start fights! He wouldn’t start fights to be in them, he would start fights to watch them. He would go to person “A” and get them mad a person “B”. Then he would go to person “B” and get them mad at person “A” and this would continue back and forth until “A” and “B” would get into a fist fight and this joker would just stand back and watch and laugh!

Is that what Jesus is doing in this passage, causing fights for His own entertainment?

Does Jesus hate families? Does He want to destroy our family relationships? Of course not! The Lord is pro-family from the beginning of the Bible to the end!

One man married to one woman for all of their lives and raising children to know and love God! That is God’s plan!

So, what’s He talking about when he says,

“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, a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’”

When you get saved, really get saved, you take a stand! You may not even know that you’re taking a stand but you are.

Suppose you’ve gone to a church meeting because someone invited you and you heard something you’ve never heard before! You’ve heard that there is One True God who wants to know you, He wants you to be one of His children, a child of God.

You’ve heard that because of sin, which is rebellion against God, that you are eternally separated from God but because of God’s great love for the people of this world He sent His One and Only Son to die on a cross as a penalty for your sin!

You’ve heard that if you turn away from your sin and trust in Jesus, the Son of God, you can be saved from an eternity of destruction in hell and instead you will live forever with God in heaven.

And, that’s just what you’ve done! You’ve been born again! You’ve moved from death into life! You’re eternal destiny has been changed!

Of course, you don’t really have a total grasp on this because you’ve never been taught anything from the Bible before but you know that something has happened and you’re excited about it!

In your excitement you go home and tell everyone in your family.

You tell them that Jesus has forgiven you for your sins.

You tell them that Jesus saved you.

You tell them that since Jesus saved you, you will go to heaven when you die!

This is GREAT NEWS!

But …

What are your family members hearing …

Jesus has NOT forgiven me of my sins and I don’t even think that I am a sinner!