Foes In Your Own House - Matthew 10:36

Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus told His disciples, “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”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty-six of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples how, “a man's foes shall be they of his own household” where we read:

And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

The verse reads, “ And a man's foes  ...” Matthew began with the words, “and a man's foes ...” which means “a person whether male or female's enemies, opposing ones and people who are hostile toward them”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred to people who would “hate and oppose” His disciples.

The verse continues, “... shall be they of his own household. ” Matthew added the words, “shall be they” which means “will be the people” “of his own household” or “within the person's own personal relatives, familiar ones and those within his house”. Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples the people who would “hate and opposed” them would be people who are their own “families and relatives”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we may marvel that people within a “disciple of Jesus'” own house would oppose and hate them, but Jesus said this is the way it will be. Some will be believers in Jesus, and others will not. Some will align with God's eternal plan of salvation through His Son Jesus, but not everyone. God desires a loving relationship with every person, and He knows some will accept Him while others reject Him. This will and does cause division within “households”, and those who were once loving family members may become as hating enemies. There is a cost to the relationship with God through His Son Jesus, and those who are wise shall suffer the cost no matter how high that price may be.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples, “he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.