Jesus Came to Set Variance - Matthew 10:35

Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus told His disciples, “fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear you not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” Jesus continued, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty-five of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples that he came, “to set a man at variance” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, ...” Matthew began with the words, “for I am come” which means “because, since and on account that Jesus appeared, arose, became known and was established” “to set a man at variance” which means “to cut into two parts, cleave asunder and sever a male person” “against his father” or “in opposition to and apart from their generator, progenitor and male ancestor”, “and the daughter” which means “and the female child or descendant” “against her mother” which refers to “in opposition to and apart from her female parent”. Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples that He arrived on the scene to “separate” men from their “fathers” and “daughters” from their own “mothers”.

The verse continues, “... and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” Matthew added the words, “and the daughter in law” which means “and the female child or descendant who is betrothed, a bride or recently married to a son” “against her mother in law” or “in opposition to the female child or descendant husband's female parent“. Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples that He would pit “daughters in laws against mothers in law” against one another.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the “gospel” of Jesus Christ will have an effect upon “sons and fathers, mothers and daughters and daughters in law and mothers in law”. Those who receive Jesus Christ as their “Savior and Lord” will be on one side, and those who reject and refuse Him shall be on the other. This will divide families, and although God desires everyone to come to Him through His Son Jesus, not all will. God loves everyone, and He wants them to be in a relationship with Him. Those who are wise shall yield their lives to Him and allow Him to manage any division within the family that it causes.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples, “a man's foes shall be they of his own household”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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