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.” He continued, “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”, and in chapter ten and verse thirty-four of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “think not that I am come to send peace on earth” where we read:
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
The verse reads, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:” Matthew began with the words, “think not” which means “do not hold by custom or usage, deem or suppose” “that I am come” or “that Jesus has arisen, appeared, become known and established” “to send” which means “to put, insert or pour out” “peace” or “tranquility, concord or harmony” “on earth” which means “upon the arable land, country, territory or region”. Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciple that He did not arrive on “the earth” to bring about “harmony and concord” among people.
The verse continues, “I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Matthew added the words, “I came not” which means “Jesus did not arise, appear, become known and establish Himself” “to send peace” or ““to put, insert or pour out tranquility, concord or harmony”, “but a sword” or “nevertheless, yes, rather and moreover a large knife, curved sword for a cutting stroke or a straight sword for thrusting”. Matthew shared how Jesus did not come to the earth to bring about “tranquility and concord” but rather a “cutting sword” among people.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we might wonder how the “Prince of Peace” Jesus proclaimed that He did not “come to send peace”. The idea was that His appearance and what He represented would actually “divide” people from those who follow after and believe in Him and those who don't. God desires for every person to have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and this relationship is established when a person puts their “faith and trust” in Jesus as “Savior and Lord”, repents of their sins and yield to Him for the rest of their lives. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father, but by me”. (John 14:6). He is the “only way” to God, and this is troublesome to many people. Therefore they refuse and reject His offer of “salvation”. This causes division and becomes “a sword” among men. Those who are wise will look closely at their lives and determine whether they are “for” or “against” Jesus. Any decision not “for” Him is “against” Him, and the “sword” has taken it's affect upon “peace”.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples that He came, “to set a man at variance against his father”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
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