CHRIST BRINGS DIVISION
32 “THEREFORE WHOEVER CONFESSES ME BEFORE MEN, HIM I WILL ALSO CONFESS BEFORE MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.
33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
34 “DO NOT THINK THAT I CAME TO BRING PEACE ON EARTH. I DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE BUT A SWORD.
35 FOR I HAVE COME TO ‘SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW’;
36 AND ‘A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.’ "
Matthew 10:32-36 (NKJV)
A number of things said by Jesus Christ in the above passage of the Bible is bewildering, and It may sound strange for some people to hear such words from Him. However, Jesus was saying the truth. He was unequivocal about it and would not want whoever is making the decision of following Him to do it vaguely without knowing the full implication of what he or she is doing.
Now, Jesus said He did not come to bring peace onto the earth. That He came to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against a mother-in-law (Matthew 10:34,35). What does that mean? Would that not be contradictory to what He preaches and teaches and known for—His ideologies?
No, Christ is not contradictory to Himself or His teachings or ideologies. Rather, He wanted to be plain and down to the earth for whoever is making the decision of being a disciple or follower or pupil of His. Jesus would not want His words to be sugarcoated and people be bamboozled, whoever is making the decision of being a disciple or follower should be able to do it without a fogged or beclouded mind. He wanted whoever is doing it to be convinced and know the gravity of the decision he or she is making (Luke 14:26-33).
When someone pledged his or her allegiance to Christ Jesus, accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour, It may spark an outrage in his or her family—especially if the person's family are yet to be saved. The person's decision to follow Christ Jesus would bring enmity between him or her and the family. In some cases, we have seen situations where such a person, the new convert, is disowned by the parents and the entire family. In fact, in some extreme cases, they may attempt to kill the person, the new convert—this is common in the Islamic communities or where paganism is strong.
If someone making a decision to follow Christ Jesus is not fully aware of this and It comes up that the person wanted to be killed, he or she might be regretting of the decision made and be tempted to recount—go back to the religion of his or her people (Hebrews 10:23-25,35-39).
Your faith in Christ Jesus would definitely bring you at a loggerhead with some people; either your immediate family members or relatives or friends or acquaintances. In some cases, you faith might make you an enemy of your Boss at work. The truth is, you would be obnoxious to some people because of your faith—you would be hated because of your faith (Matthew 10:22; 24:9).
Being hated or persecuted for your faith is one of the prices you would have to pay for following Christ Jesus. You may not need to be a bad or a wicked person before you are hated. Your faith in Christ Jesus, your allegiance to Him, and the practice of His principles in your daily life is the enough reason for the unbelievers out there to hate you—be disgusted of you.
The first set of enemies you would have after accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord are the people of your family and other people around you—friends and acquaintances: "AND ‘A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD' " (Matthew 10:36 NKJV).
So, hearing Jesus saying that He has not brought peace to the world means there would be rancour between whoever is following Him and their loved ones—parents and family members and whoever. Thus, If you are being persecuted or hated because of your faith, do not be despaired, It is part of the deal signed in the decision to follow Christ Jesus:
12 BELOVED, DO NOT THINK IT STRANGE CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY YOU, AS THOUGH SOME STRANGE THING HAPPENED TO YOU; 13 BUT REJOICE TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU PARTAKE OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS, THAT WHEN HIS GLORY IS REVEALED, YOU MAY ALSO BE GLAD WITH EXCEEDING JOY. 14 IF YOU ARE REPROACHED FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST, BLESSED ARE YOU, FOR THE SPIRIT OF GLORY AND OF GOD RESTS UPON YOU. ON THEIR PART HE IS BLASPHEMED, BUT ON YOUR PART HE IS GLORIFIED" (1 Peter 4:12-14 NKJV).
READ: James 1:2-4
Peace.
Note:
a. I want you to follow us for more edifying content.
b. Endeavour to share this message. God bless you.