I have not come to bring peace, but a sword

[iarwain]

Do you think this scripture is meant to be taken literally or metaphorically? Or perhaps both? Specifically the part about the sword.

Matthew 10: 34-36:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

 

[Aaron112]

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

This happens every day, whenever someone is saved in fact.

 

[Lukaris]

At His human birth, the Lord proclaimed peace per Luke 2:10-16. The response of an evil ruler was to murder innocent infants ( Matthew 2:16-19). The same dynasty beheaded John the Baptist ( Matthew 14:1-12). The Lord praised John as the greatest prophet and even mentioned that the kingdom of heaven suffered violence ( Matthew 11:1-15). Maybe the Lord was just saying what will happen around Him and we put our faith in Him since He expects us to be merciful as individuals ( Matthew 10:32-40).

 

[iarwain]

This happens every day, whenever someone is saved in fact.

Granted, but I'm asking about the "sword" part. Does he literally mean he came to bring violence, or is the scripture totally metaphorical? For what it's worth, I think the answer is both, Jesus meant it both literally and metaphorically. This is just my interpretation though, I was wanting to hear others.

 

[Aaron112]

Granted, but I'm asking about the "sword" part. Does he literally mean he came to bring violence, or is the scripture totally metaphorical? For what it's worth, I think the answer is both, Jesus meant it both literally and metaphorically. This is just my interpretation though, I was wanting to hear others.

Jesus and the 1st century disciples did not commit physical violence - "Love harms no one".

Yet , yes, the kingdom of heaven is taken by violence. Remember some people's entire existence was artificial/ pretending/ until Yahweh brought LIGHT to change their life .... turning their life entirely upside down and inside out - remade - by God's Doing.... violence in a way as the soul life must be crucified, the old ways of life being sinful must be cut out or dealt with permanently.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Do you think this scripture is meant to be taken literally or metaphorically? Or perhaps both? Specifically the part about the sword.

Matthew 10: 34-36:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

Revelation speaks further of this Sword that comes out of His mouth. It represents the Gospel as the only truth for judgment and most importantly, His power over the nations to bring that judgment.
Blessings

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Do you think this scripture is meant to be taken literally or metaphorically? Or perhaps both? Specifically the part about the sword.

Matthew 10: 34-36:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

The words following that passage indicate the kind of conflict that will be caused.

 

[iarwain]

The words following that passage indicate the kind of conflict that will be caused.

Yeah, I certainly don't mean to suggest that the passage tells you to stab your mother in law with a sword. But nonetheless, there WILL be violence that comes from the division of the faithful and the unfaithful. At least that's my interpretation. We have to choose a side.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Yeah, I certainly don't mean to suggest that the passage tells you to stab your mother in law with a sword. But nonetheless, there WILL be violence that comes from the division of the faithful and the unfaithful. At least that's my interpretation. We have to choose a side.

The passage kind of reminds me of those talk shows that thrive on people getting angry at one another.

 

[Bob Crowley]

While Christ peached peace and goodwill to your neighbour, He knew that His coming would mean division and sometimes violence.

He was martyred Himself, as were nearly all the apostles. The early Christians were persecuted and sometimes killed. The wars of religion tore Western Europe apart. The Fourth Crusade set a huge gap between the Catholic West and the Byzantines. Some native Sri Lankan Catholics were whipped to death by their Protestant dutch overlords. Cromwell massacred the Irish in the name of Christ, and Henry VIII executed those who opposed him on Christian principles.

Catholic Queen Mary did likewise.

A couple of years ago in our state three "Christians" murdered two young police officers and they thought they did it in the name of Christ.

Both on a personal and political level, Christ's advent heralded division. The fact that He came did not usher in peace on earth, which should be obvious to anyone who watches the news.

 

[RamiC]

I am often amazed how many people do not know this verse is there. It is quite obvious what it means in a metaphorical way, when you happen to have unsaved relatives. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

 

[throughfiierytrial]

Do you think this scripture is meant to be taken literally or metaphorically? Or perhaps both? Specifically the part about the sword.

Matthew 10: 34-36:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

I believe this passage is to be taken in the context of a few other passages...

Luke 2:34:
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

-So mankind will see their sin and repent or refuse to acknowledge their sin and repent. The Sword is the Word of God...
Hebrews 4:12-13:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account..

And even among believers we have the sword functioning to sharpen us...
Proverbs 27:17:
As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.

 

[soldier of light]

The sword is the sword of the spirit or the word of God. It divides us from the world

 

[iarwain]

Let me add this to the argument that it is literal: It takes two parties to be at odds with each other. I agree God is not saying Christians should be violent toward non-Christians. But might it not also be talking about persecution against Christians? Many Christians have been martyred.

 

[soldier of light]

Let me add this to the argument that it is literal: It takes two parties to be at odds with each other. I agree God is not saying Christians should be violent toward non-Christians. But might it not also be talking about persecution against Christians? Many Christians have been martyred.

No, our weapons of warfare are not carnal as Paul teaches us. He who lives by the sword will die by it.

2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

Matthew 26:52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

 

[iarwain]

No, our weapons of warfare are not carnal as Paul teaches us. He who lives by the sword will die by it.

Nevertheless, the one who hates Christians may kill you for it.

 

[soldier of light]

Nevertheless, the one who hates Christians may kill you for it.

I'll go to heaven. I'm personally too tired to care.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

Do you think this scripture is meant to be taken literally or metaphorically? Or perhaps both? Specifically the part about the sword.

Matthew 10: 34-36:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

Its spiritual

The sword is referring to the Word of God

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We are only sanctified by the Truth of God's Word. The Truth of God's Word is what separates the wheat from the tares

John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Eph 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Jesus came to save us from our sins Mat 1:21 yet most people teach we are saved in our sins. Jesus wants to not only save us from the penalty of sin but of the power of sin . But sadly many like their sin so they stay in darkness instead of coming to the light, which is Jesus and Truth and confessing and forsaking our sins Pro 28:13 and turning to Christ walking in His power John 14:15-18. Its why the Sword or Word of God is sharp, it has the power to lead us to eternal life,, through Jesus Christ, walking in His righteousness and Truth

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Do you think this scripture is meant to be taken literally or metaphorically? Or perhaps both? Specifically the part about the sword.

Matthew 10: 34-36:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

It's metaphor. And by the way, "the sword" is also double-edged, so we need to be extra careful in using it so we don't slice ourselves silly when trying to apply it on others.

 

[Dan Perez]

Do you think this scripture is meant to be taken literally or metaphorically? Or perhaps both? Specifically the part about the sword.

Matthew 10: 34-36:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."

Anyone reads Matthew , MARK and LUKE will see that the same action , the GREAT TRIBULATION !!

dan p