The Prince of the Peace Who Did Not Bring Peace, but a Sword?

Intro:

Good evening.

We have a requested topic tonight.

We’ll give an introduction first, and then we will get into the topic that was requested.

During this time of year, a lot of people are thinking about Jesus, and I’m thankful for that.

There are many things in general that are on the public’s minds about Jesus this time of year, and one of the verses that frequently gets mentioned is found in Luke 2:14.

That is the verse that records the angels singing: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

The fact that Jesus entered into the world was good news — And the angels rejoiced at the revelation of the Son of God and the Lamb of God Who came to take away the sin of the world!

Jesus Christ came to bring peace! And the angels sang of it!

But here comes our question — “I thought that Jesus at one point said, ‘Think not that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword?’”

Well, Jesus did say that! (Matt. 10:34)

So how can both things be?

Is this a contradiction in the Bible?

We’ll try to answer these questions tonight as we look at both of these ideas and compare them.

The Prince of Peace:

The Bible is very clear that Jesus would bring peace.

And Jesus is referred to in prophecy as the PRINCE of peace.

Isa. 9:6

Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

That was prophecy of Jesus’ birth, as well as Micah 5:2:

Micah 5:2 NKJV

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

And that was fulfilled in Luke chapter 2, where we saw the verse about the angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So the Bible is clear that Jesus brought peace with Him as the Word incarnate (John 1:14).

However …

Not Peace, but a Sword:

This comes from Matt. 10:34ff.

Again, Matt. 10:34 says

Matthew 10:34 NKJV

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

So what’s going on there? What does Jesus mean by that?

Well, let’s look at the context.

What’s going on in Matthew chapter 10 is often called “the Limited Commission.” (As opposed to the Great Commission).

Basically, Jesus is telling the twelve to go out and preach the kingdom of God to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (not the Gentiles just yet; they’ll come later).

Jesus is here!

The kingdom is near!

This great transition from the Law of Moses to the Law of Christ is about to occur!

You don’t want to miss out!

Accept the Messiah!

This is essentially the message that is being preached in the limited commission ....

But will everyone accept this news?

Not by a long shot!

(Read Matthew 10:1-15).

What is Jesus saying?

He’s saying the message is going to be polarizing!

A lot of people will accept it, but many, many more will reject it!

Don’t take it personal, though.

Luke 10:16 Jesus says:

Luke 10:16 NKJV

He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

So let’s answer the question then!

How can Christ on the one hand bring peace to the world, peace so much so that the angels sang about it at His birth …

And then on the other hand say that He came not to bring peace, but a sword?

The answer is in the next few verses …

Answering the Question:

(Read Matt. 10:16-42).

The Gospel is polarizing!

It was polarizing then (because you had the Pharisees and others who could not bring themselves to accept it), and it’s polarizing today! (because many people of our time will not bring themselves to accept it either).

And evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Tim. 3:13)

The Gospel will ALWAYS be polarizing because of the evil hearts of men!

Only those willing to humble themselves and come to Christ on His terms will accept and obey the Gospel; everyone else, rejects it.

THAT’S why Jesus said He came to bring not peace but a sword!

That said …

Jesus absolutely DID bring peace in the sense that, once we accept what He did for us, have faith in and obey His Gospel, then we have PEACE with God the Father again when we once did not!

(Read Eph. 2:4-13).

THAT’S PEACE!

Because we WERE at odds with God, and now we’ve been brought near Him again because of the blood of Christ!

Conclusion:

There’s no contradiction at all!

You just have to know what each different Scripture means by “peace!”

Have you placed all your faith in Christ, and been baptized in His name for the remission of your sins so that you can have said peace with God?

If not, then you are still at enmity with God and there can be no peace in your life!

Won’t you come in obedience to His gospel if you have not?