A House Divided Father

Jesus does not want us to be confused. We have decision to make when it comes them.

He said No Peace

Not Peace, but Division

49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society., but a Sword

Matthew 10:34-39

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 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. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

There is a sense in which Jesus came to bring peace. But some things are more important than peace, and sometimes his message and the way it is received mean division. Jesus spells this out.

But this is a less likely understanding of the Greek, and of the parallelism with what follows. Jesus is saying that God’s plan is for salvation that involves judgment, but a judgment that the Messiah will bear for others, not one he will inflict on others. It is not an attractive prospect, but Jesus longs for it to come, for only so can the saving work be accomplished.

To the question whether Jesus came to bring peace most of us would unhesitatingly reply ‘Yes’. But Jesus’ No is emphatic (ouchi). There is, of course, a sense in which he does bring peace, that deep peace with God which leads to real peace with people. But in another sense his message is divisive. The cross challenges people.

Jesus calls on his followers to take up their own cross as they follow him. When people do not rise to this challenge they not uncommonly become critical of those who do. The divisions that thus arise may run through families.

This border situation The evangelicals must reconcile politics with Christianity. You can be a follower of Christ and feel comfortable with children being stripped of their parents who are coming here seeking asylum.

We have an attorney general who wants to twist the Bible for their own benefit. This is nothing new. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Yet if you continue reading you will read 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Then Verse 9 says: For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Morris, L. (1988). Luke: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 3, p. 237). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

But this is a less likely understanding of the Greek, and of the parallelism with what follows. Jesus is saying that God’s plan is for salvation that involves judgment, but a judgment that the Messiah will bear for others, not one he will inflict on others. It is not an attractive prospect, but Jesus longs for it to come, for only so can the saving work be accomplished.

Following Jesus will come at a cost. He challenged James and John when they wanted to sit on his right and left. Many want to follow Jesus for the glory but they really don’t understand what is at stack.

Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

He gives is cause to Expect Division

Put no trust in a neighbor;

have no confidence in a friend;

guard the doors of your mouth

from her who lies in your arms;

6 for the son treats the father with contempt,

the daughter rises up against her mother,

the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.

7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD;

I will wait for the God of my salvation;

my God will hear me.

When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

He Gives hope of Reconciliation

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.