My Walk Through the Book of Matthew by Annette Godtland

Christ Brings Division (Matthew 10:34-39)

34"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35For 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'; 36and "a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' 37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

This text is harder to take. We all so much want peace. If Jesus did not come to bring peace, how will we ever achieve the peace we so much desire. Sometimes our misguided conception of peace is just keeping status quo: don't rock the boat and things will remain peaceful.

Jesus came to rock the boat. Status quo is not good enough. In His fight for our salvation, He needs everyone to turn to God as their master. Who is your master? Are you able to turn against father, mother, mother-in-law, or other authority figures in your family if they do not lead their household in accordance with God's plan? Are you allowing others to be your master?

Jesus points to the most influential part of your moral and spiritual upbringing, the family, as where the divisions must begin. If the master of household does not recognize God as his master, the most dangerous enemies of those struggling to develop their faith are other members of the household. Likewise, the greatest enemy of such a household is the member who is turning to God as his master, for he has the power to break up such a household. This is what I believe Jesus meant when He said a man's enemies will be his own household.

What does Jesus mean when He says "worthy of Me"? What is the one thing that Jesus brings that we don't automatically get regardless of our worthiness? God gives us all love whether or not we are worthy of it. Jesus brings us all hope whether or not we are worthy of it. The gospel is here for all of us if we simply listen to it. Some even find a time of peace even though they may not be worthy of it. But Jesus came not to bring peace but a sword. He came to fight for our salvation. I believe when Jesus says "worthy of Me" He means worthy of the salvation He is bringing us.

Our hearts can be tugged in so many directions where our loved ones, our family, are concerned. But Jesus is very blunt. We must love Him more than our parents, more than our children, more than anyone else. Otherwise, we are not worthy of Him. If we had to choose between Jesus and a loved family member, would we be able to choose Jesus? Jesus knows it would be difficult for us. That is why He said He did not come to bring peace but a sword. It may feel like a sword breaking us up, but that is what it may take for the salvation He is bringing us.

It is interesting to read that Jesus says to take up your cross and follow Him. What is your cross? I always thought of our cross as being our own personal burdens that we each carry: our responsibilities, our guilt, our sins. He doesn't say to leave them behind, to pretend they don't exist, when we follow Him, but to carry them with us. They are a part of us and we must take ownership of them.

This statement also emphasizes that it is not enough to simply love Jesus more than anything else, but that we must follow Him to be worthy of the salvation He brings. Try to be like Jesus. Go where He directs you to go.

Finally, Jesus says he who finds his life will lose it. He who searches for peace in his life on earth, finds a status quo he is comfortable with, settles down in his own contentment, a master of his own life, may feel like he has found the perfect life. But he will lose his life in the end. The only way to final salvation is to give up your life to Jesus, let Him guide your life rather than you directing it yourself. Do not be the master of your life, but let Jesus be the master for you. You would not own your life while on earth, but you will find your life in your final salvation.

Yes, we all desire peace. But the peace we truly desire must be fought for. Love and follow Jesus, let Him be your master, and in the end you will find an eternal peace much greater than any that can be experienced on earth.