“I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matt. 10:34)
Expanded Passage: Matthew 10:34-36
All you have to do is turn on the news or scroll through social media for a brief moment and you will see the brokenness and pain that plagues our world. It is heartbreaking to see the devastation and malice that runs rampant in our cities and towns. Then, while saddened by all that is happening, we may read a verse like the one above that, without proper understanding and context, can leave us wide-eyed and confused. What did Jesus mean when he said he did not come to bring peace?
The truth is, Jesus did not intend to bring us peace as the world understands it, where everyone gets along. He brought with him a sword—the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. The sword of the Spirit cuts through the darkness revealing the light. Those who live in darkness hate the light and resist it. They resist and fight against those who are living in the light.
This is the cost of discipleship. We will face resistance here on earth, but we will have peace in our hearts from the Lord that, as Scripture teaches, is beyond our understanding. Even in the midst of chaos and devastation, the Lord’s peace guards our hearts and minds in Jesus Christ (Phil. 4:7). Though the world is broken, restoration and peace are found in Jesus.
Find restoration and peace in Jesus today.
Andrew Christman, a proud veteran of the US Army, serves as a hospital chaplain in Columbia, SC. He is a graduate of Wesley Seminary (IN) and an ordained Wesleyan pastor.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
