"JESUS SAID WHAT?" Matthew 10: 34

                  "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: 
                           I came not to send peace, but a sword."

    We find in the Old Testament Jesus described as "Prince of Peace."  
There is no doubt He was just that, but what of this idea that He came 
to bring a sword, not  peace on earth?  This passage of  Scripture con-
tinues  to state that He would set  a son against his father,  a daughter 
against  her mother  and  daughter-in-law  against her mother-in-law. 
(Verse 35) 

Verse 36 indicates a man's enemies would be his own household.  
How could this be? I asked.  If  we consider  the men to whom he
 initially made  these remarks,  we have a  more  accurate  under-
standing of  the matter.  These  men  were mostly Jewish,  practit-
ioners of  that  religion.   It is  clear  to a casual  student of  God's 
Word, or secular history; individuals who abandon the religion or    
culture  of   his or  her  parents  have been shunned , abused, dis-
owned or even killed.  This is particularly true of the of the major 
religions of  the Middle  East.  Both  Jewish and  Muslim parents, 
at  minimum, shun or disown their children who turn from those
religions to  the religion  of  Jesus  Christ of  the  Bible.  Recently,
there  have  been  reports of parents  putting  their  daughters  to
death when it was discovered they had  converted to Christianity.  
God's Word  does not  require  substantiation to  be authoritative.   
It is sobering,  however;   to see  graphic  fulfillment of the Words  
of Jesus Christ in today's world.

We may say, "I believe the principle's  Christ taught were true for
 people to whom he spoke  directly, but how does this apply to me 
in our culture?  If we do  not see direct  parallels in modern times 
throughout God's Word applying to us, does it  apply to us?  If we 
do not see those parallels, we are blind, can't see afar off, and are
still in  our sins.  Possibly you do  not personally know one who is 
"sold out" to serving our Lord,  living  by faith,  seeking  the King-
dom of God first and generally living out his profession of faith in 
Jesus Christ.  Since this is a rare thing,  it is  likely we will not see 
drastic  measures  taken by  parents when  their children become 
Christian.  Just about everyone readily accepts it when their child 
makes a  perfunctory effort to live for Christ for a short time after
a confession of  faith in  Christ.  It is rare indeed,  to see an indivi-
dual  make the kind of  dramatic turn around as  is reported  from 
the Acts of the Apostles.  Even  in the early days of  the Church, it 
was an exception rather than the rule to observe a new "Christian" 
catching fire and  burning out for His Lord.  In the day in which we 
live,  it is unheard of.  If we saw  Christ bring sword,  or contention 
between a professed Child of God and parents, friends or relatives,
it would be the result of  the new life making those of  us contented 
with the status quo very uncomfortable.  If citizens of the U.S. of A. 
are  hung up on  anything,  it's  comfort.  Anything  threatening our 
way of life is anathema. It  will not be  tolerated.  We have watered 
down the Gospel so effectively, it offends no one.  We live "vanilla"
lives and the average citizen of our once great land would be blown 
away if he were confronted by a family member or friend "infected"
with the fullness of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Finally, what do we mean when we refer to one being sold out to the 
the Lord Jesus Christ and the ideas  He taught?  First one must  be 
in submission  to Jesus Christ  in everything,  having  established a 
personal  relationship  with Him as  Savior and  Lord,  As we follow 
Him, the principles he taught become our priority.  We are not Chil-
dren of God,  in Christ,  because of adherence to a set of  principles 
or doctrines.  We follow this way because of  the New Birth,  Christ
lives His life in us.  The change comes as we become like  Him, and
have his image stamped upon our souls.  Since this is rare, the ways 
in which our friends and relatives respond may not  be pleasant and 
some might think we had  become mentally or emotionally unstable.  
They would not understand this, since they too made professions of 
faith in Christ, but their lives or either unchanged or it's just surface.  
Some will say, "Let's not get carried away" and others may become  
abusive.  If we are not very different from  citizens of our culture, is 
there evidence that faith in Jesus Christ is vital/real  in our lives?

   There may be a way to  avoid many of  the unpleasant situations
   that arise after a genuine  conversion to  Jesus Christ.  The way
   might be for the new believer to adopt the following way of living.
      "Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should 
        do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the 
        prophets."  Matthew 7: 12   You  will only  follow this "Gol-
        den Rule" as you care about others, deeply, and get to know
        them on a personal basis.  Half-measures do not work in any
        other issues of life.  Why should we apply them to our faith.

There are three  chapters in Matthew,  in  which the passage above
appears.  Matthew,  chapters 5, 6 & 7,  are generally called the Ser-
mon on the Mount.  This is a great place to start, if you would avoid
contentious situations with  unbelievers.  Your righteous  life might
just stop their criticism...         donporter,sr, edited 4.11.17

    

Just thinking out loud...7.17.12, edited 11.11.14