Matthew 10:34-42 — Jesus Tells Us to Take Up Our Cross (Ep.045), A. Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Verse 34.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.

I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

A man's enemies will be the members of his own household.

Okay, well, this is very shocking, surprising thing.

We think of Jesus as the Prince of Peace, right? To love your neighbor And here Jesus is saying, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Well, what he means here is the sword is like division, division.

And if you believe in Jesus strongly.

then there's going to be division sometimes in your life.

Maybe friends will not like it that you believe in Jesus, but also maybe even your family.

And so that's why he says, a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and so on.

Sometimes people will be divided in their own family.

Verse 37.

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.

Anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

So, Of course we love our family.

Of course we love our parents.

We love our children.

We should love them, right? But even if it's difficult.

But we love our family.

But Jesus is not saying don't love your family.

What he's saying is you must love me more than your family.

Okay? You must love Jesus more than your family.

Okay? So That's not easy to do, is it? That's not easy to do.