Did Jesus Really Say That? Part 4: "I Came Not to Bring Peace, but a Sword"

Have you ever sat at a family dinner where one comment split the whole table? Voices rose, forks paused mid-air, and suddenly the meal wasn’t about the food anymore. That’s the kind of moment Jesus often created. Not just at the table, but in the home, in the heart, and in the deepest loyalties of life.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:34–39

Please open in your Bibles to Matthew 10:34-39. This is the Word of the Lord:

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 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. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 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. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Here ends the reading of God's Word. Praise be to God.

Prayer for Illumination

Let's pray, asking the Lord to open His Word to us this morning.

Father, we thank you for the gift of Your Word. By the power of Your Spirit, please open our eyes to see Jesus, our ears to hear and understand His teaching, and our hearts to cherish and live in view of its truth. Amen

Two Questions

It has become common today to present Jesus as an invariably gentle shepherd, a compassionate healer, and a socially inclusive teacher who rarely delivers strong moral judgments—except perhaps when His words can be adapted to endorse contemporary political causes. But this picture is incomplete. The Jesus of the Gospels also speaks words that confront, disturb, and demand. Today we hear Him declare: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).

But wait a second: How does this square with other passages? Did not Isaiah call Him the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)? Did not the angels sing "peace on earth" at His birth (Luke 2:14)? Did not Jesus say to His disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (John 14:27)?

Yes, He did say these things. And yes, He meant them. So what are we to make of this statement? To understand, we must ask two questions. First, did Jesus contradict Himself? Second, what kind of division should a Christian expect, endure, and even embrace?

First, Did Jesus Contradict Himself?

This is not a contradiction. Jesus is clarifying what kind of peace He came to bring.

On the one hand, Jesus does not delight in strife. He pronounced a blessing on the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Throughout His ministry, Jesus avoided unnecessary conflict when it would hinder His saving mission. He withdrew from crowds when they sought to make Him king by force (John 6:15). He instructed the healed leper to tell no one but the priest (Luke 5:14), avoiding premature confrontations that would obstruct His path to the cross. He explicitly condemned violence as the means of advancing His kingdom. When Peter struck with the sword in Gethsemane, Jesus rebuked him: "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). When questioned by Pilate, He declared, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting" (John 18:36).

Yet Jesus never avoided the conflicts necessary for our salvation. He cleansed the temple, knowing it would enrage the religious leaders (John 2:13-17). He spoke hard truths to the Pharisees, calling them "whitewashed tombs" (Matthew 23:27). He claimed equality with God, fully aware it would lead to His crucifixion (John 5:18). Every conflict He embraced served His mission to reconcile sinners to the Father.

Second, What Kind of Division?

So what does Jesus mean? His peace—the reconciliation He purchased through His atoning work—creates inevitable conflict with a world in rebellion. "Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). This peace with God, won by Christ's perfect life and substitutionary death and confirmed by His resurrection and ascension, exposes and challenges every rival loyalty. James reminds us, "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" (James 4:4). The result is division. Christ's peace reconciles sinners to the Father, but like a sword, it cuts through sin, idolatry, and misplaced allegiance. The division comes not from our militancy, but from Christ's exclusive claims and finished work.

With that in mind, let's look again at this morning's passage.

Not Peace, but a Sword (v. 34)

When Jesus says, "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34), He is not calling for physical violence but describing the division caused by His truth. His Word cuts to the heart like a surgeon's scalpel, discerning the very thoughts and intentions of the soul. The write of Hebrews speaks this way when he says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Protestant reformer John Calvin explained it well: "Christ is not the author of strife, but wherever His gospel is preached, the perversity of men soon occasions disturbances." In other words, the strife resulting from following Jesus is not of His making but of human resistance to His claims.

Even Families Will Be Divided (vv. 35–36)

Jesus makes this even clearer as He presses the point by quoting the prophet Micah: "A son treats his father with contempt; a daughter rises up against her mother … a man's enemies are the men of his own house" (Micah 7:6). In first-century Israel, family loyalty was the highest value, yet Jesus insists that following Him takes precedence even over these sacred ties. Allegiance to Him will even divide households.

This does not contradict God's design for family. Another minor prophet, Malachi, promised that the coming of the Lord would bring reconciliation: "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." (Malachi 4:6). Ultimately, God's purpose is reconciliation, but only through Christ. Apart from Him, division and curse remain.

This remains true today. In many cultures, following Jesus means rejection, estrangement, or even violence from one's family. Even in the West, where opposition is often subtler, believers may still face ridicule, coldness, or alienation in the home, workplace, or school. The sword still cuts.

Supreme Allegiance Goes to Christ (v. 37)

Jesus continues: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). He is not rejecting family bonds—elsewhere He affirms the command to honor father and mother (Matthew 15:4). But He insists that love for Him must take precedence.

Luke renders it even more starkly: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother … he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26). Jesus does not mean literal hostility and deep-seated animosity but that compared to our devotion to Him, every other love must pale.

We Must Take Up Our Cross (v. 38)

Here Matthew introduces the cross for the first time. Jesus says, "Whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:38). At this point, the cross was not a symbol of faith but an instrument of execution. His disciples would have heard this as a shocking call to embrace suffering, rejection, and even death.

Jesus places the cross—His cross and ours—at the very heart of discipleship. His cross secured our salvation; our cross demonstrates our union with Him. To follow Him is to lay down our rights, our reputations, and even our lives in light of what He has already accomplished for us. As Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).

Loss for Christ Is Gain (v. 39)

Jesus concludes: "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). This is the great paradox of the gospel. Clinging to life leads to death; surrendering life to Christ leads to life eternal.

Paul reflects the same truth when he writes, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Martin Luther once observed, "A Christian lives not in himself, but in Christ and in his neighbor." True life is not found in self-preservation but in self-giving surrender to the Lord.

So what is the practical import of Christ's teaching here? Let's note two things.

There Are False Divisions to Avoid

Not every conflict is Christ's conflict. Paul warns against quarreling over words, which does no good but only ruins the hearers (2 Timothy 2:14). He also exhorts believers, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18).

We must therefore avoid division for its own sake, mistaking abrasiveness for boldness. We must resist baptizing our loyalties – political and otherwise – as if they were the kingdom of God, for Christ will not be reduced to the mascot of our tribes. And we must reject loveless truth-telling, remembering that Christ came "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

And There Are Faithful Divisions We Must Expect, Endure, and Even Embrace

Yet Jesus is clear: division for His sake is inevitable. He Himself warned, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18). Paul echoed this reality: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12).

This means we must expect opposition, endure rejection, and embrace the cross. Far from signaling failure, such division confirms our union with Christ. As Peter reminds us, "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed" (1 Peter 4:14).

How Do We Live This Out?

This passage compels us to examine our loyalties. When allegiances collide, Christ must come first. We must learn to distinguish between gospel faithfulness and quarrels born of pride. We are called to be peacemakers whenever possible, remembering that Jesus blesses those who make peace (Matthew 5:9). In seasons of loss, we cling to hope, for He promises that anyone who has left family or fields for His sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:29).

What Could It Look Like?

In practice, this kind of division can take many forms. Positively, it may look like a teenager who chooses to obey Christ even when it costs friendships. It may look like a professional who refuses to compromise integrity, even when advancement is at stake. It may look like a believer who bears estrangement from family with patient love, yet continues to love, serve, and pray for them in the hope that they too may come to know Christ.

We see the same pattern in Scripture. Daniel, for example, refused the king’s food and wine in Babylon because he would not defile himself against God’s law (Daniel 1:8). That decision set him apart, but it also testified to his supreme allegiance to the Lord. Or think of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). These are moments where faithfulness to Christ meant enduring division, but doing so with courage and grace.

But there are also negative examples, times when division is distorted into something selfish or destructive. It does not look like a Christian who quarrels endlessly online, mistaking harshness for courage. It does not look like someone who breaks family ties over politics or personal preference and then calls it “faithfulness.” And it certainly does not look like wielding truth as a club without love, for the sword Jesus brings is His Word, not our arrogance.

We see such distortions in Scripture as well. The Corinthians, for instance, divided into camps—some claiming Paul, some Apollos, some Cephas (1 Corinthians 1:12). Paul rebuked them sharply, reminding them that Christ is not divided. Their divisions were not for the sake of the gospel but for pride, personalities, and party spirit.

Faithful division means suffering loss for Christ’s sake, not creating strife for our own pride. In Christ’s hands, the sword cuts in order to heal. It separates us from sin and idolatry so that we might belong wholly to Him, and in belonging to Him, we learn to love even those who oppose us.

Closing Prayer

Let's pray as we close.

Father, thank you for the grace and privilege of following Your Son, Jesus Christ, even when it results in division for His Name. Grant us the grace of Your Spirit to stand firm in the faith, maintaining peace as much as it depends upon us, but not losing heart when the inevitable conflicts come. As Jesus endured conflict for us, let us do the same for Him. Amen.

Reflection & Discussion

Use these questions for personal reflection, journaling, or group conversation.

Where are your allegiances tested most?
Jesus said, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). Where do you feel the pull of competing loves—family, career, approval, comfort? How do these tensions reveal what you value most? (Luke 14:26; Colossians 3:1–4)

How do you understand “taking up your cross”?
Jesus calls us to take up the cross and follow Him (Matthew 10:38). What does that look like in daily life—loss of comfort, reputation, or opportunity? How do you distinguish between true cross-bearing and ordinary hardships? (Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20)

What does it mean to “lose your life” for Christ’s sake?
Jesus teaches that whoever loses life for His sake will find it (Matthew 10:39). Where are you tempted to cling tightly to control, reputation, or security? How does surrendering these things bring deeper joy and freedom? (John 12:24–26; Philippians 3:7–11)

How do you respond to division over the gospel?
Jesus warned that His coming would divide even households (Matthew 10:35–36). Have you experienced relational strain because of your faith? How should you endure such division without bitterness, and with patient love? (Micah 7:6; John 15:18–20; 1 Peter 4:12–16)

Where do you need to resist false division?
Not all conflict is faithful. Paul warns against quarreling about words (2 Timothy 2:14), and James condemns selfish ambition that breeds disorder (James 3:14–16). Where might pride, partisanship, or harshness masquerade as “courage” in your life? (Romans 12:18; Galatians 5:13–15)

How does the hope of eternal family reshape present loss?
Jesus promises that anyone who has left family for His sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life (Matthew 19:29). How does this promise encourage you to endure present alienation or rejection? (Mark 10:29–30; Revelation 7:9–10)

Related Scriptures for Further Study

• Matthew 10:34–39 – Christ brings division, demands supreme allegiance.
• Isaiah 9:6 – Messiah foretold as Prince of Peace.
• Luke 2:14 – Angels announce peace on earth at Christ’s birth.
• John 14:27 – Jesus promises His disciples His peace.
• Matthew 26:52 – Jesus rebukes Peter for taking up the sword.
• John 18:36 – Jesus declares His kingdom is not of this world.
• Romans 5:1 – Peace with God through justification by faith.
• James 4:4 – Friendship with the world is enmity with God.
• Micah 7:6 – Families divided in the day of judgment.
• Malachi 4:6 – God’s plan to reconcile fathers and children.
• Luke 14:26–27 – Discipleship demands supreme loyalty and cross-bearing.
• Galatians 2:20 – Crucified with Christ; living by faith in Him.
• Philippians 3:7–11 – Counting all as loss for the surpassing worth of Christ.
• 2 Timothy 2:14 – Avoid quarreling about words; it ruins the hearers.
• James 3:14–16 – Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition produce disorder.
• Romans 12:18 – As far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
• 1 Peter 4:12–16 – Rejoice if you suffer as a Christian.
• Matthew 19:29 – Promise of eternal family for those who leave all to follow Christ.
• Revelation 7:9–10 – The family of God gathered from every nation before His throne.

These sermon summaries are solely intended for the personal devotional use of church members and friends. They are not transcripts or academic works and should not be reproduced or distributed without permission.

Originally prepared by Kevin Labby during his vocational service at First Evangelical Free Church of McKeesport. Used with permission. Copyright remains with the church. Please do not reproduce or distribute without written consent from both the church and the author.