Dividing Sword

  

Many have tried to destroy the Bible. In A.D. 303, the Roman emperor Diocletian issued an edict to destroy Christians and their Bibles. Over a burned Bible, he built a monument on which he had inscribed, “Extinto momene Christianorum” (the name Christian is extinguished). Twenty years later, Diocletian was dead and the new, Emperor Constantine, commissioned fifty copies of the Bible to be prepared at government expense. In 1776, Voltaire, the French philosopher, announced, “One hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible on the earth except the one that is looked upon by some antique seeker.” One hundred years later, Voltaire was dead and in his own house, presses were being used to print and store Bibles by the Geneva Bible Society. One hundred years from the day of Voltaire’s prediction, the first edition of his works sold for five cents in Paris, and the British government paid the Czar of Russia one half a million dollars for an ancient Bible manuscript. God’s Word shall stand forever. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

[Matthew 10:34-36] “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” Christ describes Himself as being a sword which divides people. Most in today’s world will never allow themselves to see Christ in this way. For this reason, it becomes important for us to gain an understanding of this passage. After all, any description Christ offers of Himself will help us understand His role in our lives as we serve Him. How does Christ bring about division? Jesus divides people into two categories. Those who confess His name before men and those who deny Him before men (Matthew 10:32-33). Confession is a daily part of Christianity. We confess Jesus as our Lord by living our lives in service to Him. Many will never accept Jesus as their Lord. They may call Him friend or Savior but they refuse to allow Him to be in control of their lives (Matthew 7:21-23). Because of this, a line has been drawn in the sand. Christ has separated His followers from the rest of the world with a sword. Now we must ask ourselves what the dividing sword is. John described Jesus as having a “sharp two-edged sword” coming from His mouth (Revelation 1:16). In Hebrews, the Word of God is compared to a “two-edged sword” which is “piercing even to the division of soul and spirit” (Hebrews 4:12). In the gospel of John, Jesus is described as “the Word which became flesh (John 1:14). These passages help us to understand the idea of Jesus being a dividing sword. God’s Word (truth) forces a choice. We chose to obey or disregard the commandments of God. In choosing to obey God, we may alienate ourselves from friends and family that refuse to follow in Christ’s footsteps. This brings about that division described by Christ as recorded in the gospel of Matthew.

How should we show our love for Jesus (Matthew 10:37-39)? Jesus answers this question for us. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Jesus has given us a reminder that He is to be placed above all things, including family, in the lives of Christians. Family is the most prized possession we have on earth. Yet Christ demands a higher place than family in the lives of Christians. We must not listen to anyone who attempts to reunite us with the world of sin that we left behind when we obeyed God’s commands. To do so shows God that we love someone on this earth more than we love Him. God demands to be first in our life. It is our duty to place Him as our Lord, no matter what it may cost us here on earth. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).