In Matthew 10:34-36, Jesus makes a difficult statement that has puzzled and troubled many readers of the Bible. He says, “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.”
At first glance, this passage seems to contradict Jesus’ message of love, forgiveness, and turning the other cheek. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), so what did he mean by coming to bring a sword and set family members against each other?
To properly understand this passage, we need to look at the context. In Matthew 10, Jesus is sending out his twelve disciples to preach the gospel, perform miracles, and proclaim the kingdom of heaven. However, he warns them that they will face persecution, flogging, betrayal, hatred, and opposition as they carry out their mission. The “sword” Jesus refers to is not a literal, physical sword, but the ideological clash and spiritual “warfare” his disciples will face as they advance the gospel in a fallen world.
Jesus uses hyperbole or exaggeration to emphasize that the gospel can be divisive. As people respond differently to the message of Christ, division and discord may occur between believers and unbelievers, even in the closest of relationships. Jesus is saying that faith in him and allegiance to the gospel should take priority over earthly relationships, even family ties (Luke 14:26). When faced with a choice between loyalty to Jesus or remaining in the world’s favor, disciples must choose Jesus.
The gospel cuts at the core of cultural values and forces people to take sides. Some will accept it, while others will reject it. In the 1st century context, Jewish converts to Christianity experienced intense opposition from non-believing family and community members. Their choice for Christ was seen as treasonous and caused tremendous upheaval in relational dynamics. Even today, in many contexts, new converts to Christianity face ostracization, disownment, or persecution from their families and communities.
Jesus wants his disciples to be prepared for the spiritual warfare and familial disruption that the gospel may bring. He is not minimizing the desirable goal of peace, but rather acknowledging the hard reality that the gospel divides people because of sin and unbelief. His statement brings into the open the hidden conflict between light and darkness, kingdom of God vs. kingdom of this world.
Later, in Matthew 10:39, Jesus clarifies that finding life in Him may mean losing it in this world. He assures his disciples that their reward for faithful endurance will be great. Indeed, throughout Scripture, Jesus consistently calls us to love our enemies, turn the other cheek, bless those who persecute us, and sacrificially serve others, even at personal cost (Matthew 5:43-48).
So in summary, when Jesus said he came to bring a sword, he was referring to:
- The spiritual warfare and animosity that the gospel would incite because of people’s sinful rejection of God.
- The hostility and persecution disciples will face from a world in opposition to God.
- The dissension that would occur even between family members over allegiance to Jesus.
- The difficult choice disciples have to follow Jesus even at the expense of earthly relationships.
- The cost of discipleship that may involve losing one’s life in this world to gain it eternally.
Jesus was preparing his disciples for the reality of conflict and conviction of faith in a fallen world. He was not sanctioning violence or diminishing the ethical commands to love and serve everyone, even persecutors. Elsewhere, he consistently denounces literal, physical violence and retaliation (Matthew 26:52).
True disciples of Jesus live by faith even in the face of opposition, cling to truth at personal cost, love others sacrificially, and advance the gospel through spiritual and ethical means alone. The sword they wield is not made of metal but empowered by the spirit of God (Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:17).
Jesus himself modeled radical forgiveness and non-retaliation even unto death. At the cross, he allowed himself to be “pierced” so that we might be reconciled and brought to peace with God (John 19:34, Romans 5:1). The violence he suffered for us extinguishes any right we have to commit violence and vengeance against others, even our “enemies.”
The difficult truth is that not everyone will accept this offer of reconciliation. God allows humans the dignity of choice. Those who reject God’s kingdom inevitably come into conflict with those who accept it. This is the ideological and spiritual battle Jesus foretold. The sword represents the irreconcilable differences between those who follow Christ and those who oppose the gospel.
The good news is that faith in Jesus transforms hearts and changes lives. Many who start out as “enemies of the cross” later become ardent disciples upon encountering the radical love and truth of Christ. In God’s providence, even opposition to the gospel can be used to advance its reach and impact. Persecution led to the scattering abroad of the early church “throughout the region” (Acts 8:1-4).
Jesus gave his followers fair warning that the path of discipleship is difficult and divisive. But he will be with them through it all, as the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11-18). The sword he brings is not intended for conquest but redemption. It pierces hearts with conviction to lay bare the thoughts and intentions within, calling all image-bearers to align with the kingdom of peace (Hebrews 4:12). Those who come to Jesus find the peace with God that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
So in bringing a sword, Jesus was acknowledging the reality of spiritual conflict in a fallen world headed for judgment. But through his death and resurrection, Jesus nullified the ultimate weapon of destruction, reconciled enemies, defeated evil through self-sacrifice, and absorbed violence in love. One day, the sword will be beaten into a plowshare as the earth is filled with the knowledge of the glory of God (Isaiah 2:4, Habakkuk 2:14). Till then, disciples carry the cross, speak truth in love, and bear witness to the gospel that makes for peace.