Family feuds. Every family has them. Some go on generation after generation like the Hatfield and the McCoy. (Here's a link for you younger folks that don't know what I'm talking about.
Some family feuds are more like squabbles that we get over quickly. What causes division in your family? Money? Parents playing favorites? Someone's behavior or words? Religious beliefs?
The sword Jesus talks about in verse 34 is the truth of Gods word. This truth has the power to cut us to the core. It exposes our sin and faults, separates us from others, including family. Jesus goes on to tell us if we love anyone more than Him, we are not fit to follow Him. Is God contradicting Himself since God is love? No. Jesus isn't telling us to love Him and hate everyone else. Jesus is telling us to love Him above all others. It's right to love your spouse, your children, your parents, your siblings but love God best. If we do that, the feuds don't matter.
Matthew 10:32-
32“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before My Father in heaven.
32“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before My Father in heaven.
34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 'I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’
37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love Me, you are not worthy of being Mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
40 “Anyone who receives you receives Me, and anyone who receives Me receives the Father who sent me. 41 If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God,
you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. 42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. 42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
Blessings, Cecilia
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