Welcome back. Great is His faithfulness.
Matthew 10:34-42
Christ Brings Division
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set[a] a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
A Cup of Cold Water40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
According to the blessed Theophylact , harmony sometimes isn't always a good thing, but sometimes separating can be a good thing. The sword, is the word of faith, and this serves as our bond to our families and relatives when they hinder our piety towards God. The Lord never tells us to simply separate ourselves from them, but only when they will not come with us, and especially when they hinder us in our faith. The blessed Theophylact asked a question, "Do you see when it is that we must hate our parents and children? Theophylact responds, " wheh they want us to love them more than Christ.
Christ promised peace before His death on the Cross, but the existence of evil creates spiritual warfare. THE EARTH to which Christ came under the authority of Satan, because Satan is the god of this fallen world- see John 12:31; and 2 Corinthians 4:4. So it's essential that Christ wage war against the leader of vice with the weapons of virtue (Ephesians 6:11-18)- see also Luke 12:51- there we see two kinds of peace, false peace, it's shallow harmony that results from ignoring of the truth. Genuine peace is the reconciliation to God through faith in Christ and surrendering to the truth. Genuine peace has DIVISION, because not everyone wants the truth, and according to the commentary of the Orthodox study Bible this is necessary for truth to manifest- see also 1 Corinthians 11:18-19.
Here in verse 38, goes along with Luke 12:53:Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
This is fulfilling Micah 7:6: For son dishonors father,
Daughter rises against her mother,
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
This is quoted by Christ here in Matthew 10:35-36- Luke 12:53, to it literal meaning , and has been experienced in the Church since the time of Christ, we see the older generations being divided from the younger generation is seen as the rejection of the new covenant by the followers of the old covenant, and the spiritual struggle between our old, sinful state and our renewal in Christ see also Ephesians 4:20-24.
See vv. 40-42, the blessed Theophylact writes, "Lest anyone use poverty as an excuse, He (Christ) says, "If you give even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, you will receive a reward even for this." He Who gives a cup of cold water is also he who teaches one burning with the fire of anger and desire and causes him to be named a disciple of Christ. The teacher will not lose his reward."
Apostles are considered ambassadors and all who represent the Lord. All who extend help to those who need it are showing mercy directly to Christ and will receive God's REWARD (see also Matthew 25:40).
"Let Jesus be both the DIVIDER AND THE JUDGE, we care called to be peacemakers. We are to continue in the footsteps of the Apostles, and according to Matthew 28:19-20: Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
We are to the salt and the light of the world persevering truth being part of the world's healing and not part of its destruction.
Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’
In Christ love Jared W Campbell
#dontgiveup #loveofchrist #loveofgod #churchofchrist #inspirational #orthodoxchristian #orthodoxchristianity #inspiration #holyspiritteaching #holyspirit #holybible #christ #jesusiscoming