The Word Is A Sword That Divides

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. [Matthew 10.34]

Jesus, God's Word Incarnate, was never so clear about Who He Is! He brought a sword in that He IS the sword of the Spirit: the very living Word of God in the flesh.

God's Word IS Jesus. Jesus IS God's Word.

When Jesus said, "It is written..." to Satan or anyone else, He was in effect saying, "I am, therefore I say..." By saying, "It is written..." Jesus identified His authority.

The revelation of Jesus as God's Word is not for the faint of heart. Nothing highlights this more than the understanding that Christ is IN His followers as they are IN Him. The fact that Jesus sent His followers just as He was sent only confirms His superiority over everything. 

Jesus did not come to coexist with Satan, instead, He came to wipe Satan out. The critical factor in this taking place however is, for us, no different than it was for Jesus: faith. Without faith, Jesus could not please God and without faith we cannot please God! So, what would be the one thing Satan would expend all his efforts to undermine? FAITH! What is the one thing people in Jesus' day struggled with and that people today struggle equally as much over? FAITH.

Having concluded that Satan's main goal is to undermine faith, should we not then be on highest alert for any and every thing in our lives that would be that manifest undermining work of Satan? (Yes, we should!)

What is it that undermines faith in God? In a word, IDOLS. What are idols? Idols are any and every thing that attract man's faith and trust away from God. Let's talk about idols for a moment...

Idols don't have to have man's undivided trust like God requires. Instead, they offer varying degrees of mixed trust - even allowing "God" to be retained alongside them. In fact, idols don't even mind those who trust in them giving God full or partial credit because they know that faith is much deeper than mere words (just because someone claims faith in God does not mean their actions verify it - faith is only validated by actions).

What does this have to do with Matthew 10.34? The Sword of God's Word, Jesus, came to blow Satan's cover. Jesus came to separate man from idols forever including man's idolatry with lifeless religion. The execution of this plan (the Good News) would not bring peace, but instead, a division of those who believe from those who do not believe (regardless what they say). This Gospel Plan would require undivided faith, and that is why Jesus went on, in this context, to say:

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. [Matthew 10.38-39]

It's all or nothing with Jesus. Everyone knows, then and now, that this kind of devotion to Jesus caused and causes division. This division usually begins at home and that is precisely why we have what Jesus said between Matthew 10.34 and Matthew 10.38-39:

‘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. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ “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. [Matthew 10.35-37]

When we, like Jesus, start blowing up (revealing) idols with the truth of God's Word, it gets ugly and it does so quickly! In fact, it gets ugly for us too because our own indiscretions of faith come into the limelight. But, my hypocrisy does not change the truth - it only perilously masks it.

I had really hoped, as the One Year Chronological Bible readings moved into the New Testament this time through, that all the Holy Spirit's focus (in my understanding) would finally shift away from all the overriding Old Testament idolatry talk... But this year is different. This year, I see that the Old and New Testaments are not divided as we have supposed for so long. They are indeed both about Jesus! They are indeed both about undivided faith in God and God alone! They are indeed two different perspectives of Jesus, but still, both about Jesus.

Contrary to popular opinion, idols are more of a problem today than they were in the Old Testament. Idols today are much more subtle, much more educated, much more experienced at deception, and sadly much more effective at drawing precious faith and trust away from God. And, as I have been saying for some time now, we should be on highest alert for idolatry in the following areas of life: debt, insurance, medicine and technology. People do not want to confront these idols in their lives, and I get it - I don't either. But we should ask ourselves this question, "Have these areas of life gradually and subtly albeit methodically drawn my "active" faith away from God (and to themselves)?" That sword cuts deep.

Father, no doubt, undivided faith in You will polarize us with many (starting sadly at home). May we not therefore flippantly declare "Jesus" without the sober understanding that He, being God's very Word, is a Sword that brings division between what pleases, and what does not please, You.