13 · Words of Jesus

Not Peace but a Sword

Matthew 10:34–39

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Jesus teaches while a family in the background stands divided on opposing sides, symbolizing the conflict discipleship can cause.

Jesus warns that following him can divide families.

Does Jesus call his followers to violence?

Choose a perspective

There is no score – choose the perspective you find closest and discuss why.

Discuss: How does the sword relate to loving enemies?

After your discussion: compare with our assessment

Our assessment

A captures how the “sword” is explained by the division in verses 35–36. Luke's parallel uses “division” in the corresponding teaching. C captures the rest of the passage: loyalty to Jesus can conflict with strong family bonds, and the cross shows how far the disciple must be prepared to go.

13 · Matthew 10:34–39

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Text & context

Full translation

34 Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Translated from the Greek text – SBLGNT

What is happening here?
Matthew 10 concerns Jesus sending out his disciples and preparing them for opposition, persecution, and difficult conflicts of loyalty. In verse 34 Jesus uses the shocking image of a sword. The following verses explain the conflict through family members ending up on opposing sides because of loyalty to Jesus. Jesus then goes further: love for family must not stand above loyalty to him. The disciple must be prepared to take up the cross and follow him, even at the cost of life itself.
Notice this

Jesus does not say: “Take up the sword.” He says: “Take up his cross and follow after me.” The sword describes the division his coming can cause. The cross describes what the disciple must be prepared to bear. Luke 12:51–53 renders the parallel teaching with division and follows it with the same kind of family conflict.

Language & translation

From the Greek

εἰρήνην – eirēnēn

peace Eirēnē means peace and stands here in contrast with machaira.

μάχαιραν – machairan

sword Machaira refers to a sword or substantial knife-like weapon. We retain Jesus' sharp wording.

διχάσαι – dichasai

to divide / set against The verb describes separation or division. The family conflicts help explain the effect represented by the “sword.”

ἄξιος – axios

worthy The word recurs as Jesus speaks about loyalty to him above family bonds and taking up the cross.

σταυρόν – stauron

cross For the first hearers, a cross was a Roman instrument of execution, not merely a symbol for ordinary hardship.

ψυχήν – psychēn

life / soul In verse 39 the word appears in the paradox of finding and losing one's life. We use “life.”

Translation note

Independent English translation from the Greek text, using SBLGNT as the primary Greek edition.

Compare for yourself

  • eirēnē
  • machaira
  • dichasai
  • axios
  • stauros
  • psychē
  • how Luke renders the corresponding contrast

Read Matthew 10:34–39 and Luke 12:51–53 and compare:

Continue the conversation

Discuss further
  1. How can Jesus' words here be understood together with his command to love enemies?
  2. When can faithfulness to a conviction create conflict without a person seeking the conflict?
  3. What would “take up your cross” have meant before the cross became a common Christian symbol?
  4. How far may loyalty to Jesus affect relationships within one's own family?
Parallel passages
  • Luke 12:51–53
  • Micah 7:6
  • Matthew 10:16–33
  • Matthew 16:24–26
Sources
  • The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (SBLGNT), Michael W. Holmes, ed.
  • Matthew 10:34–39
  • Luke 12:51–53
  • Micah 7:6
  • Standard Greek lexical resources for eirēnē, machaira, dichazō, axios, stauros, and psychē