QUESTION

"About whom is the Bible talking that he did not come to bring peace but a sword that he had come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law?"

Jesus said:

Matthew 10:34 "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I did not come to send peace, but a sword.  35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  36 And a man’s foes will be those of his own household."

ANSWER

The Lord Jesus is talking about the indirect result of his work and that of his followers. Anyone who promotes good and denounces bad will gain enemies and have problems. Sometimes this happens even within families. The gospel produces inner peace, peace with God, but the believer will experience antagonism from the enemies of the gospel even though the gospel is good because they prefer evil. So the indirect result of the Lord's good work is trouble from enemies of the gospel even when they are members of one's own families. The alternative is to not accept the truth. In such situations the choice will be - follow Jesus or give in to the family. Now the Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 10:32 ...whoever will confess me before men, will I confess him also before my Father who is in heaven.  33 But whoever will deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

These statements are made when he was advising the twelve before sending them to preach throughout the land of Israel where they would experience some hostility. But he predicts much greater hostility which came after the ascension [see verses 5 to 42]. Such hostility has been experienced by his followers right down to the present time.

To those who compromise he says:

Luke 6:26 Woe to you, when all men will speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

On the other hand antagonism must not be met with antagonism. The Lord said:

Luke 6:27 ... Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  28 Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who use you spitefully.

God's children must "not be overcome by evil" but must "overcome evil with good." [Romans12:21]

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