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NASB | Luke 12:51 "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 12:51 "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division [between believers and unbelievers]; [Matt 10:34-36] |
Bible Question:
Dear Forum: On Wednesday nights at our church we have been studying the Beatitudes, and we just examined the words of Jesus: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." --Matthew 5:9. We also see in other places in Scripture which highlight peace: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." --John 14:27 "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace" --Romans 8:6 "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." --Romans 12:18 The book 1 Peter also has a great deal to say about promoting peace in the midst of adversity. Now we come to verses like the one I cited as the reference for this question. The Prince of Peace Himself says that He came not to bring peace, but division. The parallel passage in Matthew 10:24 uses the word "sword" in place of division. We can also see that the very preaching of Jesus did nothing to promote peace with the Pharisees. The preaching of the gospel in Acts helped the apostles find their way to a jail cell and to martyrdom. We even see in more recent church history how the Protestant Reformation, in recovering the true gospel of Christ has led to all kinds of horrendous acts. Some in our nation today even tell us that peace can only be attained if we never talk about religion, because it is a "private thing" that only creates trouble. The proclamation of biblical Christianity is primarily the "culprit" of such divisiveness. So, let's dwell on this a while: how can we be both promoters of peace and present a gospel which has always served to divide people (as indeed Jesus Christ claimed to do)? --Joe! |
Bible Answer: Hi Joe, the answer to your question, are we bringers of peace or division, the answer is an unequivocal yes. The verses in Scripture as well as your question, is a paronomasia, to say the least; they are both right and yet both wrong. It is all a matter of perspective and that depends on which side the recipients are on; the closest that I think I could come would be a comparison of Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. And the verse that describes the way that the gospel works and the administration of the same Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. The gospel message is either peace or division, it all depends on what the hearer does with it; if it is accepted and believed on, it brings peace: if it is rejected it is a division not only between the speaker and the hearer but a division between the hearer and God Himself. One can be at peace with God or God's wrath is on him. There is no shade of gray here, either you is or you aint! Did I say that right? My point of view, good question, CDBJ |