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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: Joe- I believe that, yes, the Lord brings peace - to those who accept Him as Lord and Savior but it is not the kind of peace that the world sees as peace. It is peace of the soul and spirit. When we do as He commanded and share the Gospel, there will be division, because it is contrary to all this world teaches, even to the point of possibly alienating families. Even Romans 12:18 acknowledges that it is only as far as we are able - not that there will be peace. If we see brothers feuding, it is up to us to try to reconcile them acting out of the love the Lord has given us. The gospel did not divide believers - only those who pretended to love God. If we act and believe according to the Word of God, there is unity. It is only those who don't believe that the Word of God is truth who will be divided. I'm not talking about small matters of denominational belief but the basic belief of Jesus as being the one and only Son of the Father and who is God and always was God and a part of the triune God and that He is the only way to the Father. May the Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you! Debbie |