What did Jesus mean when he said, "I came not to bring peace but a sword!"

This is one of those apparent contradictory statements by Jesus again. I love these type of statements by the Lord. And why? Because it forces me to carefully examine the text to see what he meant by this controversial phrase. 

Once again to understand what Jesus meant, we must understand the context in which he said it. Matthew 10:34-37 says, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth, but a sword. For I came to set a man against Father, and a Daughter against her Mother, and a Daughter-In-Law against her Mother-In-Law; and a man's enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves Father and Mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who will lose his life for my sake will find it."

The prior verses tell us that Jesus had commissioned his disciples to preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast of demons (Matt 10:5-8). 

When Jesus said, "I came not to bring peace, but a sword", he was making reference to a sword of division between family members. Why in the world would Jesus want to do that? Because, family are the closest relationships we have in the earth. If we are to be effective genuine Christians, we have to be willing to abandon any and all relationships for the excellency that is in Jesus Christ or else we CANNOT serve him.  Jesus is commanding ultimate love and devotion to him first. All other relationships must be subservient to his. 

Jesus is not being double minded when he says that he came not to bring peace. He is and always will be the Prince of Peace as Isaiah 9:6 tells us. Yet at the same time, the life we must live as Christians will not be totally devoid of conflict and trial. Ultimately peace will prevail, but prior to obtaining eternal peace we will have conflict; perhaps even in our own family. Jesus is warning his readers that a cost is required to follow him. It is like he is saying, "Are you willing to cast your vote for me even at the expense of your family and even your own life?" If one is unwilling to do that, they cannot be Jesus' disciple. 

In Luke 9:59-62 we read these words, And he said to another, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my Father. But he said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow you Lord, but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him. "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God."

If we are to follow Christ, we cannot make any excuses. Either we are all the way in, or we are out; no middle ground! Thank the Lord he cares enough about us to warn us first what is required to  follow him. Jesus does not paint a unrealistic pretty picture, but a real one of the cost of discipleship. 

Are there times when it is OK to hate someone?

In Psalm 139:21 we read David saying, "Do I not hate them O Lord that hate you? And am I not grieved with those that rise up against you? I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them my enemies."

These feelings by David are in contradiction to what Jesus taught us about loving our enemies and doing good to them right (Matt 5:44)? So why did David feel justified in hating his enemies? How could he make such an out loud and brash statement like he did? The word hate is the Hebrew word miseo. The word has several meanings; malice, disregard, preferring one thing over another, dislike.

David was justified in saying he hated those that hated God because those that hate God are his enemies, and are bent on committing evil. The nations that Israel had to drive out of Canaan were perversely wicked nations that God commanded them to destroy. Why? Because God hated those nations. Would God have commanded those nations be destroyed if he loved them?  Of course not. An evil person wicked ways are repulsive to God and HAVE to be repulsive to us as well - those of us who are his children.  If not, we are siding with God's enemies which we must not do.

So, how do we balance what Jesus commanded us in Matthew 5:44 verses what David said in Psalm 139:21? Jesus commanded us to love and pray for our enemies which we are supposed to do. That does not mean we want God to bless them in their state of wickedness and rebellion. Rather we should pray that they repent of their sins and believe the gospel so that they can be saved. We are to despise them - not with an unjustified malicious hatred toward them, but a godly, holy hatred because of their wicked ways. It is a justified hatred with a godly cause - all the while praying for the salvation of their soul even as your enemy. 

Remember, whom or what God hates, we hate. Whom or what God loves, we love. 

A perfect example of a righteous hatred would be the terrorist regime ISIS. Question, does God love them? I would say yes and no.

These terrorists are enemies of God and his Church. They are beheading and crucifying Christians. They have made it clear that they hate God and his children. I think I would be safe in saying that God hates ISIS and we should to because they are evil. I know that language sounds strange. The paradox however is that we are to love and pray for the individuals salvation, and at the same time pray for them being brought to justice, their organization destroyed and even executed for their crimes. They deserve to die. They are an abomination to all, but we as believers should pray they do not perish eternally.

Even though it can be hard to understand this apparent duplicitous dynamic humanly, it is not difficult to decipher in the mind of God. God's hate of something or someone is just as perfect and holy as his love. We must not forget that. And remember, David's loathing of those in his day was justified because of the wickedness of those who hated God. God is holy and perfect. Anyone who is against God is against us. Jesus said, "Whoever is not for me is against me (Matt 12:30)."

Jesus at the end of time will destroy all evil - that means he will kill everyone of his enemies. Why? Because he loves them so? No, because he despises them for their evil and for his holiness sake he must judge them (Rev 19:11-21).  God would not be just if he did not judge evil doers. Just as a human judge must sentence wicked people to life in prison or death for their crimes, God must and will do the same thing.

God's hating of individuals is never baseless or causeless. It is because man is against and hates God that God reacts with perfect hatred. We like David have to hate evil doers as well; not with the attitude that we are pursuing personal revenge, but that God would punish them in his time.