Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Matthew.
Matthew 10:34-37 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 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.
And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
A foe is an enemy. Usually when we think about an enemy, we tend to think about soldiers that go into a battle against others, but some of the closest enemies that you are going to find are right within your own family. Wives and children will rise up and resist the leadership of God’s head of the house. The husband is the one that has been ordained by God to command his own family. He’s been charged with that responsibility and scripture clearly teaches us that wives and children need to submit, honor and obey him. When they choose to go the opposite direction, they openly reject the teachings of Christ Jesus which results in division. As a young child, you are supposed to obey your parents, but as one moves into adulthood, our beliefs in the things that He taught are at times going to take us in a completely different direction than the path that they are walking on.
As a young child I had been to numerous church groups, but as an adult I had to turn away from them because they had women preaching and speaking in their groups, and were openly ordaining homosexual people. The women were usurping over men, and making the attempt to teach scripture, even at bible studies. These things are openly forbidden in scripture, but you really can’t tell them anything because in that frame of mind, they are believing a lie. These people are not ordained by God but by men, and lost ones at that. Their robes and religious garb cannot cloak their open rebellion towards the one who gave His own life to save them.
Sincere love for Christ is to have a heart that is ready to serve Him and to do His will, rather than blindly following after earthly relatives. Today, many people worship their mommy rather than God. I wrote a story about that 20 years ago and it’s coming to pass today. Remember it’s the devil who wants to be in control. He usurps God and wants to be worshiped, as evidenced in the temptation of Jesus. We are to worship and serve Jesus Christ, following Him rather than relatives. We are to reject their blatant and heretical opposition to God’s truth. Division happened between the Lord Jesus and His own relatives because they were not serving God from their heart. He taught that His true family were those who did the will of His Father in heaven.
Matthew 12:47-50 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Even when people lavished praise on Mary, Jesus taught that it was doing God’s will that brought a blessing from God.
Luke 11:27-28 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Variance is having differences that produces disputes, disagreement, and discord. It also has been defined as a state of enmity with God, resulting from a refusal to accept scriptural teachings. Standing up for the truth will bring on persecution by those who refuse to submit to it.
John 15:19-20 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Obviously we are called to love others, but love for God has to be greater than any other relationship, otherwise you become unworthy of Him. Love for others will speak the truth of the Gospel. Earthly families are only temporary, but the family of God through Christ Jesus will last forever.
When you stand for the truth, you are going to be persecuted by those who refuse to accept it, beginning with your own relatives. Because of their refusal to believe the truth and repent of their own sins, it’s going to bring disharmony in relationships. Within the church the thing that binds us together are the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are supposed to be joined together in one spirit, through belief in God’s Word, striving to walk together in the same faith that was handed down once to the saints. Disagreements and contentions are caused by befriending the world and its ways, rather than the way of Christ.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Galatians 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
It is the teachings of God’s Holy Word that creates division within a home. Just like a sharp knife will cut a loaf of bread in two, Holy Scripture does the same thing, reaching down deep inside of someones heart.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
It is through faith in the teachings of God’s Word that we can become sanctified and serve God from our hearts. Again, the first and great commandment is to love God, and that love for Him must be greater than any other love in our life. When we place Him first in our hearts, we will make decisions based on His calling, rather than the opinions of your relatives. Love for Him must be first, otherwise you make yourself unworthy of Him.
Luke 12:49-53 – I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Jesus never came to bring peace, but division. Just as a loaf of bread is separated in two, people’s opinions will be divided by spiritual truth, because the Word of God….
…..Cuts like a Knife
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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