Paradoxes of Truth

By Samantha Rodriguez

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’”—Matthew 10:32–36 (NIV)

It's important to break Scripture down into sections because it allows us to really soak in what the Word is saying, but it’s also pivotal to take into account the context of what’s going on in the Scripture. Yesterday, we got to look at one portion of Jesus’ message to His disciples before sending them off to do ministry on their own. Today, we’re taking a look at the next section of what He had to say.

Before we dive in, however, I want to bring to your attention a specific verse from yesterday’s devotional. In Matthew 10:23 (NIV), Jesus says, “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.” If you were to read all of Matthew 10, it may initially seem contradictory that Jesus would say flee persecution but also disown those who don’t acknowledge Him before others. So, what is Jesus actually saying?

Jesus is trying to make a point about wisdom and courage. Jesus knows we can sometimes be extreme people. We’re always looking for sides to take, and our personalities often push us to lean more toward one side than another. Some people are more naturally timid, while others are more naturally impulsive. While being cautious or bold may not be completely bad, in their extreme, they can be detrimental to our faith and our mission as ambassadors of Christ!

You see, Jesus doesn’t want us to be irresponsible. There will be times when He might call us to step away from a dangerous situation because it’s the wiser decision. On the other hand, He never wants us to allow “wisdom” to be an excuse for fear. He wants us to be bold in our faith—never too ashamed to acknowledge Him before others. He was bold enough to stand in our place on the cross and love us through all the rejection, so we must pray and ask Him to help us have the same unashamed love for Him!

The last part of this Scripture also seems contradictory. What did Jesus mean He did not come to bring peace but a sword? Isn’t this the same Jesus who says in John 14:27 (NIV), “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” This is yet another instance where Jesus is trying to differentiate between two things we may easily confuse. Jesus did indeed come to bring peace, but this peace must be received and embraced by those who choose to put their faith in Him. Jesus’ sacrifice reinstated the peace between us sinful people and our holy God! This gift functions just like any other gift, though. We must choose to receive and use it, allowing it to change our lives!

When Jesus talks about the sword, He’s referring to all the warnings of persecution that we read earlier. The gospel has always divided people. Those who don’t believe the gospel, who are offended by it, or who are opposed to God will always cause issues. The beauty of this “sword” is that it will expose the truth, and we must remember that even in our efforts to bring the gospel of peace to those around us, it’s ultimately not in our control how they respond to it. As long as we continue being faithful and unashamed in our relationship with Christ, we’ll live with His eternal peace and joy!

Pause: How have you perhaps confused wisdom with fear? What areas of your life do you need to be bolder and courageous with your faith?

Practice: Challenge yourself to ask someone if you can pray for them today. Whether it be a co-worker, a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or even a stranger, ask God to lead you to the person who needs prayer—and don’t back down out of fear of what they might think.

Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for being so bold in Your love for me. Jesus, You went to the cross for me. You were spit on and whipped. You temporarily left Your throne in heaven to live a life on earth just like mine! I’m in awe of Your sacrificial love, and I want to love You in the same way as best I can! Here I am, Lord. May You renew my heart today and every day, making it more and more like Yours. Amen.