NOTES for Mat 10:32-36
How are we to understand this? We are fully entitled to ask. Not peace, but a sword? What, then, of “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you” (Jn 14:27)? Or “Go in peace” (Lk 7:50; Lk 8:48)? Or “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:26)? Did Christ not bring peace? Did He not promise to give rest to all who labour and are heavy laden? Should God not give peace?
First, God owes nothing to anyone. As the apostle Paul says, “It depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Rom 9:16). Yes, His words may contradict one another, but only at first sight. After all, God knows a little better than we do what He is saying and how all His words can form a single picture. The question is: how can He bring both “peace” and “not peace”? Quite simply. Notice that He gives and promises peace not to the whole world, but specifically to those with whom He has some relationship: His disciples, the woman who was healed... Fellowship with Christ truly brings them peace. But what about the others? What about the surrounding world?
Imagine an adult giving a child a sweet. The child is happy, but his happiness only arouses envy and resentment in the other children around him: he was given one, but I was not. The other child can then either withdraw into his grievance or demand the same sweet, instead of asking the giver calmly and politely, without asserting a supposed right to it, for the giver probably has sweets for everyone. So it is with God. A “you give me this, and I will give you that” arrangement does not work with Him. A different principle operates: “in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of Him who calls” (Rom 9:11-12). God is free to give peace, and He desires peace for everyone, but far from everyone comes to Him for peace and asks for it. Hence the sword: people who make no effort to understand God cut themselves off from His gifts.