The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal Himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have taken up His cross, know ye not what your Master said? "I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, He brings war. Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities. Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth's sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master's steps, for He has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
This passage always bothered me, how could the bringer of life bring a sword? My resolution is that Jesus brought the sword of God's word, as in Ephesians, when He preached that the Kingdom of God was available to all mankind, and predicted His sword would be met by the opposition of the Devil, most literally by the sword of Islam. Islam has been the most effective visible foe against Christianity in this world until communism was invented for the irreligious. Both reject Christ's redemptive death and resurrection, this is the basis of every anti-Christ philosophy.
Great thoughts...but, I have a little bit different take...if the sword is the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) and the Spirit is the Spirit of God, then it stands to reason that the sword represents the defensive and offensive actions that not only the Word (Jesus) gives but includes the discernment of the Holy Spirit and the perfect justice of God himself.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.
I also disagree that Islam is the greatest threat to Christianity...it is found much closer...it is the Papacy that has usurped Christianity and is the wolf in sheep's clothing. Also, if you do any research, you will find that Catholicism is very closely connected to Islam. ANY entity that is not of God is against God and this is why we need the sword to defend and attack. Jesus was a great revolutionary and when the devil tempted him, he defended with the Word of God...which shows how powerful the very words of God are.
When I read Ashs' post I immediately went to one of my oldest bibles to read the chapter. It differs in the words as follows: "Do not suppose that my my mission on earth is to spread peace. My mission is to spread, not peace but division."
Then I checked a more recent book and it read as stated by Ash.
We must reflect that at the time that Jesus spoke the word, what was happening.......Jesus was touring all of the towns and villages. He proclaimed the good news of God's rein. People came in huge numbers to see the Son of God. People were lying prostate from exhaustion, like sheep without a shepherd....at this sight his heart was filled with pity so he summons his disciples....Chapter 10 details the instructions he gave to them.
He told them to spread out and gave them the ability to heal the sick and give comfort to those suffering. In the same instructions he told them they will not be received well by many and to look for the "worthy" and stay with them. Many unworthy people would persecute them but they were to be passed over without thought of trying to change their minds (sound familiar?) ....the holy spirit would guide them. The holy spirit is the sword of God.
Your statement about "how the giver of life could bring a sword" causes me to respond as wisdom instructs me to: The giver of life is also the taker of life. Man was given God's word and grace to follow His will. Many have failed due to the temptations of greed, power and lust of earthly wealth promised by the evil one. For they will be passed over and discarded much like the wheat from the chaff as the chaff holds no value...., it will never become wheat. Free will is a gift from God that evil uses to win their soul. Suffering for eternity is the trade they make for comfort on earth.....God's wrath is upon us in this time as it was then. If no mercy was shown in life, no mercy will be given in death.
Blessings...