Lesson 59 Explore 4: The Truth Brings, “Not Peace, But a Sword”—Matthew 10:34 | Study
The Truth Brings, “Not Peace, But a Sword”
“Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth; I came to bring, not peace, but a sword.”-
(Matthew 10.34: Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth; I came to bring, not peace, but a sword.)
SONGS: 123, 128
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
• What is the “sword” that Jesus said he would bring?
• How can you maintain your loyalty to Jehovah if your relatives oppose true worship?
• What can help you to cope if a family member leaves Jehovah?
1, 2. (a) What peace can we enjoy now? (b) What prevents us from finding complete peace at this time? (See opening image.)
WE ALL want peaceful lives, free from anxiety. How thankful we are that Jehovah grants us “the peace of God,” an inner calm that can protect us from disturbing thoughts and feelings!
(Philippians 4.6, 7: Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God; and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.)
Because of our dedication to Jehovah, we also enjoy “peace with God,” a good relationship with him.-
(Romans 5.1: Therefore, now that we have been declared righteous as a result of faith, let us enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,)
2. However, God’s time to bring about complete peace has not yet come. These critical last days are filled with conflict, and countless people have contentious attitudes.
(2 Timothy 3.1-4: But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God,)
As Christians, we must wage a spiritual war against Satan and the false teachings that he promotes.
(2 Corinthians 10.4, 5: For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things. For we are overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are bringing every thought into captivity to make it obedient to the Christ;)
But the greatest threat to our peace may come from unbelieving relatives. Some might ridicule our beliefs, accuse us of dividing the family, or threaten to disown us unless we give up our faith. How should we view family opposition? How can we successfully deal with the challenges it brings?
HOW TO VIEW FAMILY OPPOSITION
3, 4. (a) What effect do Jesus’ teachings have? (b) When would it be especially challenging to follow Jesus?
3. Jesus knew that his teachings would divide people and that those who follow him would need courage to do so in the face of opposition. This opposition could affect peaceful relations among family members. Jesus said: “Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth; I came to bring, not peace, but a sword. For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.”-
(Matthew 10.34-36: Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth; I came to bring, not peace, but a sword. For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.)
4. In saying “Do not think I came to bring peace,” Jesus meant that some of his listeners needed to think about the consequences of following him. His message could divide people. Of course, Jesus’ motive was to proclaim God’s message of truth, not to damage relationships.
(John 18.37: So Pilate said to him: “Well, then, are you a king?” Jesus answered: “You yourself are saying that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.”)
Still, holding faithfully to Christ’s teachings would be challenging if one’s close friends or family members rejected the truth.
5. What have Jesus’ followers experienced?
5. Jesus included the pain of family opposition as part of the suffering that his followers must be willing to endure.
(Matthew 10.38: And whoever does not accept his torture stake and follow after me is not worthy of me.)
In order to prove worthy of the Christ, his disciples have had to endure ridicule or even alienation from their families. Yet, they have gained far more than they have lost.-Read
(Mark 10.29, 30: Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, no one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news who will not get 100 times more now in this period of time—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the coming system of things, everlasting life.)
6. What must we remember if our relatives oppose our efforts to worship Jehovah?
6. Even when our relatives oppose our efforts to worship Jehovah, we continue to love them, but we must remember that our love for God and Christ comes first.
(Matthew 10.37: Whoever has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and whoever has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me.)
We must also realize that Satan will try to use our affection for our family to break our integrity. Let us consider some situations involving family opposition and see how we can successfully face the challenges that these bring.
AN UNBELIEVING MATE
7. How should those with an unbelieving mate view their situation?
7. The Bible warns that those who marry “will have tribulation in their flesh.”
(1 Corinthians 7.28: But even if you did marry, you would commit no sin. And if a virgin married, such a person would commit no sin. However, those who do will have tribulation in their flesh. But I am trying to spare you.)
If you have an unbelieving mate, you may experience more than the usual stress and anxiety in your marriage. Nevertheless, it is important for you to view your situation as Jehovah does. Your mate’s present unwillingness to follow Christ is not in itself a valid reason for separation or divorce.
(1 Corinthians 7.12-16: But to the others I say, yes, I, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is agreeable to staying with him, let him not leave her; and if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is agreeable to staying with her, let her not leave her husband. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in relation to his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in relation to the brother; otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbelieving one chooses to depart, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not bound under such circumstances, but God has called you to peace. For wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?)
Although an unbelieving husband may not take the lead in spiritual matters, he should be respected because of his position as the head of the family. Likewise, an unbelieving wife should be shown self-sacrificing love and tender affection by her Christian husband.-
(Ephesians 5.22, 23: Let wives be in subjection to their husbands as to the Lord, because a husband is head of his wife just as the Christ is head of the congregation, he being a savior of this body.)
(Ephesians 5.28, 29: In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself, for no man ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cherishes it, just as the Christ does the congregation,)
8. What questions can you ask yourself if your spouse tries to limit your worship?
8. What if your spouse tries to limit your worship? For example, one sister was told by her husband to share in the field ministry only on certain days of the week. If you face a similar situation, ask yourself: ‘Is my spouse demanding that I stop worshipping my God? If not, can I yield to the request?’ Being reasonable can help you to avoid needless marital conflict.-
(Philippians 4.5: Let your reasonableness become known to all men. The Lord is near.)
9. How can Christians teach their children to honor an unbelieving parent?
9. Training children can be especially challenging if you have an unbelieving mate. For instance, you need to teach your children to obey the Bible’s command: “Honor your father and your mother.”
(Ephesians 6.1-3: Children, be obedient to your parents in union with the Lord, for this is righteous. “Honor your father and your mother” is the first command with a promise: “That it may go well with you and you may remain a long time on the earth.”)
But what if your mate does not follow the Bible’s high standard of conduct? Set the example by honoring your mate. Focus on his or her good qualities, and express appreciation for your mate. Avoid saying negative things about your mate in front of your children. Instead, explain to them that each person must choose whether to serve Jehovah. The children’s good conduct might help to draw the unbelieving parent to true worship.
CAPTION: Teach your children Bible truth whenever possible (See paragraph 10)
10. How can Christian parents teach their children Bible truth in a religiously divided household?
10. At times, unbelieving mates will demand that children share in pagan celebrations or be taught false religious beliefs. Some husbands may forbid the Christian wife to teach the children from the Bible. Even so, a Christian wife does what she can to teach the children Bible truth.
(Acts 16.1: So he arrived at Derbe and also at Lystra. And a disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a believing Jewish woman but of a Greek father,)
(2 Timothy 3.14, 15: You, however, continue in the things that you learned and were persuaded to believe, knowing from whom you learned them and that from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.)
For example, the husband of a Witness wife might not allow her to conduct a formal Bible study with her minor children or to take them with her to Christian meetings. While respecting his decisions, she can still express her faith in the presence of her children as opportunities arise, thus giving them moral training and knowledge about Jehovah.
(Acts 4.19, 20: But in reply Peter and John said to them: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves. But as for us, we cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard.”)
Of course, her children must eventually make their own decision regarding worship.-
(Deuteronomy 30.19, 20: I take the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you today that I have put life and death before you, the blessing and the curse; and you must choose life so that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving Jehovah your God, by listening to his voice, and by sticking to him, for he is your life and by him you will endure a long time in the land that Jehovah swore to give to your forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”)
RELATIVES WHO OPPOSE TRUE WORSHIP
11. What may cause a problem with non-Witness relatives?
11. At first, we may not have told our family about our association with Jehovah’s Witnesses. As our faith grew, though, we saw the need to be open about our beliefs.
(Mark 8.38: For whoever becomes ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”)
If your courageous stand has resulted in a problem between you and your non-Witness relatives, consider some steps to take to reduce conflict and still maintain integrity.
12. Why may unbelieving relatives oppose us, but how can we show them empathy?
12. Have empathy for unbelieving relatives. While we may be overjoyed about the Bible truths we have learned, our relatives may mistakenly believe that we have been tricked or have become part of a cult. They may think that we no longer love them because we do not celebrate holidays with them. They may even fear for our eternal welfare. We should show empathy by trying to see things from their viewpoint and by listening carefully to discern their real concerns.
(Proverbs 20.5: The thoughts of a man’s heart are like deep waters, But the discerning man draws them out.)
The apostle Paul endeavored to understand “people of all sorts” in order to share the good news with them, and a similar approach can help us as well.-
(1 Corinthians 9.19-23: For though I am free from all people, I have made myself the slave to all, so that I may gain as many people as possible. To the Jews I became as a Jew in order to gain Jews; to those under law I became as under law, though I myself am not under law, in order to gain those under law. To those without law I became as without law, although I am not without law toward God but under law toward Christ, in order to gain those without law. To the weak I became weak, in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to people of all sorts, so that I might by all possible means save some. But I do all things for the sake of the good news, in order to share it with others.)
13. How should we speak with unbelieving relatives?
13. Speak with mildness. “Let your words always be gracious,” says the Bible.
(Colossians 4.6: Let your words always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should answer each person.)
We can ask Jehovah for his holy spirit so that we can display its fruitage when speaking with our relatives. We should not try to argue about all their false religious ideas. If they hurt us by their speech or actions, we can imitate the example of the apostles. Paul wrote: “When insulted, we bless; when persecuted, we patiently endure; when slandered, we answer mildly.”-
(1 Corinthians 4.12, 13: and to toil, working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless; when persecuted, we patiently endure; when slandered, we answer mildly; we have become as the refuse of the world, the offscouring of all things, until now.)
14. What are the benefits of maintaining fine conduct?
14. Maintain fine conduct. Although mild speech is helpful in dealing with opposing relatives, our good conduct can speak even louder.
Read 1 Peter 3.1, 2: In the same way, you wives, be in subjection to your husbands, so that if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of their wives, because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect.
Read 1 Peter 3.16: Maintain a good conscience, so that in whatever way you are spoken against, those who speak against you may be put to shame because of your good conduct as followers of Christ.
By your example, let your relatives see that Jehovah’s Witnesses enjoy happy marriages, look after their children, and live a clean, moral, and fulfilling life. Even if our relatives never accept the truth, we can have the joy that comes from pleasing Jehovah by our faithful course.
15. How can we plan ahead for situations that might lead to conflict?
15. Plan ahead. Think of situations that might lead to conflict, and determine how to handle them.
(Proverbs 12.16: A fool immediately shows his annoyance, But the shrewd man overlooks an insult.)
(Proverbs 12.23: A shrewd man conceals what he knows, But the heart of the fool blurts out his foolishness.)
A sister from Australia relates: “My father-in-law strongly opposed the truth. Before calling to check on him, my husband and I would pray that Jehovah help us not to respond in kind to angry reactions. We would prepare topics to discuss so that we could keep the conversation friendly. To avoid long conversations that would usually lead to a heated discussion about religion, we set a time limit for the visit.”
16. How can you overcome feelings of guilt about displeasing your relatives?
16. Of course, you cannot expect to avoid all disagreements with your unbelieving relatives. Such conflict can make you feel guilty, especially because you love your relatives dearly and have always tried to please them. If you feel this way, strive to put your loyalty to Jehovah ahead of your love for your family. Such a stand may actually help your relatives to see that applying Bible truth is a life-and-death matter. In any case, remember that you cannot force others to accept the truth. Instead, let them see in you the benefits of following Jehovah’s ways. Our loving God offers to them, just as he does to us, the opportunity to choose the course they will follow.-
(Isaiah 48.17, 18: This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, The One teaching you to benefit yourself, The One guiding you in the way you should walk. If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.)
IF A FAMILY MEMBER LEAVES JEHOVAH
17, 18. What can help you to cope if a family member leaves Jehovah?
17. When a family member is disfellowshipped or he disassociates himself from the congregation, it can feel like the stab of a sword. How can you cope with the pain that this brings?
18. Keep up your spiritual routine. Build yourself up by regularly reading the Bible, preparing for and attending Christian meetings, sharing in the field ministry, and praying for the strength to endure. (20, 21) But what if you feel that your heart is not in your activity, that you are just going through the motions? Do not give up! A good spiritual routine can help you to gain control of your thoughts and feelings. Consider the experience of the writer ofPsalm 1:73. He had developed a wrong viewpoint and had become greatly troubled, but he was able to correct his thinking when he entered God’s place of worship.
(Psalm 73.16, 17: When I tried to understand it, It was troubling to me Until I entered the grand sanctuary of God, And I discerned their future.)
Your faithfully worshipping Jehovah can help you to do the same.
19. How can you show respect for Jehovah’s arrangement for discipline?
19. Respect the discipline of Jehovah. His arrangement can bring the best long-term outcome for all, including the wrongdoer, even though the immediate effect is painful.
Read Hebrews 12.11: True, no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but it is painful; yet afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
For example, Jehovah instructs us to “stop keeping company” with unrepentant wrongdoers.
(1 Corinthians 5.11-13: But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those inside, while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.”)
Despite our pain of heart, we must avoid normal contact with a disfellowshipped family member by telephone, text messages, letters, e-mails, or social media.
20. What hope can we maintain?
20. Maintain hope. Love “hopes all things,” including that those who have left Jehovah will come back to him.
(1 Corinthians 13.7: It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.)
If you see evidence that a close family member is having a change of heart, you could pray that he or she gain strength from the Scriptures and respond to Jehovah’s appeal: “Return to me.”-
(Isaiah 44.22: I will blot out your transgressions as with a cloud And your sins as with a thick cloud. Return to me, for I will repurchase you.)
21. What should you do if you experience family division because you are following Jesus?
21. Jesus said that if we were to put any human before him, we would not be worthy of him. Yet, he was confident that his disciples would have the courage to maintain their loyalty to him despite family opposition. If following Jesus has brought “a sword” into your family, rely on Jehovah to help you deal with the challenges successfully.
(Isaiah 41.10: Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be anxious, for I am your God. I will fortify you, yes, I will help you, I will really hold on to you with my right hand of righteousness.’)
(Isaiah 41.13: For I, Jehovah your God, am grasping your right hand, The One saying to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I will help you.’)
Find joy in knowing that Jehovah and Jesus are pleased with you and that they will reward your faithful course.
[End of article.]