Matthew 10:34
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"Scenes from Matthew 10:34-38", by Daniel Hopfer (1490–1536).
BookGospel of Matthew
Christian Bible partNew Testament

Matthew 10:34 is the 34th verse in the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.

Content

In the original Greek according to Westcott-Hort, this verse is:

Μὴ νομίσητε ὅτι ἦλθον βαλεῖν εἰρήνην ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν· οὐκ ἦλθον βαλεῖν εἰρήνην, ἀλλὰ μάχαιραν.

In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

The New International Version translates the passage as:

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Analysis

This wording seems to be at variance with Jesus' title of "Prince of Peace" (see Isaiah 9:6,7; 65:25). However Lapide explains He comes to bring a spiritual peace of mind and a peace among the faithful, but not an earthly peace.[1]

The term for the sword used in the original text is described as a makhaira.

Commentary from the Church Fathers

Jerome: "He had before said, What I say to you in darkness, that speak ye in the light; He now tells them what will follow upon that preaching, saying, Think not that I am come to send peace upon earth; I am not come to send peace, but a sword."[2]

Glossa Ordinaria: "Or connect it with what has gone before, As the fear of death ought not to draw you away, so neither ought carnal affection."[2]

Chrysostom: "How then did He enjoin them, that when they should enter any house they should say, Peace be to this house, as also the Angels sung, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace to men. (Luke 2:14) That is the most perfect peace when that which is diseased is lopped off, when that which introduces strife is taken away, for so only is it possible that heaven should be joined to earth. For so does the physician save the rest of the body, namely by cutting off that which cannot be healed. So it came to pass at the tower of Babel; a happy discord broke up their bad union. So also Paul divided those who were conspired together against him. For concord is not in all cases good; for there is honour among thieves. And this combat is not of His setting before them, but of the plots of the world."[2]

References

  1. ↑ Cornelius Cornelii a Lapide; Thomas Wimberly Mossman The great commentary of Cornelius à Lapide, London: J. Hodges, 1889-1896.
  2. 1 2 3 "Catena aurea: commentary on the four Gospels, collected out of the works of the Fathers: Volume 6, St. John. Oxford: Parker, 1874. Thomas Aquinas". Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Preceded by
Matthew 10:33		 Gospel of Matthew
Chapter 10		 Succeeded by
Matthew 10:35
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