What does Matthew chapter 10 verses 35 and 36 mean?

Answer 1

This is where Jesus is sending his twelve apostles out to do the preaching work. He sent them exclusively to the nation of Israel, to show scripturally that Jesus was God's Messiah, and the representative of God's Kingdom.

Answer 2

AnswerMatthew 10:34-36: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."

The key to this passage is in verse 34 - Jesus is not concerned with peace on earth. Matthew is quoting Jesus as saying that families will be broken up and relationships destroyed in order to further the objectives of Christianity.

Answer 3

Verse 37 is connected with 35 and 36.

The point here is that sometimes when individuals became His followers, their families may be opposed to them becoming a Christian and turn against them. This can be seen in muslim countries when a muslim converts to Christianity.

A converted father would be opposed by his unbelieving son, a Christian mother by her unsaved daughter. A born again mother-in-law would be hated by her unregenerate daughter-in-law.

So a choice must often be made between Christ and family. Being a Christian must take precedence over father, mother, son or daughter. One of the costs of discipleship is to experience tension, strife, and alienation from one's own family. This hostility is often more bitter than is encountered in other areas of life.

Verse 39:

If a person is willing to give up the present advantages of life, to suffer reproach and persecution, and lay down his life cheerfully for the sake of Christ and his Gospel, shall find a new life in Christ and also eternal life.