Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth?
Strife engendered by the gospel
We try to soften this terrible prophecy by our comments. As if we could explain facts which are notorious to every reader of history, to every one who has had experience of what is passing in his own time I As if we could convince any reasonable persons that there have not been, that there are not, these strifes in families; that the gospel of Christ has not provoked them, and does not provoke them still t Or as if our Lord, supposing He is the Prince of Peace, as we say He is, wanted our help to vindicate Him from the charge of being the Author of war t Surely we may trust Him with His own character. All that is required of us is, that we should let His words come to us in the fulness of their power and their condemnation. Goodness and gentleness do stir up what is opposed to them in us; we know that they do. Our sectarian animosities are kindled by the message of God’s goodwill to men; we know that they are. Can we not understand then, how, coming among a set of hostile factions, which abhorred one another, but observed a conventional decency in their strife, Christ stirred up their rage to its very depths? Cannot we understand how the fury of both burned for awhile against Him--a hollow truce being established between them by the presence of a common enemy? Did it not revenge itself for that restraint afterwards? Did not every hearth and household become a battle-field in that war? This was the state of Jerusalem, as its own historian describes it in the latter days. He can give us the narrative calmly, Jew though He was. When Jesus looked forward to it, He was straitened with agony. He felt in every fibre of His own being what was coming upon His land. There may have been moments when the evil spirit thrust the thought full upon Him: “Would it not be better to shrink from Thy task? If this is the effect of the peace which Thou proclaimest, why not let them welter on without any announcement of God’s kingdom?” Such suggestions have been continually made to His followers, when they have spoken of peace, and when those to whom they have spoken have made them ready for the battle. If He was tempted in all points like them, He cannot have been free from this kind of anguish, Nor will He have overcome the tempter with any other weapons than those with which He has furnished them. He must have said, for Himself and for them, “My work is with the Lord, and My judgment with My God. In His own time My Father will accomplish His purpose. The hollow alliances of sects will end in more fierce and frantic war. But through that war wilt come the discovery of the peace which passeth understanding, the peace which lasts in the midst of the world’s tribulations; that peace will be established through the whole creation.” (F. D. Maurice, M. A.)
Religious divisions
I. Let us inquire, then, into THE SCRIPTURE DOCTRINE WITH REGARD TO THE EFFECTS OR CONSEQUENCES OF THE MISSION OF CHRIST, Christ’s mission into our world has two sets of effects. There are its effects upon the Christian believer, and its effects upon human society.
1. There are its effects upon the true believer of the gospel. These are manifold and great.
(1) Let us take, in the first place, the effect upon the believer in respect of his relation to God. That effect is peace. Our text was never meant to deny it. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” But such as are in Him have “peace from God the Father.” He gives them that peace.
“Peace,” He has said, “I leave with you; My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
(2) Consider, in the second place, the effect upon the believer as regards his own dispositions and feelings. Here also it is peace. “The fruit of the Spirit is peace.” “The kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Christ came to take the bitterness and enmity out of our hearts, and to reconcile us to God.
(3) In the third place, attend to the effect upon the believer with reference to his fellow-believers. Again the effect is peace. He is united to them in love.
(4) Notice, lastly, the effect upon the believer with reference to them that are without. True it is that Christ came to draw a people for Himself out of the world. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate,” is indeed His call to every sinner to whom the gospel is preached. Let us go on to consider its effects upon human society.
2. The effects, or consequences upon human society may be divided into ultimate and immediate.
(1) Those that are ultimate. They are of the happiest kind. The description in the passage from which our text is taken does not suit them at all. Scripture pourtrays them in most attractive terms. “The mountains,” we are told, “shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.” “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth. In His days shall the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace, so long as the moon endureth” (Psa_72:3; Psa_72:6-7; Psa_72:10-11; Psa_72:17; Isa_2:4; Isa_11:6-10). The prediction of the angels shall be verified, and on earth there shall be peace.
(2) The immediate consequences. When we look into these, far different scenes present themselves. But we must distinguish.
(a) An immediate consequence of the mission of Jesus is the very opposite of division. Wicked confederacies are occasioned by it. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” Pharisees and Sadducees cry together, “Away with Him; crucify Him.” Herod and Pontius Pilate join hands over His grave.
(b) But, secondly, and to come at last to the doctrine of the text, division and strife among men are also immediate results of the mission of our Lord.
II. Having thus arrived at the subject which the text brings before us, and having ascertained what place, among the effects of Christ’s mission, belongs to that particular effect of it which we have now to consider, we go on to advert to SOME SCRIPTURE EXAMPLES OF THE FEUDS AND BROILS WHICH JESUS FORETOLD, The schisms and dissentions which our Lord sends on the earth may be classified.
1. In families. An example is furnished in the family circle of Jesus Himself. His brethren, we are told, did not believe in Him (John 7:1-10). His own kinsmen took umbrage at His doctrine and claims. An instance of alienation in its earliest stage occurs in the case of the man who was born blind (John 9:1-41.).
2. Christ makes strife among friends and companions. An instance occurred in the case of Himself and His disciples (John 6:60-66). Then, again, what a breach did Christ make between Saul of Tarsus and the allies at Damascus, to whom the former had letters from the authorities in Jerusalem. We are told that they took counsel to kill Him, watching the gates day and night (Acts 9:19-24).
3. Christ makes strife in the general community. There are many examples of this. Paul’s preaching at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:42-50; Acts 18:12-17; Acts 19:23-34).
4. Christ sends division into the visible Church. Take the following practical illustrations of the fact.
(1) There is the controversy which arose at the time of the feast of tabernacles, as recorded (John 7:40-53).
(2) We have the history of the labours of Paul and Barnabas at Iconium Acts 14:1-7).
(3) Next, let us attend the great apostle to Corinth, and consider his eventful sojourn there. The record is in Acts 18:1, Acts 18:4-8, “After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.” “And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” What was it that fell out at Corinth on this occasion? There was a disruption of the Church. Paul, as his manner ever was, began by addressing himself to those to whom belonged ,, the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.” A disruption ensued, as we have said.
(4) Let us attend the Apostle of the Gentiles once more, and consider what befel during his ministry at Ephesus:--“And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus.” “And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing dally in the school of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks (Acts 19:1; Acts 19:8-12; Acts 19:18-20).
III. Thus have we examined the successive schisms and feuds that sacred history shows to have arisen from the mission of our Lord. It is now time that we shortly advert to THE PROPER CAUSES TO WHICH THESE ARE TO BE TRACED. We have just said that Paul was not blameworthy in regard to the divisions with which he had to do. Although, however, Paul did not do wrong, it by no means follows that wrong was not done. Strife and separation, especially in the worship and service of God, are not good, and blame must lie somewhere on account of them. Where, then, ought the blame to be laid? We shall specify some causes which reason and Scripture point to, as lying at the foundation of all religious strife, and you will then be better able to judge in the distribution of the blame.
1. There is the existence of sin. “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” The first, the greatest, and the worst division of all, was produced by sin. It was sin that set God and man at variance. Next came division between man and his fellow, and this was the native effect of sin. The fatal schism between Cain and his brother, had sin at the root of it. Sin must create discord. There never will be peace in the world or in the Church, until it is cast out.
2. There is Satan’s rule in the world. Satan, my brethren, has his dark kingdom amongst us. And is he the friend of peace? Delighting in strife tot its own sake, he delights in it also as an instrument of gratifying his malice against Christ, and of injuring the kingdom of Christ. We say, then, that the rule of the crafty god of this world is a cause, and a prime one, of the divisions that take place.
3. There is the enmity of the wicked. Is it not true that the Church of God everywhere is hated by the world? This hatred is not unfruitful. It has raised persecutions of every form; and its emissaries have gone forth, alas! too seldom in vain, to create envyings, strifes, heresies, schisms in the Church 1
IV. It remains to say somewhat on THE RELATION BETWEEN THE DIVISIONS WHICH ARE FOUND TO BE IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES OF CHRIST’S MISSION ON EARTH, AND THOSE ULTIMATE RESULTS WHICH HAVE BEEN PROMISED. We have already adverted to the nature of the latter, and given specimens of the glowing language of Scripture concerning them. To the former they bear no resemblance--they are not only different--they are contrary. But God, who makes all things helpful to His designs, and the very mischiefs that flow from sin, the world, and the devil, and are meant to thwart Him, conducive to the execution of His plans, has established an important relation between the two.
1. Present divisions will enhance the enjoyment of the final unity and peace. The sweetness of pleasure is increased by the recollection of pain that preceded it. The memory of disease heightens the relish of health.
2. Divisions now prepare the way for the peace and unity that are to come. Divisions testify of the existence of evils of which they are the natural fruits. By their means the attention of the Church is turned to these evils and fixed down upon them. And believers will err much if they seek to heal divisions in any other way. Let them beware of patching up a premature peace. The outward form of unity is a mockery, and the maintenance of it a hypocrisy and a sin, when unity of heart and principle does not exist. It is only a pernicious semblance of peace that can be reached, so long as the roots of discord and schism are not pulled up. (A. Gray.)
Variance caused by the gospel
Among a low caste people at Ellenpur near Gondah in Northern India, there has been a great struggle to draw the converts back into heathenism. The following case, as described by Mr. B.
H. Badeley, an American missionary, we give as an illustration. In the jungle lived a man and his wife who had several children, and a young girl eighteen years of age. This uneducated village girl was very brave in her endurance of persecution for Christ’s sake. She had learned to love the Saviour by attending the services at the house of the native preacher and noticing the conduct of his wife. Several months before her baptism she told her relatives that it was her purpose to become a Christian; but they would not hear of it, and threatened to kill her if she dared to take such a step. She continued, however, to attend the preaching, and the Lord Jesus drew her towards Himself. One Sunday after the service, her relatives came in a body to take her away. Her infuriated mother fell upon her, and made several attempts to harm her, but was prevented. The native teacher told the people that if the girl wished to go with them they could take her, but if she chose to stay among the Christian families she was at liberty to do so. They then used every effort to make her willing to go, promising her fine clothes, jewels, presents, and rich food, but in vain. They besought her not to disgrace them by becoming a Christian, but she only answered that she had become a Christian in heart and could not change. At last, on their promising not to do her any harm, the native preacher, fearing a disturbance, let her go. Then they carried her to another village some miles away, shut her up, threatened to kill her, endeavoured to change her purpose by incantations; but all in vain: she remained firm. At last they decided to give her up, and brought her to the native preacher, saying: “Here, take her; we can do nothing with her.” Shortly after this we had the pleasure of baptizing her.