Anchor My Faith

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Author: Stephen Weller
626 words, 3 minutes read time

Division Even Within the Family

Scripture: Matthew 10:36; Luke 12:52-53

In the previous lesson we came to realize that God wants peace with humans but the only way that is possible is to produce further division by providing a single way of salvation through the person of Jesus Christ. In this lesson we will consider how serious this division can become. 

^{Lk 12:52} For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. ^{Mt 10:36} And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.  

Jesus now gives some details as to how this division will look. He begins with a family of five in which, perhaps, two of the three children come to belief and are born spiritually. Maybe it is the mother and a child that believe. They may be able to hide their conversion for a while but soon a change in behavior will be seen by the other three and it will be determined by various means that they are believers. That will result in pressure from the three to encourage the two to denounce their faith and return to the religion of the family.  

Jesus details the division further by saying, “They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” This division can produce conflict that is severe enough to result in beatings and even in martyrdom.  

This persecution against believers is clearly not limited to family members but may involve neighbors or others who hear of someone becoming a Christian. These may become so incensed over this spread of Christianity that they in mob action act to remove the enemy from their midst. In many cases the government acts resulting in imprisonment and possible torture and in some cases death.  

In John 15:18 – 19 (ESV), Jesus said, ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” When one becomes a Christian, their behavior reminds the unbeliever of Jesus Christ, who they are in conflict with, in their minds, and as a result they direct their hostility toward the believer.  

Under the leadership of Saul (who later was renamed Paul), persecution rose against the church in Jerusalem, causing believers to be spread over the regions of Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1). Saul was determined to track them down and stop the spread of Christianity. These efforts to stop the spread of Christianity extends to the present time and will intensify greatly into the tribulation period.  

Conclusion 

Just as Jesus was hated and hung on a cross to die, so are his followers persecuted in most areas of the world today. One might say that we are fortunate here in the west to be free of open persecution and not have to suffer the way our brothers and sisters do in other areas of the world but is our faith stronger or weaker as a result? How willing are you to suffer and possibly die for your faith? If you had to face persecution would you be willing to risk your life to keep the Bibles you have? Do you think you would grow spiritually, or do you think you would instead deny your faith?