I Came Not To Send Peace

One surprising statement of the Savior was this one made as he was training his newly called apostles, “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” (Matt. 10:34-35).  We might contrast this with other passages that speak of how the Savior will bring peace, such as this one: “Peace 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” (John 14:27).  He also told his apostles towards the end of His life, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace” (John 16:44).  Abinadi also taught that the Savior’s mission was one to bring peace: “O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people” (Mosiah 15:18).  Isaiah even called Him the “Prince of peace” (Isaiah 9:6).  Even in our dispensation the Lord stated, “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23).  Clearly the Lord’s promise to His disciples was peace of some kind—so what did He mean when He said He was not going to “send peace on earth” and bring a sword instead of peace?

               The difference seems to be the peace in one’s own heart from living the gospel compared to the conflict that will always exist among people who reject the teachings of the Savior.  One author put it this way: “It is true that Christ came to bring peace—peace between the believer and God, and peace among men. Yet the inevitable result of Christ’s coming is conflict—between Christ and the antichrist, between light and darkness, between Christ’s children and the devil’s children. This conflict can occur even between members of the same family.”  After quoting this, Elder Christofferson explained it this way, “I’m confident that a number of you have been rejected and ostracized by father and mother, brothers and sisters as you accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and entered into His covenant. In one way or another, your superior love of Christ has required the sacrifice of relationships that were dear to you, and you have shed many tears. Yet with your own love undiminished, you hold steady under this cross, showing yourself unashamed of the Son of God.”  President Benson similarly said, “One of the most difficult tests of all is when you have to choose between pleasing God or pleasing someone you love or respect—particularly a family member.  The scripture says, ‘Honour thy father and thy mother’ (Exodus 20:12; see also Mosiah 13:20). Sometimes one must choose to honor Heavenly Father over a mortal father.”  We see this in particular in the story of Lehi’s family.  Lehi and Nephi’s decision to follow the Savior led to great contention between them and Laman and Lemuel.  The conflict grew so great that it led to Laman and Lemuel seeking to take away their lives.  The peace of the gospel that Nephi had internally did not eliminate the external conflict that forced him to ultimately flee from his brethren.  We can hold fast to the promises of the Lord for peace in our individual lives as we repent and come unto the Savior, but we will not expect the world to be at peace which fights against the principles of righteousness.  And we may indeed have rifts in our families when we choose to put the Savior first.  In the Savior’s statement, though, I don’t think he was suggesting at all that we take up literal swords, though Peter perhaps thought that when he cut off Malchus’s ear and was rebuked by the Savior for it (John 18:10).  Rather we take the “sword of the spirit, which is the word of God” and use that as our defense against the world that will largely reject and fight against the teachings of the Savior (Ephesians 6:17).