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Matthew 10:34-37 (KJV) - 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. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
When we read these sayings of Jesus, some immediate images come to mind about the family being against one another. You may think about the family fighting, yelling, and screaming at one another. You think about them fighting the Christian’s position and making their lives miserable because of it. Christ becomes the ultimate reason for division and strife among father, mother, daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and mother-in-law.
1. Your family actually becomes the enemy. Our first thought or image about the family members coming against one another is true. Someone may find that as they place their faith in Jesus and begin to make changes in their character, the family (as a whole or individually) will come against them. They will verbally (or even physically) make their disagreement(s) known. They may even act in a manner to continually draw the disciple back down to their previous sin-filled state. They do this by ‘pushing’ their emotional buttons and using other offensive tactics from the past.
John 15:18-21 (KJV) - If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
2. Your family gives advice or asks for your assistance not in line with God’s will.
Matthew 16:21-23 (KJV) - From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
As Jesus began to tell His disciples of the things to come concerning His life, death, and resurrection, Peter came to Him and rebuked Him. Peter said that it should not be that these things happen to Him. Jesus turned to Him saying ‘Get thee behind me, Satan...’ Peter was compared to Satan for he did not consider the things of God, but man.
It was God’s will and purpose for Jesus’ life to be given as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:26-28). He came so that through His life and sacrifice, the world may be saved (John 3:17). Peter was speaking from an earthly standpoint of not wanting to see Jesus beaten or killed. He did not know what he was saying was specifically out of God’s will.
With our families being considered an ‘enemy’ in this manner, they may say or do something that is not in line with God’s purpose or will for you. You may know what the Lord's will is, but they may not. They will speak out of the desires of their hearts (according to the rudiments of man) and not the will of God. Now, this is not something that is done intentional or continuously. The disciple must be in tune with the Word of God and His counsel for discernment.
3. Your desire is to please your family in a manner that goes outside of God’s will.
1 Corinthians 7:32-33 (KJV) - But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
Here, you know and understand God’s will. However, your desire (in a specific situation) is to please your family. You know God is against it, yet YOU gave in to your own internal pressure to please them and make them happy. Your family did not influence you and would have been OK if you stayed with the Lord’s will.
Matthew 10:34-37 (KJV) - 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. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
