Not Peace But A Sword

BEYOND THE BASICS | Jeffrey Smith | Gainesville, Virginia

Peace on Earth?
The angel who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds led a chorus of angels in saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)

So, the promise of peace on earth is intimately connected with our Lord and Savior. That is why we are taken aback when Jesus later said he did not come to bring peace.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36, ESV)

Which is it? Peace, or no peace? War, or peace? Or both?

To better understand Jesus’ attitude and actions toward peace it helps to develop a robust definition of peace and the areas to which it applies.

Shalom
The Hebrew word for “peace” is “shalom”, and it connotes much more than simply the absence of military conflict. That “shalom” loses something in translation is evinced by English versions typically using twenty different words to translate it. The root meaning is “to be whole, uninjured, undivided.” Shalom can also refer to tranquility of mind. With respect to areas of application, “shalom” could refer to peace of mind felt by an individual, peace between individuals, peace between nations, or peace between humans and God. When we see a reference to peace we must determine from context what type of peace it is and where it applies.

Peace Through Violence?
Peace and violent conflict are opposites. But throughout the Bible peace came as the direct result of violent conflicts. Powerful, evil men rarely listen to rational arguments and agree to peace. Force is necessary to overcome their evil intentions.

Classic case-in-point is the Pharaoh of Moses’ day. He was the most powerful man on earth in his time. How could his evil domination of God’s children be brought to an end? He had to be overcome by force. God overcame him with severe plagues and violent destruction of his army (Exodus 7-14). Israel enjoyed peace, to a limited degree, on the eastern shore of the Red Sea as a direct result of God’s violence against Pharaoh and his army.

Not Violence for Violence’s Sake
In Deuteronomy 20 God prescribed His will for Israel’s violent conflicts: rules of engagement for necessary future battles. Part of the preparation for battle was a formal offer of peace (Deuteronomy 20:10). Israel was not to be a band of marauders advancing violence for violence’s sake. If a foe agreed to Israel’s (God’s) terms, battle was avoided (vs. 11). If not, battled ensued (vs. 12). Israel was ready to forego battle if peace was agreed to, but God’s terms were not negotiable. It would be peace God’s way. The enemy chose, by submitting to or resisting God, whether or not there would be a battle.

However, scriptures tell us that sometimes God hardened the hearts of the disobedient to keep them from choosing peace (Joshua 11:20). God did this to ensure destruction of those who had been devoted to destruction. The peace ultimately enjoyed by Israel in the promised land was the result of violent military conquest of resolute foes.

Peace through Violent Conflict
Centuries later when Jezebel saw approaching Jehu, using a disparaging nickname she asked if he came in the name of peace (2 Kings 9:31). Was it peace? Yes and no. Jehu enlisted the aid of Jezebel’s servants to immediately put her to violent death (vs. 32-33). Spontaneous execution is pretty much the opposite of peace. However, immediately following her execution, Jehu and company sat down to a peaceful meal (vs. 34). So, in this instance, peace was the result of violence. On a broader scale Jehu was God’s instrument to bring a type of peace to the nation of Israel through a series of violent conflicts (2 Kings 10). Jehu was excessively violent, for which a price had to be paid latter (Hosea 1:4).

The God of War and Peace
Is God a God of war or of peace? Consider this passage from the close of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans.

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (Romans 16:20, ESV). Seems like a contradiction, doesn’t it? The God of peace is about to crush Satan. Doesn’t sound very peaceful to me. Unless we understand that peace is often the direct result of violent action against an evil foe.

Paul’s reference to Satan being crushed by God refers to the final conflict at the end of this age, as foretold in Revelation 19. Jesus, the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah, appears with the armies of heaven (vs. 14). Against him are arrayed “the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who as sitting on the horse and his army (vs. 19). After the tumultuous drama of Revelation we expect this Armageddon to be a prolonged, brutal, knock-down, drag-out fight. But, instead, it is over in an instant (vs. 20). All that remains is the carnage of battle for the birds of the air to devour (vs. 21). So, here also, peace – ultimate, eternal peace – results from extreme violence of God’s armies led by Jesus defeating all those who oppose Him.

Not Condoning Christian Violence
But it is important to note that even though an end-time battle is prophesied in The Book of Revelation, physical violence is not the proper method for advancing Christ’s kingdom now, nor has it ever been. Our weapons are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4-6). Christians are often subjected to violence in this life, but we do not advocate violence to further the Kingdom.

Peace and a Sword?
So how can Jesus bring both peace (Luke 2:14) and a sword (Matthew 10:34-36)? Well, see if this fits. The peace that Jesus would bring in Luke 2:14 is the ultimate, everlasting, overarching peace described in Revelation 19. End-game peace. But in Jesus’ times on earth, and in the present age which continues until the end comes, there was and would continue to be conflict between Jesus and his disciples and Satan and his disciples. So, peace in Matthew 10:34-36 refers to this age. Peace in Luke 2:14 refers to eternity.

Already; Not Yet
A corollary to this tension between peace and violent conflict is the “already, not yet” character of Jesus’ victory. Notice the following passage from Hebrews.

⁶ It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? ⁷ You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, ⁸ putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. Hebrews 2:6–8 (ESV)

Everything is in subjection under Jesus’ feet, but, at present, we do not yet see everything in subjection. Already, not yet.

Perfect Peace, But Not Yet
So it is with the peace Jesus brings. He will ultimately bring perfect peace, fulfilling Luke 2:14. But until that final victory, we do not have peace, but a sword, in fulfillment of Matthew 10:34-36.

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October 2022 | GROW magazine