Hello
Jesus consistently told his followers to behave in ways that would prevent, or heal, division in our societies.
Love others – including your enemies. (Matthew 5:44; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 6:27; Luke 10:25-37; John 13:34-35)
Don’t judge others. (Matthew 7:1-2; Luke 6:37)
Don’t condemn others. (Luke 6:37)
Forgive others. (Matthew 6:14-15; Luke 6:37; Luke 17:3-4)
Treat others the same way you like to be treated yourself. (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31)
Pray for those that persecute you. (Matthew 5:44)
Do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27)
Bless those that curse you. (Luke 6:28)
Be merciful. (Luke 6:36)
Be humble. (Matthew 18:1-5. See also Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48. Matthew 20:25-28. See also Mark 10:42-45. Matthew 23:11-12. See also Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14).
Serve each other. (Matthew 20:25-28; Mark 10:43-45)
Do more for others than they ask of you. (Matthew 5:39:42)
If someone has done something that upsets or offends you, go and talk to them about it*. If they won’t listen to you, take someone else with you and try again. (Matthew 18:15-16.) *(Take note of that. First, you talk to them. You don’t talk to other people about them.)
If you know that you have done something to upset or offend someone – go and talk to them and sort it out. (Matthew 5:23-24)
Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no’. (Matthew 5:34-37)
What did Jesus say about division?
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” (Matthew 12:25)
Yet we, who call ourselves followers of Jesus, continue to do things that encourage division. We continue to share posts on social media that encourage division. We continue to accuse our fellow citizens, our politicians, even our fellow Christians, of being wrong, stupid, misled, or dangerous, and this causes division. In doing these things we are disobeying the commands of our loving Savior. And we are encouraging and inflaming division in our communities.
Jesus left us with clear teachings about how he wants us, his followers, to behave. They could not be clearer. Let’s behave in the ways he teaches us to, and let’s encourage each other to do the same. Let’s stop sharing posts that encourage division. Let’s stop saying and writing things that encourage division. Let’s set about being healers in our societies.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9)
May our loving, heavenly Father bless us and walk with us along his path of peace and reconciliation.
Jesus is Lord.
Peter O
Related articles.
“What did Jesus say about dealing with corruption, abuse, and conflict, in our churches?”
“What did Jesus say about loving others?”
“What did Jesus say about judging or condemning others?”
“What did Jesus say about forgiving others?”
“What does Jesus want his followers to do?”
“How does the Devil attack the church? Answer 1 – Division”
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Ohhhh… I like this teaching on the topic of division.
Source: Busted Halo
https://bustedhalo.com/questionbox/why-does-jesus-talk-about-coming-to-divide-the-world
Thank you for this. Very helpful. Can you also help me understand what Jesus means in Luke chapter 12 where He said that He didn’t come to bring peace but division.
Warm Regards
Hello Donna.
Thanks for your comment. Good question. Yes. Jesus is recorded as saying “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). Another similar passage is Matthew 10:34, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword”. However, in both these passages, Jesus is talking about division within families as is clear from his words in the next few verses. After the verse you quoted Jesus says:
“in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:52-53).
The verses following Matthew 10:34 are similar:
“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 man’s foes will be those of his own household. (Matthew 10:35-36)
So I see these verses as having a different focus to Matthew 12:25 (“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined…”). Of course, Jesus was right. Serving him wholeheartedly did cause conflict within households and still does. However, whether division and conflict occur within families, churches, communities or nations, our response, as followers of the teachings of Jesus, is to obey his commands – which will bring healing.
It seems contradictory that following Jesus may cause division and also bring healing. But I think it is true.
Thanks again.
God bless you.
Peter O
Thank you so much to helping me gain some clarity. I really appreciate it.
Thank you for what you do!
Good exegesis above Peter. Well done and clarified!
Sorry. Jesus was not talking about division just in families.
Jesus prayed that we would be one, just as He and His father are one.
To become One we must all be on the same page, and believe inteh same thing: THe teachings of Jesus Christ. Yes Jesus wants us to love our neighbor and to love our enemy. A good father will discipline his children and set guidelines for them, with consequences for disobeying them
As you are aware the consequence for not obeying Jesus is going to hell;
“If you love me , keep my commandments”
“The path to heaven is narrow and FEW take it, The path to hell is Wide and MANY take it”
Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, only those who follow teh will of my father”
“If your brother sins rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him”
Jesus said he came not to bring peace, but division. Division occurs when one person tells another that they must repent and change their ways to follow Jesus.
Jesus also said Be either hot or cold. The lukewarm I spit out of my mouth”. Jesus did not prach toleration. True He did not condemn the woman caught in adultery, but He did say “Go and sin no more”
Don’t be lukewarm. Teach as Jesus taught and what He taught.
Peace at all costs is not what Jesus wants. HE wants for all of to go to heaven.
“If you love me ‘Keep my commandments'”
Thanks for the compilation of quotations. Very clear and Understood in context. Can we still overturn the money changer tables ? 🙂
Very good point, Paul !!!