HOMILY XXXV.

MATT. X. 34.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I am not come to send peace, but a sword.

AGAIN, He sets forth the things that are more painful, and that with great aggravation: and the objection they were sure to meet Him with, He prevents them by stating. I mean, lest hearing this, they should say, "For this then art Thou come, to destroy both us, and them that obey us, and to fill the earth with war?" He first saith Himself, I am not come to send peace on earth.

14.

How then did He enjoin them to pronounce peace on entering into each house? And again, how did the Angels say, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace1? And how1Luke2, came all the Prophets too to publish it for good tidings? Because this more than any thing is peace, when the diseased is cut off, when the mutinous is removed. For thus it is possible for Heaven to be united to earth. Since the physician too in this way preserves the rest of the body, when he amputates the incurable part; and the general, when he has brought to a separation them that were agreed in mischief. Thus it came to pass also in the case of that famous tower; for their evil peace2 was ended by their good discord, and 2 Gen. peace made thereby. Thus Paul also divided them that 11, 7. 8. were conspiring against him3. And in Naboth's case that agreement was at the time more grievous than any war1.

3 Acts

23, 6. 7.

21.

508

Christ came to send War, and civil War.

HOMIL. For concord is not in every case a good thing, since even

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1, 2. robbers agree together.

v. 35.

The war is not then the effect of His purpose, but of their temper. For His will indeed was that all should agree in the word of godliness; but because they fell to dissension, war arises. Yet He spake not so; but what saith He? I am not come to send peace; comforting them. As if He said, For think not that ye are to blame for these things; it is I who order them so, because men are so disposed. Be not ye therefore confounded, as though the events happened against expectation. To this end am I come, to send war among men; for this is My will. Be not ye therefore troubled, when the earth is at war, as though it were subject to some hostile device. For when the worse part is rent away, then after that Heaven is knit unto the better.

And these things He saith, as strengthening them against the evil suspicion of the multitude.

And He said not "war," but what was more grievous than it, a sword. And if there be somewhat painful in these expressions, and of an alarming emphasis, marvel not. For, it being His will to train their ears by the severity of His words, lest in their difficult circumstances they should start aside, He fashioned His discourse accordingly; lest any one should say it was by flattery He persuaded them, and by concealing the hardships; therefore even to those things which merited to be otherwise expressed, He gave by His words the more galling and painful turn. For it is better to see persons' gentleness in things, than in words.

[2.] Wherefore neither with this was He satisfied, but unfolds also the very nature of the war, signifying it to be far more grievous even than a civil war; and He saith,

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.

For not friends only, saith He, nor fellow citizens, but even kinsmen shall stand against one another, and nature shall be divided against herself. For I am come, saith He, to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law. That is, not merely among those of the same

Illustrations from the Old Testament.

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X. 36.

household is the war, but among those that are dearest, and MATT. extremely near to each other. And this more than any thing signifies His power, that hearing these things, they both accepted Him, and set about persuading all others.

Yet was it not He that did this: of course not: but the wickedness of the other sort: nevertheless He saith it is His own doing. For such is the custom of the Scripture. Yea, and elsewhere also He saith, God hath given them eyes that they should not see1: and here He speaks in this way, in Rom. order that having, as I said before, exercised themselves 11, 8. in these words, they might not be confounded on suffering reproaches and insults.

But if any think these things intolerable, let them be reminded of an ancient history. For in times of old also this came to pass, which thing especially shews the Old Covenant to be akin to the New, and Him Who is here speaking, the same with the Giver of those commands. I mean that in the case of the Jews also, when each had slain his neighbour, then He laid aside His anger against them; both when they made the calf, and when they were joined to Baal Peor2. Exod. Where then are they that say, "That God is evil, and This 32, 29. good?" For behold He hath filled the world with blood, shed 25, 7— by kinsmen. Nevertheless even this we affirm to be a work of great love towards man.

Therefore, you see, implying that it was He who approved those other acts also, He makes mention also of a prophecy, which if not spoken for this end, yet involves the same meaning. And what is this?

A man's foes shall be they of his own household.

Numb.

11.

v. 36.

For indeed among the Jews also something of the kind took place. That is, there were prophets, and false prophets, and the people was divided, and families were in dissension; and some believed the one, and some the other. Wherefore the Prophet admonishes, saying, Trust ye not in friends, have not hope in guides; yea even of her that lieth in thy bosom beware, in respect of communicating ought to her: and, A man's enemies are the men that are in his own house3. 3 Micah And this He said, preparing him that should receive the 7, 5. 6. word to be above all. For to die is not evil, but to die an evil death. On this account He said moreover, I am come

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2, 3.

12, 49.

510

How we must hate Father and Mother:

a

HOMIL. to cast fire upon the earth1. And this He said, to declare the vehemence and warmth of the love which He required. Luke For, because He loved us very much, so He will likewise be loved of us. And these sayings would strengthen the persons present also, and lift them higher. "For if those others," saith He," are to despise kinsmen, and children, and parents, imagine what manner of men ye their teachers ought to be. Since neither will the hardships stop with you, but will also pass on to the rest. For since I am come bringing great blessings, I demand also great obedience, and purpose of heart." v.37,38. [3.] 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; and he that taketh not his cross and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.

Seest thou a teacher's dignity? Seest thou, how He signifies himself a true Son of Him that begat Him, commanding us to let go all things beneath, and to take in preference the love of Him?

"And why speak I," saith He, " of friends and kinsmen ? Even if it be thine own life which thou preferrest to My love, thy place is far from My disciples." What then? Are not these things contrary to the Old Testament? Far from it, rather they are very much in harmony therewith. For there too He commands not only to hate the worshippers of idols, but even to stone them; and in Deuteronomy again, admiring these, He saith, Who said unto his father, and to his mother, I have not seen thee; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, 2 Deut. and his own sons he disowned: he kept Thy oracles. And 33, 9. if Paul gives many directions touching parents, commanding us to obey them in all things, marvel not; for in those things only doth he mean us to obey, as many as do not hinder godliness. For indeed it is a sacred duty to render them all other honours: but when they demand more than is due, one ought not to obey. For this reason Luke saith, If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his 3 Luke own life also, he cannot be My disciple3; not commanding 14, 26.

aup, "would anoint them for action."

Eph. 6, 1. See there St. Chrysos

tom's explanation of the expression, in the Lord.

X. 39.

simply to hate them, since this were even quite contrary to MATT. the Law; but "when one desires to be loved more than I am, hate him in this respect. For this ruins both the beloved himself, and the lover." And these things He said, both to render the children more determined, and to make the fathers more gentle, that would hinder them. For when they saw He had such strength and power as to sever their children from them, they, as attempting things impossible, would even desist. Wherefore also He leaves the fathers, and addresses His discourse to the children, instructing the former not to make the attempt, as attempting things impracticable.

Then lest they should be indignant, or count it hard, see which way He makes His argument tend: in that having said, Who hateth not father and mother, He adds, and his own life. For why dost thou speak to Me of parents, saith He, and brothers, and sisters, and wife? Nothing is nearer than the life to any man: yet if thou hate not this also, thou must bear in all things the opposite of his lot who loveth Me. And not even simply to hate it was His command, but so as to expose it to war, and to battles, and to slaughters, and blood. For he that beareth not his cross, and cometh v. 38. after Me, cannot be My disciple1. Thus He said not merely 1 comp. that we must stand against death, but also against a violent Luke14, death; and not violent only, but ignominious too.

And He discourses nothing as yet of His own passion, that when they had been for a time instructed in these things, they might more easily receive His word concerning it. Is there not, therefore, cause for amazement, how on their hearing these things, their soul did not wing its way from the body, the hardships being every where at hand, and the good things in expectation? How then did it not flee away? Great was both the power of the speaker, and the love of the hearers. Wherefore though hearing things far more intolerable and galling than those great men, Moses and Jeremiah, they continued to obey, and to say nothing against it.

27.

He that findeth his life, saith He, shall lose it: and he that v. 39. loseth his life for My sake, shall find it. Seest thou how great how great the gain to

the damage to such as love it unduly?

them that hate it? I mean, because the injunctions were dis