If we try to understand any text of Scripture by itself, we will inevitably error. For example, we need Hebrews 12:14 to understand Jesus' intentions in Matthew 10:34-37. The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to live at peace with everyone. Was the Holy Spirit forgetting Himself in the inspiration of these two texts? Certainly not! In Matthew 10, Jesus is not speaking of relational conflict but rather value conflict. Jesus comes with a sword to divide our values, those that are God breathed and those that are God threatening. He uses the value of family as an example. If we are loving our families according to a Biblical pattern, it will never compete with God!
There is however another context we must consider. For followers of Christ who have families that threaten to disown them if they embrace Christ, then there is certainly an eternal choice one must make. Hebrews says that must "make every effort..." as sometimes even when we are walking in a Biblical pattern of grace and humility, people may still reject us due to our faith. The distinction here is they are choosing to reject us...we must, as followers of Christ, always be open to reconciliation, but never at the expense of our devotion to Jesus.
Again in Matthew 12:18, Jesus touches again on the them of family. He is not saying that our church family is to displace our earthly family but rather we need to allow the human heart to love to the extent it is capable...that we can have both an undying love for God's family and our earthly family together. One does not have to compete with the other, one does not have to displace the other...the human heart was made by God to hold within itself co-existing passions!
Genesis 41...if we are suffering in innocence, may we never mourn the loss of the wealth and influence of Potiphar's house because God is trying to bring us to Pharoh's house!
Genesis 45:19-20...If we do not forgive those who have sinned against us, we cannot be reconciled to our Father!
Pastor Fred
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