"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:
I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34).
My reader, it is vital that you have a proper OT sense of judgment by sword and salvation thereby. There is a biblically rich OT background to justify this saying of the Lord Jesus. I call it, salvation by a sword.
The Lord Jesus was the prophet like unto Moses (viz. Acts 3:22; 7:37). Jesus came from heaven to the Jews like as Moses came down from Mount Sinai. They came with judgment and a call to salvation. Look at the nature of their call to salvation, the cry of mercy before judgment, the ark of escape before wrath. Look how Moses contradicted the wave of idolatry when he came down from the Mount and ponder this: if Moses had such a contradiction, and likewise Christ had such a contradiction, than what of your witness of Christ to this adulterous, wicked, playing generation? Moses barely pacified the wrath of God through intercession!
The Lord Jesus was the prophet like unto Moses (viz. Acts 3:22; 7:37). Jesus came from heaven to the Jews like as Moses came down from Mount Sinai. They came with judgment and a call to salvation. Look at the nature of their call to salvation, the cry of mercy before judgment, the ark of escape before wrath. Look how Moses contradicted the wave of idolatry when he came down from the Mount and ponder this: if Moses had such a contradiction, and likewise Christ had such a contradiction, than what of your witness of Christ to this adulterous, wicked, playing generation? Moses barely pacified the wrath of God through intercession!
“And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day" (Exodus 32:25-29).
Moses came down from the Mount with a message of salvation by division for the wicked and idolatrous. Thousands of Israelites were in the streets and open areas together as a mass, in the very act of reveling, idolatry, and playing. They had been emboldened to rebellion, thinking Moses died on the Mountain, supposing that He could not be sustained by God for forty days. A man of God seeking salvation with the True God, he went to the gate to confront the mass. "Moses stood." And where? "In the gate,” beside all his brothers who through the centuries found their place at the city gate as the voice of rebuke to the land. His call: "Who is on the LORD'S side?" What Moses beheld was enmity against God. Therefore Moses heralded the only hope for salvation - separation! "Let him come unto me," Moses said. From this reveling mass wherein all were guilty, the tribe of Levi came forth! As they went from this crowd, they were probably mocked, laughed at, and persecuted. Friends and family supposed they could make them turn back and stay with them by verbal or physical restraint. Splitting a mass of thousands like this was probably a noisome eruption of contention and crying.
The Levites were not saved by merely gathering unto Moses. Moses gave them a charge for repentance – Judgment – by a girded weapon and bloody sword. Moses sent them back into the mass of rebellion which included their brethren, companions, and neighbors. They armed themselves for war and "put every man his sword by his side." Those who were guilty may have scattered or shamelessly continued in their evil play, and whatever the case, the Levites engaged in war and death before they became the beloved tribe of God who never went to war alongside all the other tribes. It was here that the Levites were saved and supremely honored by the preferential love of God above the other tribes. They set their face to do judgment by a sword and to mercilessly slay their family and friends, withersoever the guilty were found "in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp." Three thousand men were slain. This sword was their salvation and an official consecration which resulted in them being granted the offices of the Tabernacle. This is what blessing was rewarded to them, by the blood of their sons, brothers, and family, which they slew with the sword. This is the blessing of supreme exaltation above other tribes. They were consecrated because of the slaying of their son and brother, and so the pleasure of God is awarded to them in another place, like what is said in Exodus 32:29, God said of the tribe of Levi, “It is he who was rewarded because he ‘said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy Covenant. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar’" (Deut. 33:9-10). Like Asa was famed when he judged and dethroned his own mother for idolatry (1 Kings 15:13, 2 Chron. 15:16), so the Levites were famed.
The Levites were not saved by merely gathering unto Moses. Moses gave them a charge for repentance – Judgment – by a girded weapon and bloody sword. Moses sent them back into the mass of rebellion which included their brethren, companions, and neighbors. They armed themselves for war and "put every man his sword by his side." Those who were guilty may have scattered or shamelessly continued in their evil play, and whatever the case, the Levites engaged in war and death before they became the beloved tribe of God who never went to war alongside all the other tribes. It was here that the Levites were saved and supremely honored by the preferential love of God above the other tribes. They set their face to do judgment by a sword and to mercilessly slay their family and friends, withersoever the guilty were found "in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp." Three thousand men were slain. This sword was their salvation and an official consecration which resulted in them being granted the offices of the Tabernacle. This is what blessing was rewarded to them, by the blood of their sons, brothers, and family, which they slew with the sword. This is the blessing of supreme exaltation above other tribes. They were consecrated because of the slaying of their son and brother, and so the pleasure of God is awarded to them in another place, like what is said in Exodus 32:29, God said of the tribe of Levi, “It is he who was rewarded because he ‘said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy Covenant. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar’" (Deut. 33:9-10). Like Asa was famed when he judged and dethroned his own mother for idolatry (1 Kings 15:13, 2 Chron. 15:16), so the Levites were famed.
"If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26).
Now, will you be brought near to salvation if the cost be the NT sword coming upon your dear loved ones - your sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, your friends and neighbors? The Levites, in this sense, forsook, "hated" (Lk. 14:26), and forgot about their family, so God desired them to be His nearest friends and family. As it is written, "Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him" (Ps. 45:10-11).
“Who is on the Lord’s side,” was cried aloud,
From the reveling masses the meek left the proud.
Those who had ears to hear did hear salvation’s calling sound,
The Levites did leave their sin and gather around.
They came to the Lord and forgiveness was granted,
Their revelry was over-passed, though for the golden calf they had chanted.
Christ came preaching “come,” he left preaching “go,”
Likewise this divine commission did apprehend these saints to count their family a foe.
Their sword was taken from their side; it was raised for God as their family tearfully cried.
Blood was mercilessly shed and wrath was pacified in those who died.
For justice the impenitent bled, and the streets of sin did run red.
Idolatry had an enemy, it was the intercessor Moses who had no unrighteous affinity. His Captain was the Lord, the All-Consuming Trinity, whom justly saves or burns his enemies, even for a timeless infinity.
Moses did conquer rebellion; he brought a sword to the unrighteous, impenitent battalion.
Those who found mercy by repentance were sent to do merciless judgment against the impenitent.
Their family members did cry, likewise ours don’t want to die, but we are soldiers in arms already crucified, doing the commands of our Master who hath brought forth the sword.
If Moses declared a consecration and salvation by a sword of vengeance, therefore what saith the Prophet like unto Moses to his generation?
From the reveling masses the meek left the proud.
Those who had ears to hear did hear salvation’s calling sound,
The Levites did leave their sin and gather around.
They came to the Lord and forgiveness was granted,
Their revelry was over-passed, though for the golden calf they had chanted.
Christ came preaching “come,” he left preaching “go,”
Likewise this divine commission did apprehend these saints to count their family a foe.
Their sword was taken from their side; it was raised for God as their family tearfully cried.
Blood was mercilessly shed and wrath was pacified in those who died.
For justice the impenitent bled, and the streets of sin did run red.
Idolatry had an enemy, it was the intercessor Moses who had no unrighteous affinity. His Captain was the Lord, the All-Consuming Trinity, whom justly saves or burns his enemies, even for a timeless infinity.
Moses did conquer rebellion; he brought a sword to the unrighteous, impenitent battalion.
Those who found mercy by repentance were sent to do merciless judgment against the impenitent.
Their family members did cry, likewise ours don’t want to die, but we are soldiers in arms already crucified, doing the commands of our Master who hath brought forth the sword.
If Moses declared a consecration and salvation by a sword of vengeance, therefore what saith the Prophet like unto Moses to his generation?
God said of Jesus, while speaking to Moses:
“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him” (Deut. 18:18-19).
Truly, those who did not hear Moses died without mercy under the commissioned Levite sword. As it is written, “he that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses” (Hebrews 10:28). What can be said of Jesus Christ, and those that resist his words? They of whom are included in, “whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name,” will surely undergo the gauntlet which God spoke of, saying, “I will require it of him” (Deut. 18:19). Therefore, “to day, if ye will hear his voice” through God’s written word, “harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7). “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven” (Hebrews 12:25). “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord” (Hebrews 2:1-3)?
Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, not dwell peacefully by them. “He that committeth sin is of the devil,” scripture says, “for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Jesus, the Prophet like unto Moses, called a line of allegiance against the prating fools and Pharisaical parties. Hear ye his words: “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” (Matthew 10:34-36).
Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, not dwell peacefully by them. “He that committeth sin is of the devil,” scripture says, “for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Jesus, the Prophet like unto Moses, called a line of allegiance against the prating fools and Pharisaical parties. Hear ye his words: “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” (Matthew 10:34-36).
Enmity, War, and a Sword!
Christ Jesus brought enmity in deed that sinners might be freed.
He testified with valiant opposition, and the loving expression of a truthful, sword-wielding disposition.
Christ Jesus brought enmity in deed that sinners might be freed.
He testified with valiant opposition, and the loving expression of a truthful, sword-wielding disposition.
A Christian must reconcile himself with the tribulations of truth. The word of God brings a sword of division, and if you speak it in love, it will happen to you as it is written: “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth” (Gal. 4:16)? Thus it can be said, “For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love” (Psalm 109:4-5). Nevertheless, in Christ we partake of so great a love for others, we verily can say in response to all the affliction and repercussions of righteousness, in first person, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Cor. 12:15).
Pick up sword in hand and follow your Lord; either that, or recognize you are of the world. If Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil,” and “the carnal mind is enmity against God,” what great enmity will the followers of Christ have with the carnally minded (1 John 3:8, Rom. 8:7)? The sword brings division, sharp separation, a contrast as light to darkness. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved” (John 3:19-20). Light is distinct in that it is bright, yea, it scatters the night by effectual reproof against the works of darkness!
Today Christ lives - he hath brought many sons to glory - and his light still shines. This sharp sword is still dividing, the word of God is still living and active, and the only question is: “Which side are you on?” Today, nothing new under the sun from yesterday, we are at enmity as darkness is to light, and whosoever is on the Lord’s side is in the Light! Many “beasts” have made a religious fort and they do on every person “creep forth” while darkness has shrouded the land. But Christ is “for a covenant of the people, for a light to the Gentiles,” that the declaration of salvation would metaphorically and spiritually be a fulfillment of the words spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” (Matthew 4:16, Isaiah 42:6).
Verily, they which are saved are awakened by this light, as it is written, “awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Eph. 5:14). However, citywide night through cultural and religious darkness pollutes the earth in perpetual days of spiritual darkness. In such a case the multitudes do sit in darkness under the “rulers of the darkness of this world” that are “spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12). The devils are the authors of these religious faces and they steal the light of true graces. However, we must not forget the forewarned Sovereign plan that is now manifest in man: Firstly, that “Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth” (Psalm 104:20). Secondarily, “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness” (Gen. 1:4). Therefore it is true today: “But he that doeth truth cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:21).
"Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said,
Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me."
Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me."
To the unbelieving Jesus said, “the world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil” (John 7:7). This was the Prophet like unto Moses, and he says to you today, “who is on the Lord’s side?” Will you come, and then will you go? Will you come to the Light, will you walk in the Light, and will you become a light? If you come to the Light you will pass from death to life, for “in him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). “Wherefore he saith, awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Eph. 5:14). Bask in this Light, for it makes all the dead “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son” (Col. 1:12-13). If you have this Light that is life, it shines with a brightness that is righteousness, “and if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Rom. 8:10). This light has a righteous effect of reproving evil deeds, “and all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light” (Eph. 5:13).
Can you say to God, “my soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me” (Psalm 63:8). If so, and your words are true, it will be as the Lord said of such a man, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Moses and Jesus Christ ground the golden calf in their day, and now we must follow them. As Christ was a light, so art thou, regenerate Christian. Hear your commission:
Can you say to God, “my soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me” (Psalm 63:8). If so, and your words are true, it will be as the Lord said of such a man, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Moses and Jesus Christ ground the golden calf in their day, and now we must follow them. As Christ was a light, so art thou, regenerate Christian. Hear your commission:
“Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:7-17).
Salvific light is a sin remover and a righteous intruder. This light is righteously bright, and therefore an expeller of sin; it is not relatively defined by men. It is no candle in a devil’s den, to give a warmness of light to help them sin. Costly hugs and kisses are the harlot’s love and wishes (Prov. 7:6-27). Feasts of peace on the eve of judgment are no banquet of the Lord (1 Sam. 28:22-25). They extinguish the fervency and every possibility of fasting; they replace the need of mourning with meat. This is the devil’s method of madness; he is a master builder making prisons of gladness. If there is no repentance, there is no life; therefore, preach repentance that they may have life! The comforts of this life are the witch’s love and harlot’s ways to steal repentance from sinners all throughout their days.
Nevertheless, blessed be God! rays from His countenance are shed abroad; they circle, astound, and clothe His saints with the armor of God. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Rom. 13:12). “There be many that say, who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us,” and He has, therefore we are victory bound!
Nevertheless, blessed be God! rays from His countenance are shed abroad; they circle, astound, and clothe His saints with the armor of God. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Rom. 13:12). “There be many that say, who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us,” and He has, therefore we are victory bound!
Your enmity with the world
Is defined by a drawn and bloody sword
If you are a friend of God, you are a soldier- saint clad in the armor of God
Protection is needful against the surrounding innumerable foes
That rage in sin under impending woes
This day is a fight, there are endless days after night
At the Son-split sky all saints will fly
O what bliss there will be, in the great By and By
Is defined by a drawn and bloody sword
If you are a friend of God, you are a soldier- saint clad in the armor of God
Protection is needful against the surrounding innumerable foes
That rage in sin under impending woes
This day is a fight, there are endless days after night
At the Son-split sky all saints will fly
O what bliss there will be, in the great By and By
It is peculiarly hard when one must take the sword of truth to the family. You become the enemy of false Christianity’s creeds which dictate uncompromising family unity and goodly, comfortable, inoffensive morality. God desires family unity, but not at the expense of righteousness and truth; Christ declared a sword and disunity. The trial of keeping your eyes fixed on the Lord, not looking back to the cursed Sodom of this world, is undergone by every saint that sees the godly call to take the sword of truth to the family. How will your family have hope to see the blindness of their idolatry if you do not grind this golden calf to powder like war against a Satanic tower? “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood” (Jeremiah 48:10).
Our Master Jesus Christ has given us an example and he was forsaken and cast out of the camp of false Judaism. “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb 13:13-14). We are commanded, “go forth therefore unto him”- therefore what happened to him must happen to us; as he was hated we must be hated. Christianity is not merely imitating Christ; no, rather walking in him. Thus as he was, we are. For, “he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6). Will you come to the Lord’s side? The honour of men is a path of wickedness, truly: “how can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only” (Jn. 5:44)? Jesus said, “I receive not honour from men,” and knowing this, will you come to him? Don’t let this be your indictment from Christ, the one he gave to the Pharisees: “search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:39-40). Will you come to the Lord? Do you follow Christ already? Hear now the test. Do you believe, and therefore seek the honour of God? To this man God shows his honour: Jesus said, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” (John 12:26).
In a real degree, go where Jesus went on earth and you will be with him in heaven. Jesus said, “the disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master” (Lk. 6:40). “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” (Jn. 15:18-20).
Our Master Jesus Christ has given us an example and he was forsaken and cast out of the camp of false Judaism. “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb 13:13-14). We are commanded, “go forth therefore unto him”- therefore what happened to him must happen to us; as he was hated we must be hated. Christianity is not merely imitating Christ; no, rather walking in him. Thus as he was, we are. For, “he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6). Will you come to the Lord’s side? The honour of men is a path of wickedness, truly: “how can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only” (Jn. 5:44)? Jesus said, “I receive not honour from men,” and knowing this, will you come to him? Don’t let this be your indictment from Christ, the one he gave to the Pharisees: “search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:39-40). Will you come to the Lord? Do you follow Christ already? Hear now the test. Do you believe, and therefore seek the honour of God? To this man God shows his honour: Jesus said, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour” (John 12:26).
In a real degree, go where Jesus went on earth and you will be with him in heaven. Jesus said, “the disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master” (Lk. 6:40). “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” (Jn. 15:18-20).
