Bible Commentary

Matthew 10:34

Matthew 10:34

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

Think not ye that I am come to send peace on earth,.... The Jews had a notion of great outward peace and prosperity in the days of the Messiah; which was grounded on several prophecies of the Old Testament, not rightly understood by them; and the disciples of Christ had imbibed the same notion: wherefore our Lord thought fit to let them know the contrary; and that they must not expect outward ease and quiet, and worldly tranquillity would attend their ministry; for though he came to be a peace maker between God and sinners, by the blood of his cross; and was both the author and donor of spiritual peace to his people; and the Gospel he brought with him, and sent them to preach, was the Gospel of peace; which, accompanied with his power, would produce peace in the consciences of men, and be the means of cultivating and maintaining peace among the saints; yet "peace on earth" in a temporal sense, whether in the world in general, or in Judea in particular, must not be expected as the consequence of his coming; so far from it, that he subjoins,I came, not to send peace, but a sword.

The Daily Devotional

One devotional. Every morning.

The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.

We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.

Continue tomorrow

Turn Bible study into a daily habit

Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.

Recommended reading

More for Matthew 10:34

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Matthew 10 — OverviewMatthew 10 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis chapter is an ordination sermon, which our Lord Jesus preached, when he advanced his twelve disciples to the degree and dignity of apostles. In the close of the foregoing chapter, he had stirred up them…Matthew 10 — OverviewMatthew 10 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeMatthew 10:1, Christ sends out his twelve apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles; Matthew 10:5, giving them their charge, teaches them; Matthew 10:16, comforts them against persecutions; Matthew 10:40, and…Matthew 10:1-42Matthew 10:1-42 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION For introductory notes to this chapter, see Matthew 9:35.Matthew 10:1-42Matthew 10:1-42 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe "commanding" of the twelve. This was a grand historic occasion indeed. The honoured but ever-comparatively feeble and now dimmed, dying, or dead schools of the prophets are to be succeeded by a scion of…Matthew 10:5-42Matthew 10:5-42 · The Pulpit CommentaryCHRIST'S COMMISSION TO HIS AGENTS. The connexion and development of thought in this important charge is exceedingly difficult to perceive, and has been understood in many ways. Perhaps that most generally accepted in…Matthew 10:16-42Matthew 10:16-42 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleAll these verses relate to the sufferings of Christ's ministers in their work, which they are here taught to expect, and prepare for; they are directed also how to bear them, and how to go on with their work in…