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Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (cycle a)
Proper 7 (12)

Humor | Peace & Justice | NexGen Worship
 Independence Day (USA)  | Juneteenth Resources
 

Texts & Discussion:
 Genesis 21:8-21
Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17
or
Jeremiah 20:7-13
Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18
Romans 6:1b-11
Matthew 10:24-39

Other Resources:
Commentary:
 Matthew Henry,    Wesley

Word Study:
Robertson

 This Week's Themes:

 Human Failure and God's Providence

Salvation History

The Cost of Discipleship

 



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 Texts in Context | Commentary:    First Lesson;  Epistle;  Gospel | Prayer&Litanies |  
Hymns & Songs | Children's Sermon | Sermons based on Texts

 

  Taking Up the Sword of Justice, Mat 10:24-39, Rev. Frank Schaefer

Surely, Jesus words take us by surprise this morning, when he says: "Do not think I have come to bring peace on earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother . . . and our enemies will be members of our own household." Whoa! This does not make for a good passage for Sunday school, does it? Don't these words of Jesus stand in direct opposition to some of his other words, like: "blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called children of God?"

Just a couple of weeks ago in our Sunday school lesson, we talked about the passage where it says: "if you approach the altar and you remember that a brother has something against you, go first and make peace with him, and then come and bring your sacrifices?"  So, what about that, what about trying to resolve our conflicts in a civilized manner? What about being mediators?

In order to resolve this seeming paradox, we need to understand the historic background of Matthew's community. It seems likely that this controversial saying by Jesus was included in the Matthean community because a conversion to Christianity meant that  you faced severe persecution, and often at the hands of  family members..... click here for the full sermon manuscript.