"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew, 10:34). These and similar puzzling words from Jesus have very often been misunderstood even by biblical scholars as they could not reconcile them with the most peace-loving person in human history! Jesus actually used those words to shock people out of their lethargy in understanding words like 'peace' 'division', 'love', 'hate', 'fire', 'sword' etc. People have in their minds certain ideas about those words imagining them to be their meanings and Jesus intends to demolish those false notions to help them 'catch' the real meanings of those words. For, there is no other way than to 'catch' the meanings of words in a flash as when we laugh at a joke if we understand it!
The meaning of a word is not like a label attached to the word as we have the same word for many things and many words for the same thing. Similarly, the meaning of a word is not an object indicated by it as the meaning does not disappear even when the object is destroyed. A word stands as a sign indicating something other than itself and the connection between the two has to be 'caught' by us as its meaning. A word has no more function in guiding us to its meaning than a signpost has in guiding us to the location indicated by it. The one who goes on looking at the signpost forever will never reach his or her destination! Similar is the case with meanings of words.
Those who think that they can safely set aside words like 'God', 'soul', 'spirit', 'Satan', 'sin', 'afterlife', 'heaven', 'hell' etc. as meaningless have never attempted to analyse their own language.
For, the criteria they use to brand these words as meaningless will also make their own use of words meaningless if they are applied to the words they use! The Principle of Verification is the most famous criterion in this field and it has been admitted even in sciences that the most advanced theoretical concepts too should be verifiable within the framework of our everyday use of language. This leads to the conclusion that the meaning of words is in their use and not in anything else. One has to only explain how the words are used to make them meaningful.. Since the question of truth is a different matter altogether, one should not confuse it with meaning!
Given the above context, what Jesus wanted to demolish from the minds of people were false notions and meanings. As citizens of this world, our natural way of looking at the world and forming ideas and meanings are turned outside. Jesus wants us to stop this outflow and withdraw into ourselves, where our original and wholesome nature is available , in order to re-look at the world outside anew. This is what his original message at the beginning of his public ministry brought out:"Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand" (Matthew, 4:17). Repent means to turn back to ourselves in order to renew the world with the divine energy we have at hand. The Kingdom of God starts with us as it already is in us (Luke, 17:21).
Let us now look at the meanings of those shocking words of Jesus. People have gathered the meanings of words like 'peace', 'division', 'love', 'hate' etc. from the external world and go by them in their life. This is why there is no real peace, love etc. in the world as they are not practiced properly because of the distorted meanings attached to them. Do they think that peace will prevail if they make some external adjustments for the sake of diplomacy without an internal conviction of the same? Do people, even in married life, think that they can get away with a sham kind of love and take advantage of their spouses in place of real love? Jesus came to destroy all such shallow and spurious behaviors substituting them with real internal peace and genuine love. A total transformation of the persons concerned is what is intended and for which the Word of God , known as the sword in biblical language, is the apt weapon we have to use. That the disciples themselves including Peter misunderstood the meaning of the word 'sword' is evident from the Bible. Peter who drew the sword and struck the servant of the high priest was ordered to put it back with the stern warning: "...all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword" (Matthew, 26:52). Similarly, when Jesus said: "I have come to bring fire on the earth..."(Luke, 12:49), he meant the Holy Spirit who will purify and enlighten our minds for right understanding.
The meaning of a word is not like a label attached to the word as we have the same word for many things and many words for the same thing. Similarly, the meaning of a word is not an object indicated by it as the meaning does not disappear even when the object is destroyed. A word stands as a sign indicating something other than itself and the connection between the two has to be 'caught' by us as its meaning. A word has no more function in guiding us to its meaning than a signpost has in guiding us to the location indicated by it. The one who goes on looking at the signpost forever will never reach his or her destination! Similar is the case with meanings of words.
Those who think that they can safely set aside words like 'God', 'soul', 'spirit', 'Satan', 'sin', 'afterlife', 'heaven', 'hell' etc. as meaningless have never attempted to analyse their own language.
For, the criteria they use to brand these words as meaningless will also make their own use of words meaningless if they are applied to the words they use! The Principle of Verification is the most famous criterion in this field and it has been admitted even in sciences that the most advanced theoretical concepts too should be verifiable within the framework of our everyday use of language. This leads to the conclusion that the meaning of words is in their use and not in anything else. One has to only explain how the words are used to make them meaningful.. Since the question of truth is a different matter altogether, one should not confuse it with meaning!
Given the above context, what Jesus wanted to demolish from the minds of people were false notions and meanings. As citizens of this world, our natural way of looking at the world and forming ideas and meanings are turned outside. Jesus wants us to stop this outflow and withdraw into ourselves, where our original and wholesome nature is available , in order to re-look at the world outside anew. This is what his original message at the beginning of his public ministry brought out:"Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand" (Matthew, 4:17). Repent means to turn back to ourselves in order to renew the world with the divine energy we have at hand. The Kingdom of God starts with us as it already is in us (Luke, 17:21).
Let us now look at the meanings of those shocking words of Jesus. People have gathered the meanings of words like 'peace', 'division', 'love', 'hate' etc. from the external world and go by them in their life. This is why there is no real peace, love etc. in the world as they are not practiced properly because of the distorted meanings attached to them. Do they think that peace will prevail if they make some external adjustments for the sake of diplomacy without an internal conviction of the same? Do people, even in married life, think that they can get away with a sham kind of love and take advantage of their spouses in place of real love? Jesus came to destroy all such shallow and spurious behaviors substituting them with real internal peace and genuine love. A total transformation of the persons concerned is what is intended and for which the Word of God , known as the sword in biblical language, is the apt weapon we have to use. That the disciples themselves including Peter misunderstood the meaning of the word 'sword' is evident from the Bible. Peter who drew the sword and struck the servant of the high priest was ordered to put it back with the stern warning: "...all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword" (Matthew, 26:52). Similarly, when Jesus said: "I have come to bring fire on the earth..."(Luke, 12:49), he meant the Holy Spirit who will purify and enlighten our minds for right understanding.
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