Matthew 10:36 (ESV) — “And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
Not exactly the verse you’d put on a coffee mug.
Jesus is sending his disciples out, and right in the middle of the pep talk, he drops this: following me might cause real friction at home. Not with strangers — with your own people. Parents. Spouses. The folks at Thanksgiving dinner.
That’s a strange thing to hear from the “Prince of Peace.” But Jesus isn’t stirring up trouble for fun. He’s just being real with them. A couple verses earlier he says he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword — because when you actually start living like he’s Lord, it’s going to rub some people the wrong way. Not because you’re being difficult. Because truth tends to make people uncomfortable, especially truth about who Jesus is.
Maybe you know this one firsthand. Maybe there’s a family member who rolls their eyes when you bring up church. Maybe a relationship got a little colder once your priorities changed. If so, this verse isn’t scolding you — it’s telling you Jesus saw it coming. He’s not surprised, and neither should you be.
And he doesn’t just leave you hanging with a warning. Right after, he says whoever loves father or mother more than him isn’t worthy of him. That’s not Jesus saying “ditch your family.” It’s him saying “just make sure I’m first.” Because when he’s actually first, you end up loving people better, not worse — even the ones who don’t get it.
So if following Jesus has cost you something at home, you’re not failing. You’re in good company. The original disciples felt this exact tension. Keep him first, keep showing up for the people you love, and trust him with the rest.
Prayer for today:
God, when following you makes things tense with people I love, don’t let me get bitter — help me stay soft. Keep me loyal to you first, but never give me an excuse to stop loving the people you’ve put in my life. Give me patience for the long haul. Amen.
Leave a Reply