Matthew 10:36 kjv
And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Matthew 10:36 nkjv
and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'
Matthew 10:36 niv
a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
Matthew 10:36 esv
And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.
Matthew 10:36 nlt
Your enemies will be right in your own household!'
Matthew 10 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mic 7:6 | "For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises against her mother…" | Prophetic source for Jesus' statement. |
| Matt 10:34-35 | "Do not think that I have come to bring peace... a sword..." | Immediate context, Jesus bringing division. |
| Luke 12:51-53 | "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, rather division!" | Parallel passage emphasizing division. |
| Matt 10:37 | "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me..." | Emphasizes placing Christ above family. |
| Luke 14:26 | "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother..." | Strong call to supreme allegiance to Christ. |
| Matt 10:21-22 | "Brother will deliver brother over to death... hated by all for my name." | Anticipates severe persecution from kin. |
| John 15:18-19 | "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you." | Persecution is expected for followers of Christ. |
| John 7:5 | "For not even his brothers believed in him." | Even Jesus' own family initially rejected Him. |
| Acts 7:51-54 | "You stiff-necked people... you always resist the Holy Spirit." | Persecution arising from proclaiming truth. |
| Gen 12:1 | "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house..." | Call to leave old loyalties for God's call. |
| Php 3:7-8 | "Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ." | Sacrificing worldly connections for Christ. |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers..." | Separation from unholy alliances for Christ. |
| Rom 12:2 | "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed..." | Contrast between worldly conformity and Christ. |
| 1 Pet 4:4 | "They are surprised when you do not join them in their wild acts..." | Unbelievers' hostility to believers' changed life. |
| Heb 11:36-38 | "Suffered mocking and flogging... destituted, afflicted, mistreated..." | Historical examples of believers suffering persecution. |
| Acts 4:18-20 | "We must obey God rather than men." | Choosing God's will over human authority/expectations. |
| Gal 1:10 | "If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." | Conflict when human approval clashes with Christ. |
| Matt 12:46-50 | "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister..." | New spiritual family prioritized over biological. |
| Rev 12:10 | "For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down..." | Spiritual warfare, unseen enemies behind division. |
| Eph 6:12 | "We do not wrestle against flesh and blood..." | True struggle is spiritual, not merely human. |
| Luke 2:34 | "This child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel..." | Simeon's prophecy about Jesus causing division. |
| 1 John 3:13 | "Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you." | Expectation of hatred from the world. |
| Amos 3:3 | "Do two walk together unless they have agreed to meet?" | Implies difficulty in unity with differing spiritual paths. |
| Rom 8:7 | "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God..." | Fundamental conflict between spiritual and carnal minds. |
| Tit 3:3 | "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray..." | A reminder of the unsaved state's opposition. |
Matthew 10 verses
Matthew 10 36 Meaning
Matthew 10:36 speaks to the painful reality that allegiance to Jesus Christ can cause deep divisions, even within one's own immediate family. It highlights that the choice to follow Him often means confronting opposition from those closest to you, as their values and commitments may clash with the radical demands of the Kingdom of God. This division arises not from Christ's intention to destroy families, but from the spiritual polarity His truth establishes, forcing a re-evaluation of primary loyalties.
Matthew 10 36 Context
Matthew chapter 10 records Jesus' charge to His twelve apostles before sending them out to proclaim the Gospel and heal the sick. This verse, along with the immediately preceding verses (10:34-35), comes after Jesus warns them about rejection, persecution, and the need for fearless proclamation. He speaks of His mission bringing a "sword" of division rather than an easy peace. This prepares the disciples for the personal cost and challenges they would face, specifically highlighting the heartbreaking reality that the deepest opposition could come from within their most trusted relationships – their own family, who, due to unbelief or differing loyalties, might become adversarial to their commitment to Christ. This challenges the deeply held value of familial unity in ancient Jewish culture.
Matthew 10 36 Word analysis
- and (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction, connecting this specific outcome of division directly to the preceding statements about Jesus bringing a "sword" (division, not peace). It signals a further elaboration of that foundational truth.
- a man's (ἀνθρώπου - anthropou, genitive of ἄνθρωπος - anthropos): Refers to humanity generally, not specific to male gender. It means any person, indicating the universal potential for this conflict among all followers of Christ.
- enemies (ἐχθροί - echthroi, plural of ἐχθρός - echthros): Signifies those who are hostile, adversarial, or oppose someone. It implies a deliberate spiritual antagonism, not just disagreement. The use of "enemies" underscores the severity of the opposition one might face.
- will be (ἔσονται - esontai, future tense of εἰμί - eimi): Indicates a definite future reality or inevitable consequence. It's not a possibility but a certain outcome for some.
- those (οἱ - hoi, article used pronominally): Refers back to "enemies," specifying who they are.
- of his own household (οἰκιακοί - oikiakoi, from οἰκία - oikia meaning "house," "family"): This is a crucial term. It specifically means members of one's own family, kindred, or domestic circle. It refers to parents, siblings, children, and potentially other close relatives or servants residing in the same household. This word brings the abstract idea of "enemies" into the most intimate and traditionally sacred space – the family unit.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- a man's enemies will be: This phrase emphasizes the unexpected source of antagonism. The very people from whom one expects support and love can become opponents due to a differing spiritual allegiance to Christ. This underscores that spiritual allegiances can be stronger than blood ties.
- those of his own household: This phrase powerfully conveys the deeply personal and painful nature of the division Jesus speaks of. In societies where family honor and unity were paramount, this statement would have been profoundly shocking and convicting, requiring a radical reorientation of loyalty above even familial ties. It signifies the direct, intimate impact of allegiance to Christ on personal relationships.
Matthew 10 36 Bonus section
This verse is often viewed as a direct echo of Micah 7:6, indicating a prophetic pattern of division linked to God's redemptive work. While deeply painful, this internal familial opposition serves as a test of allegiance, purifying motives and demonstrating the supreme value of Christ. It underscores that spiritual rebirth can create a new, deeper spiritual family (the Church) whose bonds transcend biological ties, as seen when Jesus prioritizes those who do the Father's will (Matt 12:46-50). The verse is not an invitation to initiate family strife, but a warning to prepare for it, and a call to maintain faithfulness even when allegiance to Christ proves socially costly. It serves as a reminder that the spiritual battle is often fought not only with external enemies but also within one's closest circles, necessitating unwavering devotion to the Lord above all else.
Matthew 10 36 Commentary
Matthew 10:36 powerfully conveys a sobering truth about the cost of discipleship. It’s a direct and profound illustration of the "sword" Jesus spoke of bringing (Matt 10:34), not peace as the world understands it. This verse doesn't suggest that Jesus desires family brokenness; rather, it highlights the inherent conflict between the values of God's Kingdom and the fallen world, a conflict so intense that it can manifest in the most intimate relationships. When an individual wholeheartedly embraces Christ, their new loyalties and transformed worldview can put them at odds with family members who do not share the same commitment. This tension arises because following Christ demands supreme allegiance, which may directly challenge pre-existing familial bonds or expectations that are not aligned with God's will. The verse prepares believers for potential pain, ensuring they understand that the path of faith often involves trials and opposition, sometimes from the most unexpected sources.
- Examples: A new convert in a staunchly traditional family facing ostracism for changing their faith; a teenager's commitment to Christian moral principles clashing with their parents' secular lifestyle choices; or siblings who grow spiritually distant due to one's radical devotion to Christ challenging the others' worldly pursuits.