Matthew 10:36
in Matthew 10A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
KJV
And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
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This verse in Matthew 10
Commentary
15 notes on this verseAnd a man's foes shall be they of his own household. His children, and his servants, such that he has either begotten and brought up, or are daily fed at his table, and maintained by him. This, with the former instances, are borrowed from Mic 7:6 and the times of the Gospel are set forth in the same dismal and black characters, as those in which the prophet lived; and much such a description do the Jews themselves give, of the times of their expected Messiah; which agreeing in words, as well as things, I cannot forbear transcribing.
This site's exposition
not to send peace, but a sword
on Matthew 10:34-36
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth corrects any expectation that the kingdom arrives without cost or conflict; I came not to send peace, but a sword names division as an actual result of his coming, not its purpose in the sense of malice, but its effect wherever some receive him and others in the same household do not. Set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother draws on Micah 7:6's own picture of family betrayal in the last days, applied now to the split loyalty the gospel creates inside families that do not divide evenly. The bench reads the sword as the sword of decision, forcing a choice that peace at any price would have avoided.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
(Quæst. in Matt. q. 3.) Otherwise; I am come to set a man against his father; for he renounces the Devil, who was his son; the daughter against her mother, that is, the people of God against the city of the world, that is, the wicked society of mankind, which is spoken of in Scripture under the names of Babylon, Egypt, Sodom, and other names. The daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, that is, the Church against the Synagogue, which according to the flesh, brought forth Christ the spouse of the Church. They are severed by the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And a man's foes are they of his household, those, that is, with whom he before lived as intimates.
(Verse 34) Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth: I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. Above, he had said: What I tell you in the dark, say in the light; and what you hear in your ear, preach on the housetops. Now he explains what follows after preaching. By the faith of Christ, the whole world is divided against itself: every household had both unbelievers and believers, and therefore a good war was sent, so that a bad peace would be broken.
The new man finding his foes within, he seeks with joy to live in newness of spirit; they which are derived from the old stock, lust to remain in their old pleasures.
A commentator
John ChrysostomHomily on the Gospel of Matthew 35 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
But if any think these things intolerable, let them be reminded of an ancient history. For in times of old also this came to pass, which thing especially shows the old covenant to be akin to the new, and Him who is here speaking, the same with the giver of those commands. I mean that in the case of the Jews also, when each had slain his neighbor, then He laid aside His anger against them; both when they made the calf, and when they were joined to Baal Peor. Where then are they that say, "That God is evil, and this good?" For behold He hath filled the world with blood, shed by kinsmen. Nevertheless even this we affirm to be a work of great love towards man. Therefore, you see, implying that it was He who approved those other acts also, He makes mention also of a prophecy, which if not spoken for this end, yet involves the same meaning. And what is this? "A man's foes shall be they of his own household." For indeed among the Jews also something of the kind took place. That is, there were prophets, and false prophets, and the people was divided, and families were in dissension; and some believed the one, and some the other. Wherefore the prophet admonishes, saying, "Trust ye not in friends, have not hope in guides; yea, even of her that lieth in thy bosom beware, in respect of communicating aught to her:" and, "A man's enemies are the men that are in his own house." And this He said, preparing him that should receive the word to be above all. For to die is not evil, but to die an evil death. On this account He said moreover, "I am come to cast fire upon the earth." And this He said, to declare the vehemence and warmth of the love which He required. For, because He loved us very much, so He will likewise be loved of us. And these sayings would strengthen the persons present also, and lift them higher. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
(Mor. iii. 8.) For the subtle enemy when he sees himself driven out of the hearts of the good, seeks out those who most love them, and speaking by the mouth of those who are dearest, endeavours while the heart is penetrated by love, that the sword of conviction may pierce to the inmost bulwarks of virtue.
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
(interlin.) Or connect it with what has gone before, As the fear of death ought not to draw you away, so neither ought carnal affection. (interlin.) Otherwise; He means, I am not come among men to strengthen their carnal affections, but to cut them off with the sword of the Spirit; whence it is rightly added, And a man's foes are they of his household.
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against …
Likewise he mentions those who pertain to the household, where he says, and a man's enemies will be those of his own household. And it says in Jeremiah (20:10): "For I hear many whisperings. Terror is on every side. 'Denounce him! Let us denounce him!' …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
These things, though primarily intended for direction to the apostles, are of use to all Christ's ministers, with whom, by his word, Christ, and will be always to end the world.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A man’s foes shall be they of his own household - Our Lord refers here to their own traditions. So Sota, fol. 49. “A little before the coming of the Messiah, the son shall insult the father, the daughter rebel against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and each man shall have his own household fur his enemies.” Again, in Sanhedrin, fol.
In these verses the great head of the church winds up his first charge to those whom he sends forth to make known his Gospel. He declares three great truths, which form a fitting conclusion to the whole discourse. In the first place, he bids us remember that his Gospel will not cause peace and agreement wherever it comes.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
And a man's foes shall be they of his own household--This saying, which is quoted, as is the whole verse, from Mic 7:6, is but an extension of the Psalmist's complaint (Ps 41:9;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
In these verses the great head of the church winds up his first charge to those whom he sends forth to make known his Gospel. He declares three great truths, which form a fitting conclusion to the whole discourse. In the first place, he bids us remember that his Gospel will not cause peace and agreement wherever it comes. “I came not to send peace, but a sword”The object of his first coming on earth was not to set up a millennial kingdom in which all would be of one mind, but to bring in the Gospel, which would lead to strifes and divisions. We have no right to be surprised if we see this continually fulfilled: we are not to think it strange if the Gospel rends sunder families and causes estrangement between the nearest relations. It is sure to do so in many cases, because of the deep corruption of man’s heart. So long as one man believes, and another remains unbelieving, so long as one is resolved to keep his sins, and another is desirous to give them up, the result of the preaching of the Gospel must needs be division. For this the Gospel is not to blame, but the heart of man. There is deep truth in all this, which is constantly forgotten and overlooked. Many talk vaguely about “unity,” “harmony” and “peace” in the church of Christ, as if they were things that we ought always to expect, and for the sake of which everything ought to be sacrificed! Such persons would do well to remember the words of our Lord. No doubt unity and peace are mighty blessings; we ought to seek them, pray for them and give up everything in order to obtain them, excepting truth and a good conscience. But it is an idle dream to suppose that the churches of Christ will enjoy much of unity and peace before the millennium comes. In the second place, our Lord tells us that true Christians must make up their minds to trouble in this world.
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐχθροὶ | echthroi | enemies | G2190 → | 32 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀνθρώπου | anthropou | man | G444 → | 549 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οἰκιακοὶ | oikiakoi | household | G3615 → | |
| αὐτοῦ.¶ | autou | of him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐχθροὶenemies
echthroiG2190 →32 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
ἀνθρώπουman
anthropouG444 →549 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
οἰκιακοὶhousehold
oikiakoiG3615 →
αὐτοῦ.¶of him.
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 41:9Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
it leads to
- Psalms 55:12–14
For it is not an enemy who insults me; that I could endure. It is not a foe who rises against me; from him I could hide.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 13:18
I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’
- Matthew 26:23
Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me.
- John 13:26–27
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
- Psalms 55:12–14
Through
Micah 7:6For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
it leads to
- Matthew 10:35–36
For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
- Luke 12:53
They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
- Matthew 10:21
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
- Matthew 10:35–36
Through
Jeremiah 12:6Even your brothers—your own father’s household—even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 9:4
“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 9:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies7
About Matthew
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Glossa Ordinaria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Hilary of Poitiers, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Matthew; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Matthew; John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 35; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Matthew and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Matthew.