{I came not to send peace, but a sword} (ouk (886c)thon balein
eir(886e)(886e), alla machairan). A bold and dramatic climax. The aorist
infinitive means a sudden hurling of the sword where peace was
expected. Christ does bring peace, not as the world gives, but it
is not the force of compromise with evil, but of conquest over
wrong, over Satan, the triumph of the cross. Meanwhile there will
be inevitably division in families, in communities, in states. It
is no namby-pamby sentimentalism that Christ preaches, no peace
at any price. The Cross is Christ's answer to the devil's offer
of compromise in world dominion. For Christ the kingdom of God is
virile righteousness, not mere emotionalism.