Following Christ in Strife (Matthew 10:34-42)

Sometimes, we read this passage and take the statement by Christ that "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" to be a broad, general concept. In other words, divisiveness in the Church is commanded on the basis of this statement. Christ has a slightly different idea here, however. At the end of Jesus's speech to His Disciples, which has largely been on the "debit" side of things (things they will lose as they serve Christ), He ends with a "credit" in verses 40-42. As we look at verses 34-42, we find that the credits match the debits. There is a Sword in verse 34, but this is offset by the reward in verse 42. There is a loss of one's family, one's House in verses 35-37, but this is offset by the gain of a new family in Christ in verses 40-42. And right in the middle, verses 38-39, the Cross shows us the example. It portrays the seeming contradiction we face between death and life, strife and piece, separation and union, loss and reward, and how those things coalesce. 

A. Peace with God brings a Sword (34)
     B. Strife with Fathers, Mothers, and In-Laws (35-37)
          C. Cross-bearing is Christ-worthiness (38)
               D. Find life = lose life / lose life for Christ = find life (39)
          C’. Christ-receiving is Yahweh-receiving (40)
     B’. Peace with Prophets, Righteous People, and Little Ones (41-42a)
A’. Peace with God’s people brings a Reward (42b)