As we have pointed out here before, the Word of God is inerrant, inspired of God, and thus it is infallible. When we find portions that ‘seem’ to contradict each other, we must study the portions until the confusion is cleared up and we see once again that God’s Word does not contradict itself.

With that in mind, let’s read Luke 12:49-53, “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

As the angels approached the shepherds with the good news of the birth of the Messiah, we find that many angels joined in praise at this announcement. Luke 2:14 tells us they said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Yet, here in our portion we find the Lord saying that He had come to bring division. How do we understand this? At this point in His ministry, the rejection of Christ had become obvious. The Lord is showing how that because of this rejection, there would be divisions among people, even among households. The Lord tells us in Matthew 10:36, “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” In this state of rejection, there can be no peace on earth. Often, there is no peace in a home where one has trusted Christ as his savior and has to stand alone against those in his family who continually reject Christ.

Now let’s look at 1 Corinthians 1:10, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” These words are not spoken to the world, but to the church, the Lord’s heavenly people. Here, among the Lord’s people, there should be no divisions. We should all be ‘perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Prior to His crucifixion, the Lord prayed for those who would believe on Him. He prayed in John 17:11, “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.”

The church in Corinth had begun to divide up and named their individual groups after their favorite teachers. We read in 1 Corinthians 1:12-13, “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” Shamefully, that attitude and practice is still with us today. Some say I am of Martin Luther; and I am of John Wesley; and I am of John the Baptist. The Lord prayed for and expects true unity among His people. In Ephesians 4:3 the Lord would have us, “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” The Lord wants us to be one, even as He and the Father are one.

So, in a world that has rejected the Lord Jesus, there will be no peace, only division over who and what Christ is. In the church, the Lord wants no division; He wants us to be of the same mind…His mind. 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us that, “…we have the mind of Christ.” I hope that it is obvious to us all that there is no contradiction between Luke 12:49-53 and 1 Corinthians 1:10. When we understand it, we see that all is in perfect harmony. (173.9)