Kramer Chapel

Concordia Theological Seminary

July 1, 2026

Matthew 10:34-42 (ESV)

Dr. Todd A. Peperkorn

In the name of Jesus, Amen. How can the King of Peace bring a sword? That is really the question for our text this day. Jesus talks about how it is that father will be set against son, mother against daughter, and that a man’s enemies will be those in his own household. We see examples of this many times in the scriptures.

Lot’s wife turning back. Eli, who loved his sons too much. King Saul, Judas Iscariot, Ananias and Sapphira. In all of these examples, we have people who loved too much and thus forgot their first and true love. While the King brings peace, the result, all too often, is the sword. Now this does not mean that being a Christian means that we now bring violence, as if the kingdom of God comes through acts of warfare and hatred.

And bloodshed. Remember Malchus. That is the way that the world gives. That’s the way that the world would have us be.

Take what you want by whatever means are necessary. But Jesus presents to us another path, a different way, the way of the cross. “Take up your cross and follow me,” he says. This way of the cross is the way of sorrows.

It is the way, frankly, that leads to death. But it does not end there. For this is Jesus’ own path. Jesus comes into the world to bring peace by paying the price of the sacrifice.

And this way that he walks, this path that he leads us to and through, is the path of the cross. And we go through the valley of the shadow of death to the other side. That path, that path that leads through the valley of death, leads through the valley of death. For that path of our Lord does not end in shame and humiliation, but in resurrection — an honor which only God Himself can give.

And this tells us something about both who Jesus is and who we are as his baptized, as his disciples. That this way of the cross means that we fiercely protect those — not because they are God, not as idols, but because Christ Himself has given himself for them. We love them in Christ, not instead of Christ. And because we love them in Christ, that means that the battles that we wage, the fight which we have before us, is not a fight like the world would have us battle.

Our weapons are prayer. Our sword is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, as Saint Paul reminds us. The weapon which brings peace is the weapon of absolution, of forgiveness, that cuts away all sin, all death. And leaves us clean and whole.

Oftentimes the fathers in this text would talk about how a sword cuts away that which is infected, so that we might actually live. I rather like that picture, even though it is hard to hear. For God will keep his little ones safe.

And for those of you who prepare for the office of the holy ministry — what that means is that when you go out and preach the gospel, preach this gospel of peace, do not be surprised when what you find is warfare, violence, chaos, even death. But you bring something far better. You bring the forgiveness of sins. You bring the cross that leads to the empty tomb. You bring the gifts of God which transform and remake us into his holy image.

That is the way of the cross. That is the way that leads to eternal life. And that is the way for you and me. So come.

Come the way of the cross, which leads to life. Lose your life in him so that you may live forever with him. In Jesus’ name. Amen.