The Nugget:
Matthew 10:34. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
My Comment:
It is exceedingly critical that we understand the Bible and cite it accurately.
I noticed that one very prominent religious leader in his Palm Sunday message failed to cite Scripture accurately.
It is most important to handle the Word of God, the Bible, accurately. Paul instructs Timothy as recorded in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to win full approval in God’s sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God’s truth” (GNB, Good News Bible).
According to the report I have read, Pope Leo stated:
“(Jesus) does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.”
First of all, Jesus never said this.
Second of all, the correct citation is found in Isaiah 1:15.
Isaiah 1:15. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. (KJV)
Isaiah 1:15. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood. (NET Bible)
Thirdly, consider the immediate context as seen in Isaiah 1:17.
Isaiah 1:17. Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (KJV)
Isaiah 1:17. learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. (ESV)
Therefore, God said He would not listen to Israel’s prayers because their hands were full of blood. Their hands were full of blood because their failure to seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to those not in a position to defend themselves against those who oppress them led to their death.
Jeremiah 7:6. If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: (KJV)
The context of Jeremiah 7:6 is very instructive:
Jer 7:1 The LORD said to Jeremiah:
Jer 7:2 “Stand in the gate of the LORD’s temple and proclaim this message: ‘Listen to the LORD’s message, all you people of Judah who have passed through these gates to worship the LORD.
Jer 7:3 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel says: Change the way you have been living and do what is right. If you do, I will allow you to continue to live in this land.
Jer 7:4 Stop putting your confidence in the false belief that says, “We are safe! The temple of the LORD is here! The temple of the LORD is here! The temple of the LORD is here!”
Jer 7:5 You must change the way you have been living and do what is right. You must treat one another fairly.
Jer 7:6 Stop oppressing resident foreigners who live in your land, children who have lost their fathers, and women who have lost their husbands. Stop killing innocent people in this land. Stop paying allegiance to other gods. That will only bring about your ruin.
Jer 7:7 If you stop doing these things, I will allow you to continue to live in this land which I gave to your ancestors as a lasting possession. (NET Bible)
Notice the clarity of the promise in Jeremiah 7:7 when read in the King James Version:
Jer 7:7. Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
Notice that the Land Promise is referenced. Notice the expression “for ever and ever.” In the cross references, notice the reference to Leviticus 26:42.
Leviticus 26:42. Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
Cross references for Jeremiah 7:7 as given in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:
Jeremiah 7:7
to dwell. Jer 17:20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27; Jer 18:7, 8; Jer 22:4; Jer 25:5; Jer 35:15; Jer 38:17, Exo 15:17, 18, +*Lev 26:42, Deut 30:20, Isa 25:6, 7; Isa 25:10, Mic 4:1, 2, Zep 3:7, Zec 14:4, Jhn 4:23.
in the land. See on Jer 3:18, Deut 4:40 <rp. 2Ch 33:8, %Ezk 33:25, +*Amos 9:15, Zec 1:17; Zec 3:9, +**Act 7:5 note.
that I gave. +*Gen 13:15, +*Amos 9:15, +*Act 7:5.
for ever and. Heb. olam doubled, +Dan 2:20, *Jer 25:5.