Think not that I am come] Luke 12. 5.
to send peace on earth] He endeavours to correct the erroneous opinion of the Jews, and the apostles also, who thought the times under the Messias should be peaceable, prosperous and glorious times, misunderstanding the prophets, as if the things they spake of spirituall peace with God had been meant of worldly peace with men.
but a sword] Not so much war, as division, as Luke 12:51. A sword is used sometimes to divide, 1 King. 3. 24, 25. Hebrews 4:12. Yet these divisions about religion break out oftentimes into open war. These are not the fruits of the Gospel of peace, but occasioned by the preaching of it, while those that will not be reclaimed from their errours, dissent from them that will, Acts 28:24-25; Acts 28:29. John 7:40-43.