Family turning against each other is a sad thing. But some passages in the Bible mention that it may happen and does happen.
And sometimes you’ll have to deal with this or have dealt with someone else dealing with it.
This can be difficult for everyone involved, but there are ways to recover from these issues, especially if you know how to be patient and wise.
Scripture About Family Turning Against Each Other
There are many instances where family members turn against each other, and we see this in our society today as well.
Several scriptures mention how families break apart and how it can be harmful to one’s faith.
Below is a list of 23 Scriptures about families turning against each other found in the Bible.
Luke 12:51-53 – God is our first choice.
Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Luke 12:51-53 (ESV)
There are various areas of commitment that Christians have to display to their family, friends, church, and others. But the primary responsibility is to love God with all their heart and might.
Jesus illustrates man’s commitment to serving God and following Him; this also refers to self-denial.
When it concerns the things of God, and our families seem to stand in our way to sever of following Christ, this is when our choice to serve God comes first, even if it involves losing our family
1 Timothy 5:8 – Christians are meant to treat their family members the same way they treat the church.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV)
Christians are meant to treat their family members the same way they treat the church members, for they are one body in Christ.
Some Christians today neglect their family members and do things in church; this action doesn’t show a Christ-like life.
God expects and wants Christians to be blameless; one of them is to provide for the family, especially those in need and most vulnerable.
Matthew 10:35-37 – Put God first.
For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:35-37 (ESV)
Most discouragement of man to serve God is mainly from the family because they see it as something which won’t make their children or parents give them what they want, or sometimes feel serving God takes their love away from them.
Here, Jesus explicitly says that anyone who loves their family more than Him isn’t fit to follow Him or be His disciple.
Micah 7:6 – Conflict exists.
For the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.
Micah 7:6 (ESV)
The family conflict has existed as long as humanity, just as Cain killed his brother and Rebecca while standing with his son Jacob and lied to the husband to deprive Esau of his birthright.
Athaliah kills all his children and grandchildren to size the thrown.
In today’s world, we can witness a family where some accept serving God, and some do not, which constantly causes friction among families.
Titus 3:3-7 – His love for us.
For we were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life
Titus 3:3-7 (ESV)
We live in a world where people behave similarly because not everyone is a Christian.
They do things to satisfy themselves, whether it pleases God or not, hating one another and harboring malice.
And God, in His love for us, sent His son Jesus Christ to come and die to redeem us and give us the Grace to stand in a world full of sin and deception and to make us loyal to God’s thrown.
Luke 12:49-56 – He came to draw men nearer to God.
“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it was already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” …
Luke 12:49-56 (ESV)
Jesus Christ came to earth that he might redeem man from the law of sin and death and restore us to His marvelous light.
Jesus came to open the spiritual eyes of the blind so they could see the power of God manifesting through Him and to open the ears of the deaf so they could hear and understand His preaching and teaching.
He came to draw men nearer to God and to make men understand the importance of making God the first in everything.
For this to happen, one must decide to be selfless, forsaking the sweet things of the world to follow.
Jesus Christ uses the metaphor to illustrate selflessness, forsaking those who want to draw them back from serving God, just like Jesus Christ did by leaving His father and mother to preach and teach the Gospel.
Matthew 10:34 – Our dedication is to God.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Matthew 10:34 (ESV)
Jesus exemplifies man’s dedication to serving God and following Him, including self-denial.
When it comes to God’s things and our families, appear to be standing in our way of following Christ, our option to serve God comes first, even if it means losing our family.
Matthew 10:35 – This means that Jesus Christ did not come to save all men but only those who accept Him.
For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Matthew 10:35 (ESV)
God, in His infinite Mercy and Kindness, sends His Son, Jesus Christ, to the planet so that all who trust in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
This means that Jesus Christ did not come to save all men but only those who accepted and trusted Him as the son of the highest God.
In this passage, Jesus’ words helped us understand that a son may believe in Jesus while his father does not.
This action may produce issues or problems in the family, but this does not concern Jesus; His objective is to have man believe in Him to have peace and eternal life.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is exercising patience towards the excesses of another.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)
Jesus taught us how to love and what love is all about. In this scripture, Jesus made us understand that love is exercising patience towards the excesses of another, and it doesn’t envy the prosperity of others, and it endures one another.
But when it comes to serving God, your love for God should be the number one thing before any other item comes.
The love of God might make one reject or leave his family to please God.
Luke 12:25 – Where man’s ability ends, God’s strength begins.
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Luke 12:25 (ESV)
Man’s strength and intelligence are limited; God is the only one with the power to do everything. Where man’s ability ends, God’s strength begins.
Man’s anxieties can never add anything to or fix any difficulty in his life; God wants you to trust and believe in God.
Luke 12:1-59 – Don’t live a false life.
In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known…
Luke 12:1-59 (ESV)
Today, in Christendom and the modern world, many people live pretentious lives to make others feel guilty or sad.
Here, Jesus spoke and warned his disciples to be wary of those who act like Pharisees.
Telling them their deeds and personalities will be disclosed since nothing can be hidden on the sun’s surface.
Exodus 20:12 – The way you treat your parent will be the same way your children treat you.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Exodus 20:12 (ESV)
God wants children to honor and respect their parents, for this will please the Lord, and they’ll live long in the land God has kept for them.
Apart from living long on earth, respect is reciprocal. The way you treat your parent will equally be the same way your children will treat you.
Genesis 25:28 – Examples from the Bible.
Isaac loved Esau because he ate off his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
Genesis 25:28 (ESV)
Isaac loves his manly son Esau, a hunter and an action man who is always active and brings him meat when returning, while Rebekah loves his second twin son Jacob, who is always in the tent and a quiet one.
Ephesians 6:4 – Parents are not to provoke their children.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)
Parents are supposed to love their children and care for them, and parents are to train their children and discipline them in the way that pleases the Lord.
Parents are not to provoke their children to anger but are to teach and discipline their children in the way of the Lord without sparing their rod.
Luke 12:51 – Children should respect and obey their parents.
Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
Luke 12:51 (ESV)
Jesus Christ on earth preached about love and also gave instructions that children should respect and obey their parents; the division Jesus Christ I referring to and illustrating in this scripture is referring to those who will abide by the command of His (God) and those who do not obey His father.
Bible Verses About Children Turning Against Parents
Parent and child relationships are not always easy. It’s a struggle to get children to behave, understand that they cannot have everything they want, and listen when they know better.
The challenge becomes more complicated when they turn against their parents due to differences in religion, culture, and values.
Fortunately, many Bible verses address this scenario, and I will highlight some of them in this article.
Luke 12:51-53
Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Luke 12:51-53 (ESV)
Christians must demonstrate various areas of commitment to their families, friends, church, and neither.
However, their significant commitment is to love God with all their heart and strength.
Jesus represents man’s dedication to serving God and following Him, which implies self-denial.
When it comes to God’s things and our families appear to be standing in our way of doing or following Christ, our option to serve God comes first, even if it means losing our family.
Micah 7:6
For the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.
Micah 7:6 (ESV)
In today’s world, sons raise swords against their fathers, insulting them as they please and causing conflict in the family.
This also happens between a daughter and her mother; the daughter refuses to listen to her mother’s instructions and instead insults and disrespects her.
If this happens in a family, how will the servant treat their parents when their children disrespect them?
Matthew 10:21
Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
Matthew 10:21 (ESV)
Jesus’ word in this scripture made us understand that a son might believe in Jesus and the father might not; this action might cause issues or problems in the family, but this doesn’t concern Jesus; his purpose is to make a man believe in Him to have peace and eternal life.
Matthew 10:35
For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Matthew 10:35 (ESV)
God, in His great Mercy and Kindness, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
This means that Jesus Christ did not come to save all men but only those who accept and trust in Him as the son of the Highest God.
In this passage, Jesus’ words helped us understand that a son may believe in Jesus while his father does not; this action may produce issues or problems in the family, but this does not concern Jesus; His objective is to have man believe in Him to have peace and eternal life.
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Exodus 20:12 (ESV)
God wants children to honor and respect their father and mother, for this please the Lord and they’ll live long in the land which the Lord God has kept for them.
Apart from living long on earth, respect is reciprocal. The way you treat your parent will equally be the same way your children will treat you.
Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:26 (ESV)
Here Jesus Christ was not directly referring to Christians hating their parents or children, but hate here is a metaphor to illustrate self-denial.
To be a disciple of Jesus, one must be ready to let go of certain things that will contradict his relationship or barricade his loyalty.
CONCLUSION
The scripture made us understand how important Jesus values love and even instructed us to love one another and live in peace without our neighbors.
All families must stay together in love and harmony as desired by God.
