Divided for Unity

Act 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
Act 23:7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
Act 23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
Act 23:10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

The Sadducees were wrong, but Paul knew if he appealed his case before the two opposing viewpoints, that some would be with him. There will always be a clash of ideas, but more importantly there will always be a right way and a wrong way. This began when Adam and Eve partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The serpent tempted Eve.

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Before eating of the tree there was only the knowledge of good, the knowledge of God and doing what pleased him. Now there are always two choices, maybe in most things there is a mixture of good and evil, but we are to choose that which is closest to the will of God and the truth of God.

I am sure that you know that life is about choices, political, social, personal choices. There will always be opposing views. When Jesus came to earth he spoke of not bringing peace to all, but a sword. There would be divisions in families because of him. To choose Jesus is the right way, the way of God, but not all will choose him, thus a sword comes to divide, the sword of God's word.

The sword is required to discern right from wrong. Paul spoke of the word of God being a two edged sword; the holy word and the holy spirit.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The devil always has a false copy of the real thing. The devil's sword is used to kill and to intimidate people to submit to his authority. The sword of God is his holy word, by which he will separate the good from the evil. We are to use God's sword to make decisions and to cut away that which is not of him.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.