The Spirit And The Sword

Non veni pacem mittere, sed gladium. Gladium utique verbi Dei, de quo Paulus apostulus: Et gladium, inquit, Spiritus, quod est verbum Dei. Quia Deus Spiritus est. Hic est autem gladius, qui procedit de ore Dei, utraque parte acutus. Et bene ex utraque parte acutus. quia aeque perimit peccatores et impios, ut moriantur prius peccato, et deinceps melius vivant Deo: aeque etiam hoc gladio verbi feriuntur qui nolunt converti et agere poenitentiam; ut mortui Deo, male vivant perempti suppliciis aeternis. Hic est gladius, quo accingi incarnatus a Patre jubetur: Accingere, inquit, gladio tuo super femur tuum, potentissime. Quo nimirum gladio, dum sibi sponsam ducit, venit debellare sibique prostenere omnes adversarios suos. Sanctus Paschasius Radbertus Corbeiensis, Expositio In Evangelium Matthaei, Liber IV, Cap X Source: Migne PL 120.431a-b

'I do not come to bring peace but a sword.' 1   The sword is the word of God, concerning which the Apostle Paul says: 'And the sword is the spirit, which is the word of God.' 2 Because God is a spirit. 3 This is the sword which proceeds from the mouth of God, sharp on both edges. 4 And well it is that it is sharp on both edges, because equally it slays sinners and the impious, that they might die before sin and then better live to God. Indeed with this sword of the word in like manner they are struck who are unwilling to convert and make penance, lest dead to God, they live wickedly, condemned to eternal punishment. This is the sword with which to be girt the incarnate from the Father is commanded; it says: 'Gird your sword on your thigh, most powerful one.' 5 Certainly by which sword, while He conducts the bride to himself, He comes to make war and to prostrate all His enemies before Him. Saint Paschasius Radbertus, Commentary On The Gospel of Saint Matthew, Book 4, Chap 10 1 Mt 10.34 2 Ephes 6.17 3 Jn 4.24 4 Apoc 1.16 5 Ps 44.4