I have heard the phrase “a house divided against itself cannot stand” for as long as I can remember. The phrase means that a group with internal conflict and disagreement will eventually fail because unity and cooperation are necessary to achieve common goals. Where did this phrase originate? It’s from the Bible and famously used by Abraham Lincoln in his 1858 speech to argue against the expansion of slavery, wherein he warned that the United States could not continue to exist with half supporting slavery and half a free nation
The phrase directly comes from Jesus’ words in the Gospels in Matthew 12:25, Mark 3:25, and Luke 11:17. Jesus argued that a kingdom or house divided against itself would not stand.
Abraham Lincoln used the biblical phrase in his 1858 speech during his campaign for the U.S. Senate. He applied the phrase to the United States, stating, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” to argue that the country could not endure permanently half slave and half free. His speech is considered by many to have been instrumental in his later election to the presidency.
What does it mean to us today? Well, it can be applied to any group, family, community, business, government, or nation. It emphasizes that internal strife and division will lead to failure. Unity points to success. In case you haven’t noticed, we have a lot of division all around us.
We live in an era overwhelmed by misinformation and personal bias. Therefore, it seems critical to search for the truth behind every statement or allegation made to determine truth.
No matter what the issue is that causes division, it is critical to come together and discuss how we can work together to solve the ever-widening chasm in our society.
What can you and I do? Get back to basics. Pray and fill your life with uplifting messages (the Gospel is a good place). Get out of your comfort zone. Support legislation that makes a difference. Find and support candidates who work across the aisles. Stop labeling people and pointing fingers. Volunteer to help someone in need.
We – you and I – can make a difference and heal the division all around us!
Tagged: American history, Bible stories, scripture
