21: Counting the Cost - Part 1 (Matthew 10:1-20) + Communion

As a little kid I played hours and hours of sports, sometimes with friends, but more often with myself. I shot basketball hours and hours and hours - pretending to be each team. I played even more football - diving over the pile into the endzone, catching passes thrown from ME…to ME; tackling running backs, & kicking field goals over my swingset. Dreaming of the moments of glory was the easy part, all the touchdowns and baskets I would score. And eventually, I did experience some of that.

BUT…first I had to make the team, sweat with the team, and long for the end of practice with the team. I soon realized that the glory didn’t come without a COST.

Some of my friends quit because the cost was too great. Many of them didn’t think about the cost before they signed up to play.

Those who sign up to follow Jesus often do the same thing. We see the glory of eternal life, the goodness of being forgiven, and the hope of seeing family & friends come to Jesus as well.

But many of us aren’t COUNTING THE COST. Maybe we have even been told there IS a COST!

Yes, forgiveness & eternal life a FREE GIFTS from our gracious God, but following Jesus IS going to COST us something - time, effort, a willingness to take the Gospel to others, and even a willingness to be made fun of or even worse.

Followers of Jesus are commanded to carry the good news to others, but the Gospel message will not always be embraced.

Today we are reminded the Counting the Cost means...

Following Jesus & Facing Persecution to Get the Gospel to Others.

A couple of weeks ago you might remember that we ended with this.

Matthew 9:35–36 (NIV)

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:37–38 (NIV)

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus SHOWED His disciples how much these people needed a shepherd. But He didn’t just want his disciples to PRAY. He wanted them to be the answer to that prayer! And that’s exactly what Jesus sent them to do!

Matthew 10:1–4 (NIV)

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

These disciples of Jesus are referred to as “the twelve apostles” - meaning “sent out” as an ambassador/messenger.

Matthew makes sure to include himself as well as the one who ultimately betrayed Jesus, were given authority.

...incredible authority - HIS authority to do what they had seen Him do - to drive out demons & heal all kinds of sickness. (Jesus would later send out 72 disciples with the same authority to prepare the people for Jesus’ upcoming visitation to their towns - Lk 10:1, 17).

Mark 6:7 notes that Jesus sent them out in pairs - WHY? Here’s what I think: everybody needs another brother/sister!

Turn to those close to you and remind them: Sista and brotha, we need each otha!

As we are about to see, their missionary journey will not be all sunshine and rainbows.

And so...

Matthew 10:5–8 (NIV)

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

The 12 disciples are going to the 12 tribes, whom Jesus calls “the lost sheep of Israel”. Here is the GOOD SHEPHERD telling His disciples to go shepherd the lost sheep to Him.

Note: This is NOT a command for us to go ONLY to the Jews to share the gospel, but it WAS a command for these 12 at that time. The gospel was to go to the Jews first (Rm 1:16), and then to the Gentiles (as seen in Acts).

Their message was “the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This was no small claim. The disciples of Jesus were to act as heralds preparing people for a glimpse of heaven on earth.

So, to back that up, the miracles of healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers, and driving out demons would demonstrate that the message was true.

But then Jesus gives them this strange command.

Matthew 10:9–10 (NIV)

Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.

This is NOT a command for all short/long term missionaries. Jesus wanted to show the 12 how He would provide for their needs as they went.

God will provide for their needs through people, because what they are doing is worth it.

Paul later quotes Jesus regarding providing for pastors who teach & lead the church of Jesus (1 Tim 5:17-18).

THANK YOU for doing that well!

Matthew 10:11–13 (NIV)

Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.

God will provide them places to stay and be fed by worthy people - those who respond to the Kingdom message.

The disciples were to bless those people with the age-old Jewish greeting still used today - shālôm - peace - a term meaning wholeness & favor with God.

However, not every home would be deserving to listen to their message and provide for their needs. This is the first time that resistance to the disciples’ gospel message is referenced, but, as we’re about to see, it will not be the last.

Matthew 10:14–15 (NIV)

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

You might remember that Jews made it their practice to shake the dust off their feet when reentering the Holy Land from a Gentile land - a picture of leaving the pagan practices & ideas in the dust behind them.[1] But Jesus now commanded his disciples to respond this way when their message was rejected by fellow Jews (Matt 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5).

Those who would not welcome nor listen will be more responsible for their rejection of God’s message - backed up by the miracles, than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah would be in the future day of judgment.

That’s some serious judgment to be unleashed in the future.

Those who say Jesus doesn’t judge and Christians shouldn’t either…um…there’s THIS...

where the first followers of Jesus were to walk away from those not willing to listen, while warning them of God’s future day of judgment.

And what Jesus says next is certainly something that should have cause His disciples pause and have them counting the cost.

Matthew 10:16–17 (NIV)

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.

Jesus didn’t sugar-coat what His disciples would face.

The Gospel message is dangerous because it is divisive, as will become crystal clear in next week’s teaching further into this passage (read the rest of the chapter on your own this week).

Followers of Jesus are sent into enemy territory, like sheep among wolves. Depending on WHEN and WHERE Christians live, this has been true for the 1st generation of Christians and many since then.

The arrests Jesus referred to would not occur until AFTER Jesus had ascended to heaven.

The apostles & fellow believers would sometimes be arrested & other times invited to testify about the message they were proclaiming.

The apostle Paul faced this many times. In fact, he was flogged by the Jews five times (2 Cor 11:24) while the other apostles were flogged as well (Acts 5:40).

Despite the difficulties that awaited them, Christians were/are to be tactical, shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

We aren’t to stick the venom in-’em like snakes, but we are to be shrewd or wise (ESV, NET). Snakes are known for their cunning intellect. They know when & where to set up to catch their prey. They know how to read the signs that it’s time to get away.

We see Jesus being shrewd as snakes when asked about whether Jews should pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus answered with wisdom that his enemies couldn’t combat asking to see a coin and asking whose image as on it (Caesar’s) and then saying, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”” (Mt 22:21b)

Doves are known for their purity & innocence, never bringing harm to anyone. Believers are to follow the example of Jesus as “holy, blameless, pure” (Heb 7:26), not returning evil for evil (1 Pet 2:23; Rm 12:17; 1 Cor 4:12-13).

We might be sheep among wolves, but we need to be smart sheep - tactical, wise, pure, & innocent, as we take the gospel to others.

Matthew 10:18 (NIV)

...On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

While the Gospel would first go to Jews, Jesus would command His Jewish disciples to take the Gospel to Gentiles…people like you and me!

Followers of Jesus spilt their sweat, time/talent/treasure, and even their blood…to get the gospel to us!

Aren’t you GRATEFUL for their sacrifice!? Are WE WILLING to do the same for others?

Jesus has not called us to a life of comfort, but a life of investment in eternal matters.

Counting the Cost means Following Jesus & Facing Persecution to Get the Gospel to Others.

Why would we do that? We believe the Gospel message. God-Man-Sin-Jesus-Judgment

That’s why the first generation followers of Jesus would go through the tough times…because of the eternal hope that awaited them!

And there’s a wonderful, powerful promise attached to the promise of persecution.

Matthew 10:19–20 (NIV)

But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Of course this doesn’t mean Christians shouldn’t prepare to share their faith, and just rely on God’s help. Disciples of Jesus were trained by JESUS in how to minister and speak to others.

Believers aren’t to have APATHY in preparing to share with others. We should prepare to share & pray for God’s help. The apostle Peter later writes these words:

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Don’t you hear the Peter echoing the practice of being wise as snakes, but harmless as doves in what Peter writes?

Believers aren’t to have APATHY, but neither should believers have ANXIETY and worry about sharing with others, because the Holy Spirit will speaking through us!

When Peter and John were brought before the very men who led the Sanhedrin to put Jesus to death (Annas & Caiaphas), Peter spoke, “filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 4:8-12)

The encouragement here is this: the SPIRIT won’t leave you on your own, He speaks through believers who stand for Jesus!

This is one of the greatest moments in life…a moment that some of you have yet to experience, when God uses YOU to share the good news of Jesus with others; when God gives you insight & answers; when you KNOW that He is WITH you!

If you never share the Gospel,

You might not face persecution, but you also won’t experience the privilege of being filled by God’s Spirit.

You will never know the joy of helping others come to Jesus.

You are disobeying your King’s command to take the Gospel to others.

Counting the Cost means Following Jesus & Facing Persecution to Get the Gospel to Others.

Next week, we will finish the rest of what Jesus said about COUNTING THE COST. Until then, let’s put...

FEET2FAITH

Turn from sin and Follow Jesus.

I encourage you to read all of Matthew 10 this week on your own. Write down the insights you gain and the questions you have. Share those with a family member or friend.

Ask God for & take the opportunities to SERVE others & SHARE the Gospel with them.

STAFF/DEACONS & WIVES

Now, let’s a few moments to remember what is COST Jesus to extend the GOOD NEWS to us as we prepare for Communion.

PRAY

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Lord’s Supper

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John B. Polhill, Acts, vol. 26, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 309.

discussionquestions

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

Read Matthew 10:16-17. Why is the Gospel of Jesus so divisive in our culture & what dangers do we face for sharing the Gospel with others?

Today’s BIG TRUTH: Counting the Cost means Following Jesus & Facing Persecution to Get the Gospel to Others. What would Jesus say to the person who claims Jesus but isn’t willing to follow Jesus nor share the Gospel with others?

Have you ever faced persecution for serving/sharing Jesus? If so, how did that persecution impact you? How does the persecution we face compare to what the first followers of Jesus faced?

What does it mean to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves”?

Read Matthew 10:19-20 & 1 Peter 3:15. What encouragement does this give you in sharing the Gospel with others? Why must we not give in to apathy (e.g. “I don’t have to prepare to share. I’ll just let God work through me.”) or anxiety (worrying about how we will do or how others respond)?

Share about a time that you sensed God using you to serve others and share the Gospel.

What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching? What does God want YOU to do with what we studied today?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another.