22: Counting the Cost - Part 2 (Matthew 10:21-42)

A week ago Jason Miller & I had a video interview with Yasmin & her brother, [Wah-cuss] - Christians in Pakistan who care for children & share the gospel in a nation that is overwhelmingly Muslim. They are the ones who we helped purchase freedom for another brother in Christ by the name of VICKY.

VIDEO of Yasmin & Vicky’s Family

Where these brothers and sisters live, some Muslims are now threatening to attack Christians and churches because a Quran was burned in Sweden.

VIDEO Here in Pakistan Muslim people insult the Cross that is painted on shirts, beating the cross with their shoes... please remember us in your prayers

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Last week we saw that...

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

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!

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.

As we’ve already seen, some followers of Jesus would be questioned and even arrested to stand before councils, synagogues, governors, and kings (Mt 10:17-18) to share the message of the Gospel, and this is understandable.

But facing persecution from the next group would be much more difficult to deal with.

Matthew 10:21–22 (NIV)

Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Can you imagine your own family standing against you because you stand up for the Gospel of Jesus? Some of you can, because YOUR family stands against you. At least your own family isn’t trying to have you put to death! But the first followers of Jesus were confronted by their own people & families wanting to see them dead.

When King Herod beheaded the apostle James, the Jews approved so Herod planned to do the same to the apostle Peter (Acts 12:1-3).

Why such HATRED? Followers of Jesus aren’t hated because they’re hateful (or at least they shouldn’t be), but followers of Jesus are hated because people hate the Gospel message of Jesus.

The Gospel confronts & rips apart the “I’m a pretty good person” argument. The Gospel message is: “You are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness OR you will face eternal punishment.”

This was John the Baptist’s message to King Herod and the crowds who came to listen to him.

This was the message of Jesus and His disciples.

And sharing this message is guaranteed to make enemies.

Yet despite the warning - once again, there is an eternal promise attached, the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Are we WILLING to give our lives to the end?

‌Years ago I told you about a coach of a team I chaplained who cussed like crazy. On a bus ride to a game I was sharing with players about Christians who died for Jesus, and this cussing coach says, “I’d die for Jesus!”

I just kept truckin’ telling my story, but - after thinking more about that - I wish I would have asked him, “If you’re willing to DIE for Jesus, then why won’t you LIVE for Him?”

I know why. Because...

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

…and he wasn’t willing to do that.

Of course Jesus isn’t warning that all people will reject us and the Gospel message, because many have and many will respond to the good news. But Jesus prepares His followers for the reality of tough times that were on the way.

Then there’s an interesting phrase that I don’t think many have considered.

Matthew 10:23 (NIV)

When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Who is YOU? This still seems to be intended for the apostles during their lifetimes.

So, if the first followers of Jesus were able to avoid jail or martyrdom, they should flee - run away to a different place.

But What’s the next part all about? -

“you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes” Is the phrase “the Son of Man comes” referring to the 2nd coming of Jesus? Nope, because this ‘coming’ would have had to happened in the 1st century while the apostles were still alive, before THEY finished going through the towns of Israel.

Instead, before the apostles finish evangelizing & being run out of all the towns of Israel “the Son of Man comes.”

This seems to be referencing Jesus’ future “coming” judgment on Jerusalem that would occur less than 30 years later - in 70 AD, when the Romans would destroy Jerusalem, kill many Jews, and take many captive. (We’ll talk about this more in Matthew 24.)

And just as Jesus said earlier, the reason why some will hate followers of Jesus is because they hate JESUS. And since this is the case...

Matthew 10:24–25 (NIV)

The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

Beelzebul (a Hebrew pun on the name of a Philistine god meaning “lord of the flies/dung”) - was a term for the devil, . [1] Remember how the Pharisees earlier called Jesus “the prince of demons” (Mt 9:34).?

If they thought Jesus was the devil, then what will they think of His disciples?

Matthew 10:26–28 (NIV)

So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Disciples of Jesus are NOT to be afraid of people who persecute us. The threat of persecution is not to keep disciples of Jesus silent. They were/we are to take what Jesus has said in secret and proclaim it to the world!

Fear of people who can kill the body won’t keep us silent. Instead, we are to be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Who is THAT? Hint: It’s NOT the devil. He is NOT in control of hell. In fact, he’s not there currently, but one day WILL be bound there - forever (Rev 20:10-11).

No, we are not to be afraid of people who persecute nor the devil who prompts them to harm us - rather, we should be afraid of the God of the universe, who will judge us.

And yes, GOD WILL SEND people to hell.

I’m tired of seeing Christians say, “God doesn’t send people to hell. You send yourself to hell” - as if God has nothing to do with it and YOU are the determining factor.

That might be good Facebook/Twitter theology, but it’s BAD THEOLOGY!

That’s like saying, “Criminals send themself to prison.” It’s true that their actions are responsible for their imprisonment, but there is a JUDGE who sentences them and forces them to go.

On that future day of judgment everything done in secret will be revealed before the God who sees & hears it all!

THAT should scare some of us and cause us pause!

We have 2 Options:

We can shut up and be afraid of people who can only kill the body but not the soul.

OR we can refuse to silence the Gospel message because we have a healthy fear of God, who can send both soul and body in hell.

We must count the cost, and choose whether to fear God more than man - and that means ...

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

And through the persecution, it’s not like God doesn’t care about us and just leaves us to fend for ourselves. Jesus reminds His disciples that God’s eyes are on His children.

Matthew 10:29–31 (NIV)

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered [except for you bald fellas]. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

The God of the universe is currently - right now - aware of what’s going on in YOUR life. And YES…He cares.

God knows when a sparrow falls to the ground, and since 2 sparrows were only worth one penny (Gr assurion) - that’s 1/16 of a daily wage - 1 sparrow was only worth 1/32 of a daily wage.

If God is aware of the circumstances of such small birds with so little value, you don’t need to be afraid of your circumstances, because…YOU ARE SUPER VALUABLE - made in His image!

Turn to your neighbor and remind them with these words, “God knows & God cares about YOU!”

Sadly, there have been and will be those who walk with Jesus for a while, but either due to sinful lifestyles or caring more about what people think, who eventually refuse to acknowledge Jesus.

So Jesus fires this warning shot across the bow.

Matthew 10:32–33 (NIV)

Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.

Jesus is not trying to get you to make a 1-time “public profession of faith.” in front of a bunch of Christians.

Instead, we must acknowledge the Lord Jesus everyday in every way. We are NOT to be ashamed of our King nor His commands. The apostle Paul put it well when he wrote,

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Rm 1:16 NIV)

Those ashamed of Jesus - those who disown Him before others, will find themselves disowned as well.

Do your friends and family recognize that you are NOT ashamed of Jesus - that He really is Lord over your life?

Matthew 10:34–36 (NIV)

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ [Micah 7:6]

THAT’S a passage I’ve never seen quoted by ANYBODY on social media! You won’t see that posted on Facebook…I take that back…I’LL DO IT this week!

Jesus quotes from Micah 7:6 to prepare His followers for the reality that following Jesus will bring division (sword) between them and others.

It is not God’s desire for families to be at war. We are commanded to honor our parents and children are commanded to lead and love their children.

BUT…followers of Jesus - our family is NEVER to have 1st place in our lives. That priority position belongs to ONE - the ONE who gave His life for us.

Matthew 10:37–39 (NIV)

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Followers of Jesus are to pledge their allegiance to Him.

We are to love Jesus more than we love our own family, friends, and country!

We are to take up the cross and follow Jesus. This is a call to sacrifice, and dying to our selfish and sinful desires. It’s in losing our lives for Jesus’ sake that we find real life.

Daniel Dickard said it well: “Me-centered Christianity rejects not the cross where Jesus died, but the cross where you too must die—just as he died. The way of Jesus requires that we take up our cross daily & follow Him.”

I wonder how many who CLAIM to follow Jesus actually are COUNTING THE COST,

choosing daily to love Him above all others - INCLUDING OURSELVES - and obeying what Jesus commands...

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

Jesus closes this difficult conversation with some encouraging words.

Matthew 10:40–41 (NIV)

Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

Matthew 10:42 (NIV)

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is My disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Leon Morris writes, “Jesus is not speaking of a small service rendered to a great person, but of a small service rendered to a small person.” [2]

The most simple act of service, done with the right motive, is seen & rewarded by the Lord Jesus! Those who serve the least significant followers of Jesus will be rewarded with forgiveness, eternal life, & His Presence forever!

Today we have been challenged to reconsider whether we are really FOLLOWING JESUS, pledging allegiance to Him without shame - COUNTING THE COST by...

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

I want you to think of the day you breathe your last, or the day that Jesus returns…

will Jesus be ashamed of you because you’ve been ashamed of Him?

Will Jesus claim you as HIS because you ARE?

Will you be ashamed of your selfishness because your unwillingness to face persecution and get the gospel to others?

OR…will all the sacrifices of your time, talents, treasure, and reputation…suddenly make sense?

Today is the day to wrestle with those questions and do something about it.

STAFF & DEACONS - We’re here to help!

PRAY - Father, what do you want me to DO with what I heard today?

___________

Leon Morris, The Gospel according to Matthew, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1992), 259–260.

Ibid, 271.

discussionquestions

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

Read Matthew 10:21-22, 24-25. According to Jesus, why are Christians so hated by some in our culture? What would you say to a Christian who is hated not because they follow Jesus, but because they are unkind and unloving?

Read Matthew 10:26-28. Why do people fear mankind more than God (and vice versa). What are some characteristics of people who fear mankind more than God and vice-versa? What would you say to the person who says, “God doesn’t send people to hell. People send themselves.”?

Read Matthew 10:22, 29-33. What is the encouragement for the Christian who is faithful to Jesus? What is the warning for those who are NOT faithful to Jesus?

Read Matthew 10:34-37. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you love your parents or children? How about your love for Jesus (1-10)? Why must we love Jesus more than our family? Why is that so difficult to do? How can loving Jesus more than our family impact our parents, children, and grandchildren in a positive way?

Read Matthew 10:38-39. What does it mean for a contemporary Christian to “take up their cross and follow Jesus” mean? What does it mean to lose your life for Jesus’ sake and yet find life? Give examples of what that might look like.

The last 2 weeks our BIG TRUTH has been: 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?

Read Matthew 10:40-42. How does this passage encourage you to care for and serve those who carry the gospel (like the apostles did), but also to serve the “little ones” who seem insignificant to many others?

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.