Matthew 10:16-33 | Though None Go With Me

This is a challenging passage for two reasons:

Not very “inspirational” or “motivational” quotes by Jesus

“Beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips." Jesus

"Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death" Jesus

And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake" Jesus

Hard to explain the concept of persecution when we don’t have a lot of experience.

That’s like a Mexican explaining to another Mexican what a Minnesota winter is like.

Nonetheless, we must talk about persecution and the cost of following Jesus:

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (2 Tim 3:12)

I’ve been thinking about the words that pastor Tom gave on his sermon on May 28, 2023,

“The day may be here soon when the need for this kind of hands-on care will be crucial for the Body of Christ in the USA, if/when Christians are hounded from their homes, fired for their faith, hunted down and arrested. Let’s be open-eyed … not taken by surprise … not knocked out of the race by the world’s hatred.”

Four lessons from our passage.

(1) Expect rejection & opposition to the message of the gospel

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Graphic: This present evil age & the age to come

Beware! (pay attention, look out for)

You will be arrested (v.19)

You will be handed over to the courts (v.17)

You will be flogged in the synagogues (v.17)

You will stand trial before governors and kings (v.18)

You will be betrayed by family (v.21)

You will be hated by the world (v.22)

You will be persecuted (v.23)

You will be maligned (v.25)

1 Peter 4:1–4 “1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;”

“Persecution … and it’s coming, likely through the “back door”: Being charged with “hate speech” or “intolerance” over disagreeing with our culture’s sexual values, especially on the gay lifestyle and transgender issue.” Tom Loyola, May 30, 2023

Why persecution?

Matthew 10:24–25 “24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.”

“ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20)

Expect the Holy Spirit to give you courage to stand up for Jesus in the face of opposition

Rejection and opposition:

For my sake (v.18)

For my name’s sake (v.22)

Jesus knows we are prone to fear and anxiety because of the unknown.

Do not be anxious (v. 19)

Do not fear, 3x (v.26,28, 31)

Matthew 10:19–20 “19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Expect opposition to come by way of religious groups, government, and even family.

2 Timothy 4:16–17 “16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed...”

Expect to finish the race and be well rewarded for your faithfulness to Jesus

Matthew 10:22 “22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

This will not last forever. The reward is coming. Keep going!

Hebrews 10:32–39 “32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

The Bible often time uses the imagery of running a race. Some days you just feel weary and don’t feel like taking another step.

You endure when you know that your salvation is at the end of the race.

How do you endure for Jesus? You set your eyes on him and trust him.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot

Expect your heavenly Father to watch over you

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer. Corrie Ten Boom

This is so encouraging.

Your heavenly Father will you give the words you need through the Holy Spirit (v.20)

Your heavenly Father is sovereign over the timing of your death (v.29.

(lesser to greater argument: People might kill the body but God can destroy both body and soul in hell. God watches over the sparrows who are worth less than you. How much more?

From his prison cell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Those who are still afraid of men have no fear of God, and those who have fear of God have ceased to be afraid of men.”

Conclusion: will you follow Jesus?

Matthew 10:32–33 “32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

How do I do this? Repent of your sins and be baptized.

Graphic: Bilingual thanksgiving service: testimonies, baptism & food

Baptism is a public declaration: Jesus is the King of my life!

One of the reasons why are baptized is because we are declaring to the world that we are not ashamed to be a follower of Jesus.

My allegiance is now to him and his kingdom. You are now part of a community.