As Sheep Among Wolves

Go ahead and grab your Bible and turn to Matthew 10. We’re continuing our study of Matthew’s eyewitness account of Jesus' life and ministry, and today we are continuing our look at the discourse between Jesus and his disciples as He prepares to send them out on their first mission without Him. Last week, we saw Him empower these men with His own authority — giving them practical instructions for their urgent mission to the lost sheep of Israel. In our text today — Jesus reveals to us the very real opposition we’ll face as we faithfully follow Him in a broken world that stands against Jesus.

If you are able to — please stand for the reading of God’s Word — Hear the word of the Lord from Matthew 10:16-23.

Matthew 10:16–23 (CSB)

16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts and flog you in their synagogues. 18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

This is the Word of the Lord. Praise Be to God

Lets Pray

Imagine growing up your whole life devoted to something—spending hours in rituals, making offerings, seeking peace, but never really finding it. That was the reality for a man named Ritesh, who lived in a small village in southern India. For 35 years, he faithfully worshiped at the local Hindu temple, hoping the incense, the prayers, and the offerings would bring the peace his heart so longed for.

But all of his religious rituals made no difference — you see — it did not matter how dedicated he was, there was something still missing. Then one day a shopkeeper named Pascal, gave him a Bible and invited him to church. Well —Ritesh read the Bible daily … and soon learned that finding peace with the true God would mean losing peace with his neighborhood.

A few months later — encouraged by Pascal — Ritesh attended his first church service. He was deeply moved by the Scripture readings, the sermon, and the way the Christians worshiped. After several months of reading the Bible and attending church — Ritesh abandoned his idols and their empty rituals to take up his cross and follow Jesus. Eventually — Ritesh’s wife, Vanya, along with their three children joined him at church and they eventually gave their lives to Jesus too. But — the family’s newfound faith in Jesus came at a cost. You see — their neighbors were watching them closely and they noticed they had stopped going to the Hindu temple and were attending a Christian church.

The Voice of Martyrs reports that one evening

Ritesh arrived home from work to…find a large crowd outside his house. Suddenly, some men grabbed Ritesh, his wife, and their children and dragged them to a local temple. Once inside, they were forced to sit down in a row facing 10 Hindu leaders. “Who do you worship,” they demanded, “Jesus or the Hindu gods?…” As the family sat in silence, one of the Hindu leaders clarified their intent. “We will kill you if you don’t leave Jesus.” The men…began beating Ritesh and Vanya, while the terrified children began to cry…Finally, after several hours of harassment, the Hindu leaders let the family go home. But their ordeal wasn’t over. People outside the temple had told police that Ritesh was a criminal who converted his family to Christianity, so the authorities soon arrived at his house to arrest him. After Ritesh was taken to jail, the Hindu leaders continued to intimidate Vanya, suggesting that her husband could be killed the next day and she would have no one to take care of her and the children. They again ordered her to return to Hinduism, but she stood firm, simply saying, “No.” Ritesh, her husband, was jailed and pressured to deny his faith, but he, too, said, “No.” Through it all, this family, including their children, remained faithful to Jesus. (1)

What an amazing story! And I don’t know about you— but I cant imagine — even for a moment, the stress, the fear, and the doubt this family must have felt? Picture the terror as the mob surrounded their home, the fear as their kids heard the threats and saw their parents being beaten for following Jesus. What would you be thinking if you were Ritesh or Vanya? Would you wonder, 'Is Jesus really worth all of this? Is God with us right now? Will we — can we endure this?’ It’s remarkable that this beautiful family stayed faithful to Jesus in such extreme circumstances. And the question that is begging to be asked is — how? How does anyone remain faithful to Christ when faced with such fear and opposition?

Now—you may not be beaten by a mob or jailed for your faith, but this is still an important question because Jesus makes it clear that following Him doesn’t mean a life without struggle or opposition. The reality is—we are living in a society and culture that is increasingly hostile toward God and anyone who represents Jesus or stands for biblical truth. And friends — as we follow Jesus — we can expect to encounter some level of suffering. But here’s the good news — Jesus promises us that— when we face opposition for our faith — Jesus will be present, He will empower and encourage us , and we will endure to the end.

We’re going to see this from our text in two scenes —beginning with #1

1. Wise and Harmless

Up to this point in our study of Matthew’s Gospel — we’ve seen Jesus not only proclaim the kingdom of God but also demonstrate its power. And — Matthew’s original audience would have recognized the Old Testament prophecies that spoke of a day of great reversal—a day when God would establish His rule and restore all that sin had broken. The blind would see, the paralyzed would leap, and the weary would find rest. And friends, in Jesus, that day has arrived! The long-awaited Messiah King has come.

Over the past few weeks, we've watched as Jesus has equiped His disciples to carry on the mission of the Kingdom. He’s given them the same message and authority that He has. In other words, the disciples are now an extension of Jesus’ mission, and to receive their message is to embrace the King Himself.

Now, you might be thinking, “ That sounds Awesome!!! Who wouldn’t be excited about this mission?! I mean, look at the crowds and the miracles!” But as we’ve seen, not everyone is impressed. Some have already accused Jesus of blasphemy (9:3). Others have judged Him for associating with sinners (9:11), and some even claimed He casts out demons by the power of Satan (9:34). Opposition to Jesus is rising.

And now Jesus looks His disciples in the eyes and says, “Guys, as you follow me, you need to be ready to face the same kind of opposition that I have.” And friends — the same is true for us today. The reality is —as we faithfully share the good news of the Kingdom and point people to Jesus, we will suffer for the sake of Christ. If we participate in the mission of Christ — we can expect to also share in His sufferings. Look at what Jesus says in verse 16...

Matthew 10:16a (CSB)

16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves.

Once again — Jesus refers to His disciples—and by extension— he refers to us—as sheep. And it’s important to remember that —out of all the domesticated animals — sheep are perhaps the most dependent, vulnerable, helpless, and defenseless. They can't protect themselves for they do not have the instincts necessary to evade danger — in fact— they rely entirely on the care of their shepherd. And so —as a result — shepherds go to great lengths to protect and to care for their sheep. Because— well—there are many threats that can harm sheep, but the greatest threat of all is the wolf.

Wolves have always been the most dangerous enemy to a flock of sheep — and Jesus already warned us that wolves would do whatever they could to get into the field in order to attack and devour the flock. Consider what Jesus said in Matthew 7:15 —

Matthew 7:15 (CSB)

15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.

Now—this makes sense! It’s no surprise that with the predatory nature of wolves — they’re going to come into the field and attack the sheep. That’s just what wolves do. But Jesus is flipping the script here when he says —

Matthew 10:16a (CSB)

16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves.

Let’s just be honest — it’s not natural for sheep to voluntarily walk into the wolves' den. And it’s even more unnatural for a shepherd to send his sheep into danger. Yet, that's exactly what Jesus is doing. Jesus, the Good Shepherd—who loves His sheep with a never-giving-up, un-breaking, divine love… the Good Shepherd who knows and cares for His sheep intimately… the same Good Shepherd who will lay down His life for His sheep—sends His disciples into a hostile world full of opposition — knowing they’ll face hostility.

Now — what does Jesus mean by this? Well, this metaphor reveals that Jesus was leading His disciples into an environment that was entirely hostile to the shephard. And as the shepherd— Jesus was being upfront about the extreme cost of following Him. In other words — if you're going to follow Jesus — you're like sheep venturing into a pack of ravenous wolves who ready to attack. You see — Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that following Him wasn’t going to be easy—there would be real danger, rejection, and persecution. So, before the twelve went out on their first mission, He laid out for them the cost of discipleship. You see — in the same way that our Shepherd did not escape opposition and persecution, neither will we who follow Him.

Understand —following Jesus means walking the same path of suffering that Christ did — but — this path is where lives are transformed for God's kingdom—and it's a path in which Jesus has gone before us and promises to walk alongside us — but — it is a path of suffering none the less and Jesus wants us to be prepared.

The truth is, for the most part, Christianity is tolerated in our community. And—if we’re honest—most of us don’t feel like sheep about to be devoured by fierce wolves. We may be mocked or ignored — but no one is threatening to throw us to the lions. No one is arresting us or dragging us into the public square and threatening our lives… at least, not yet.

And as I read accounts of the persecution the New Testament church faced —and as I hear stories about our brothers and sisters across the world who are being persecuted for their faith — I can’t help but wonder—why isn’t the preaching of the gospel here in the West — nearly as dangerous as it was on this first mission in Israel or as dangerous as it is today in other parts of the world?

And friends—is it possible that Christians here in the West — and the message we preach — are accepted because the gospel has been diluted and radically altered? Think about it— the message of the gospel has become a message of therapy. Instead of preaching God’s Word, pastors are exegeting movies in their "Summer at the Movies" sermon series. The message of the American church has shifted to: if you're not well-adjusted, God can help you live a successful life. If you just exercise your will and follow these few steps, you can be healthy, wealthy, and happy.

In other words, too many churches are preaching good advice—how to have peace with your children, how to get along in your marriage, and how to be successful in your business relationships. But friends, that’s not the gospel. That message isn’t going to save anyone, and that’s why Satan and his wolves could care less. Keep preaching that message, and the enemy will leave you alone because it’s a dead message leading the masses to a false assurance of salvation, weighed down by moral therapeutic deism.

But — if we were to be faithful and preach the true gospel—that God is holy, that He has wrath, that He is concerned about righteousness and justice, and that we desperately need the cross— I believe things would be different. The best news we could ever hear is that Christ has come to satisfy the demands of God’s righteousness and justice. Christ took upon Himself the fullness of God’s wrath against our sin, and He has clothed us with His own righteousness, which alone meets the demands of a holy God. God is holy, and we are not. That means we need a Savior. We need the cross.

The problem is—the gospel message is offensive. No sinner wants to hear about their sin. They don’t want to hear about a holy God. But this is the message Jesus has given us to preach — and as we are faithful to do so — we canb expect to experience what it truly means to be sheep among wolves…and Jesus is warning us that — as we are faithful to follow Jesus we will be despised. And so — what do we do?

Matthew 10:16b (CSB)

16 Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.

Brothers and sisters, as you remain faithful to the mission and the message, you will inevitably face hardship and suffering. That’s a reality we cannot escape. But Jesus says, “Look, be smart about it.” Friends, we must be faithful in every situation to bear witness to Christ. We must not shrink back in fear — instead, we should confidently share the gospel and make disciples.

However — this doesn’t mean we rush headlong into every dangerous situation. No! We must be sensible. Don’t be like a foolish sheep; rather, be as shrewd and wise as a serpent. Yet, unlike a serpent known for its malice and venom, we are called to pursue the gentleness of a dove. We are to be kind— we are to be peacemakers — and we are called to pursue innocence in our thoughts and in our actions. In other words, we are to live our lives like Jesus—holy, innocent, and undefiled. We are to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us. Brothers and sisters —Jesus is our model — and when He was reviled, He did not revile in return. When He suffered, He spoke no threats, but rather trusted in His Father, who judges righteously.

Now— as we move into the second scene of our narrative — Jesus continues to detail for his disciples the kind of opposition we will face.

2. Opposition to the Message

In verse 17 Jesus says,

Matthew 10:17 (CSB)

17 Beware of them…

A more accurate translation might be, “Now, watch out for people” or “watch out for mankind.” This is important because — if we are to understand the kind of opposition we are going to face- we first have to understand the nature of mankind. We need to consider what the Bible says about humanity.

You see— Jesus tells us that the wolves He is sending us to are fellow human beings. And He warns us: "Beware of people… watch out for men." Why? Because in our fallen condition, mankind is wicked, and the human heart has an endless capacity for evil.

Now — Praise God that— when He saved us—He changed us! Praise God that He made us a new creation and gave us a new nature, and placed in our hearts a desire to honor Him. Yes, we still sin, but we no longer have an unregenerate nature.

But humanity—without Christ—belongs to the domain of darkness..they are spiritually blind, enslaved to sin, and viciously hate God and one another. And it is through men that Satan opposes and persecutes the church. Men are the wolves who malign, oppress, imprison, torture, and kill God’s people. And Jesus is telling us —Beware of these opponents. Be on guard. Be watchful. Be perceptive. Brothers and sisters— Jesus doesn't want us to underestimate this. He doesn't want us to be surprised or caught off guard when we’re violently opposed by those whose hearts are still made of stone.

The truth is—people are sinful, and while we know this, we can still be shocked by the depth of human evil. I remember the day Roe v. Wade was overturned. I was sitting in a coffee shop, and the reactions around me were immediate and intense. I heard people making vile, demonic comments—angry that they could no longer claim what they saw as their 'right' to live without sexual responsibility or to end their babies' lives as they chose. And as I sat there with my Bible open, it felt like I became public enemy number one. People began glaring at me, as though I was to blame for their outrage. I’ll never forget that moment, because when I looked into their eyes, I saw the darkness they were trapped in. It was unsettling, and I was caught off guard.

But brothers and sisters, Jesus doesn’t want us to be caught off guard by the evil in this world. He knows the reality of sinful hearts better than anyone, and yet—rather than responding with shock or anger—He was moved with compassion. And — That’s the response He calls us to. Instead of being surprised or overwhelmed by the brokenness of people — we are to be moved to reach them with the only news that can soften their hearts and save their souls: the good news of Jesus Christ.

Now — Jesus continues and He describes for us how these evil men will come against the church…look back at verse 17

Matthew 10:17–18 (CSB)

17 Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts and flog you in their synagogues. 18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.

Jesus warned His apostles that men—hostile to the gospel—would drag them before councils, beat them, and force them to stand trial before governors and kings.

And friends —what we need to recognize here is that there is a real cost to following Jesus. And as we walk in His footsteps, we should expect persecution—often from those in positions of power, both within corrupt religious systems and in governmental authority. What’s more — this persecution will often be public — where we will be held to account for what we believe.

Consider the story of Ritesh and Vanya, who were dragged before a council in their local Hindu temple and forced to deny Christ. Or take Pastor James Coates, who was arrested in Alberta, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic for continuing to hold church services despite the government’s restrictions. I can’t imagine the fear and anxiety Ritesh must have felt as he stood before court officials demanding he renounce Christ, or how his wife felt when Hindu leaders threatened her life if she did not reject Jesus. And imagine the temptation Pastor Coates faced to shut down his church to avoid conflict or the fear that came with being arrested simply for keeping the doors open.

To be maligned, persecuted, arrested, or beaten is a traumatic experience. And — no doubt—in moments like these, it’s incredibly hard not to be anxious. When we are charged with wrongdoing, our natural instinct is to defend ourselves, to justify our actions, and to prove our innocence.

This is where Philippians 4:6 comes to mind — Paul writes—

Philippians 4:6 (CSB)

6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Thank God that He hears our prayers! What an incredible promise —but what’s even more amazing is that, in the specific situation of being brought before a religious or civil court for our faith —we have an additional promise.…..look at verse 19

Matthew 10:19–20 (CSB)

19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.

Many of the most memorable and powerful testimonies of the great martyrs were spoken just before they were put to death. It was in — what was perhaps— the most terrifying moment of their lives that God gave them a special presence of mind and clarity of thought to deliver a testimony far more powerful than they would have otherwise been able to give. Jesus assured His Apostles and He assures us not worry —“For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Now, it’s important to understand that this is not a promise for preachers or Bible study leaders who fail to prepare. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this verse misquoted by preachers as an excuse for laziness. Rather, it is a promise of divine aid to witnesses who are unable to prepare. When preparation is impossible, God Himself will empower His witnesses to defend both themselves and the gospel.

What a beautiful promise!! And we see this promise kept all throughout the Bible where people are called to bear witness even at the cost of their lives. I am reminded of Stephen in Acts 7, where he gave the most beautiful and faithful testimony right before he was stoned to death.

Also — This promise doesn’t just end with the New Testament — it continues throughout church history. And— one of my favorite stories from the early church is about a man named Polycarp. Polycarp was a bishop in the second century, and in the year 160 AD, he found himself standing trial for his faith. Now, back then, Christians were considered “atheists” because they didn’t worship the Roman gods. So, here Polycarp is, standing before a Roman official, and the crowd demands he renounce his faith that He is saved by grace alone. They tell him, “Just say ‘away with the atheists,’ and we’ll spare your life.”

Polycarp, ever sharp-witted, looks around the auditorium, waves his hand, and says, “Away with the atheists,” pointing right at the people accusing him! He was having a bit of fun but he's also making a powerful point. And the crowd did not find it funny. And so they pressed him harder, saying, “You’ll lose your life if you don’t renounce Jesus!”

But Polycarp stood firm. He was not not rattled. Instead, he gave one of the most powerful responses in church history. He said, “For 86 years I’ve served Him, and He’s done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

Can you imagine the courage it took to say that? But he doesn’t stop there. When the officials threatened to burn him alive, he responded, “You threaten me with fire that burns for a season and then is quenched, but you’re ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment prepared for the wicked.” Polycarp stood on his faith, and looked death in the face without flinching. Polycarp was a boss!

The proconsul, losing his patience, ordered Polycarp to be tied to the stake and burned.And so — Soldiers went to nail him down, but get this — Polycarp calmly told them, “Leave me as I am. The one who gives me strength to endure the fire will enable me to stand without the need for nails.” And so, they lit the fire and witnesses said that as Polycarp burned, it wasn’t like the smell of burning flesh, but more like bread baking or gold being refined in a furnace.

And today we recount Polycarp’s amazing story as a testament to the power of standing firm in the faith, no matter the cost. And it’s a reminder to all of us that we serve a God who will give us the words and the strength we need to bear witness to Him—just as He did for Polycarp.

Now — the persecution of believers will not only come at the hands of government and religious officials, but also — through the betrayal of our own family members and the hatred of society in general. Look back at verse 21.

Matthew 10:21 (CSB)

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

In other words — Jesus is saying that hatred for the gospel is so severe that it will sever family ties — and — for many and perhaps —for some of you — this verse is an extremely painful reality. You know what it’s like to be hated by those who are supposed to be the closest to you — you know what it’s like to be betrayed by those who are supposed to have your back.

This is especially true for those of you who grew up in false religions… as soon as you left the Roman Catholic Church or Judaism or New Age philosophy …as soon as you turned to Jesus …trusting in Him and Him alone for your salvation… as soon as you were baptized and publicly proclaimed your union with Jesus… you were disowned…you were mocked …you were treated as an outsider. You know the pain. You know the frustration..and the loneliness of having a child or a parent or a sibling completely turn their back on you and hate you because of your faith in Jesus. The truth is — Jesus' warning has become your reality—the family strife, the tension, the rejection—it all illustrates a larger point. Look at verse 22.

Matthew 10:22–23 (CSB)

22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Brothers and sisters, you will face persecution. And Jesus is telling us that —-when we do— we need to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. He’s saying don’t abandon the mission—but— when you're met with hostility, shake the dust off your shoes and move on—to the next person and the next place.

Now, let’s pause for a moment because verse 23 gives us a bit of a puzzle. Jesus says, “You will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” This verse has sparked a lot of discussion, especially around the timing of Jesus' return. And, honestly, for the sake of time and focus, we’re going to leave that for another day and we’ll revisit it when we get to Matthew 24.

But for now — what we need to understand is this: As we pursue faithfulness to Jesus and His mission —we will be hated. That doesn’t mean every single person will be hostile—if that were the case — there’d be no point in sharing the gospel at all. In fact —despite the opposition —we can be confident that God will save His elect — and He plans to use you and me to accomplish that mission. But Jesus makes it clear: as we go —people from all walks of life may reject the message, and they may hate the messenger. Jesus Himself truly is the dividing line of humanity.

Now — I know these warnings sound harsh. But they’re actually helpful. Why? Because Jesus is upfront with us. He’s preparing us so we won’t be surprised when rejection or opposition comes our way. We won’t be caught off guard or crushed when even our own family rejects because of the gospel. We won’t be overwhelmed by the ingratitude and hostility and hostility we face in the world. Brothers and sisters — Jesus never promised an easy mission—He promised it would be difficult, but purposeful.

And here’s the beauty: we can rest assured that God is still in control. His plan encompasses both those who listen and those who don’t. And not only that, but we can rejoice in the One who softened our hearts and gave us the gift of faith. Because, at one time, we were just like those who have rejected us.

We, too, were once dead in our sins. We lived according to the desires of our flesh, rebelling against God, and deserving His wrath. But God, being rich in mercy, saved us by His grace through faith in Jesus. And it’s by that same grace that we will endure to the end.

As a pastor, one of the most common questions I get asked is, “How can I be sure that I’m saved?” Well, Matthew gives us one answer here: endurance in the face of persecution and opposition is a hallmark of genuine salvation. Endurance doesn’t create or maintain salvation—that’s entirely the work of God’s grace. But endurance is the evidence of salvation. It’s proof that a person is truly redeemed and a child of God.

I am reminded of James 1:12

James 1:12 (CSB)

12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

If we take a quick look at church history, we can see that persecution has always served to purify the Church. It quickly burns away the chaff — for — those who have only made a superficial profession of faith—those who have not been made new in Christ—will not be motivated to suffer for Him. They simply don’t have the divine power within them to endure, even if they wanted to. The truth is, there is nothing more spiritually refining than persecution.

But, brothers and sisters, take heart! Be encouraged. If you have genuinely repented and surrendered yourself to Jesus, you have an assured victory. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. The hope you have isn’t wishful thinking—it’s a confident assurance. When you get to the end of this life, when Jesus, through His Spirit, preserves you to the end, there will be a guaranteed final victory.

God’s Word assures us that there is absolutely nothing that can separate you from Christ. No tribulation, no distress, no persecution, no famine, no nakedness, no peril, and no sword will ever rip you from the grip of your Savior. Not even death, life, angels, or demons. There are no present circumstances, no future realities, no height or depth, and definitely no created thing that can separate you from the love of God. Listen to me, brother—sister—in all these things, you will overwhelmingly conquer through Jesus who loves you.

Yes — Jesus is the dividing line of humanity, but He’s also the One who sustains and preserves His people. And it is only in Him that we will find the promise of victory. So stand firm, endure with confidence, and take heart, knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of Christ.

Lets Pray

1. https://www.persecution.com/stories/indian-family-beaten-and-harassed-by-rss/