GOSPEL OF MATTHEW - FEARLESS WITNESS

Matthew 10:16-33 - Living Boldly for Christ

Last week we started Matthew 10 with looking at Jesus sending His disciples and us with His Authority and He equips us with His authority and He sends us with urgency and He calls on us to depend on His Provision for our needs.  We don’t wander around aimlessly or empty handed for He equips us, provides for us and calls us to urgently follow Him.

This week we continue in Matthew 10 and look at Living Boldly for Christ as He sends us out.  We are like sheep in midst of wolves so we need to be bold.  As we being Let Us Pray!

Sermon Title:

"Fearless Witness: Living Boldly for Christ" Matthew 10:16–33 – “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 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. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 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. “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Big Idea:

Following Jesus means embracing courage, trusting His Spirit, and boldly proclaiming the truth — even when the world rejects us.

Point 1 – Sheep Among Wolves: Courage in Hostility (Matthew 10:16-18)

Counter-Cultural Illustration:

Culture says, “Avoid risk, stay safe, protect your comfort.” But Jesus says, “Step into danger with faith.” The world glorifies self-preservation; Christ calls us to self-denial.

Explanation:

Jesus warns His disciples that they are like sheep among wolves. Following Him does not guarantee safety or comfort — it guarantees conflict. But He equips us with wisdom (“be shrewd as serpents”) and purity (“innocent as doves”) to live faithfully in a hostile culture.

Key Idea:

Jesus calls us to live with wisdom and innocence in a world that may oppose us.

Shrewd – phronimos – fron ee mos – intelligent, wise

Innocent – akeraios – ak er ah yos – unmixed, like pure wine, pure intentions – not mixed with evil, pride or greed

This requires us to have wisdom and discernment along with integrity

Handed over – betrayed

Wolves are the religious leaders – those that claim to know more about God than those who know God.

Flogging today – secret meetings, gossip, talking about fellow believers as the do the work of Christ

Previous warning – if you do my work – you will not be welcomed – the more you do the more you will suffer –

We are to continue on the mission, the ministry He has called us to

Illustration:

Imagine a firefighter walking into a burning building — they know the danger, but they go because lives are at stake. Similarly, we are sent into the “fires” of a broken world with the gospel that saves.

Supporting Scriptures:

John 15:18–20 – ““If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

Philippians 1:29 – “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. What fears hold you back from sharing your faith openly?

2. How does Jesus’ warning prepare you for opposition in your daily life?

3. Where might God be calling you to step out in faith, even if it costs you something?

Point 2 – Spirit-Filled Speech: Trusting God’s Power (Matthew 10:19-25)

Explanation:

Jesus promises that when His followers are dragged before rulers or persecutors, the Holy Spirit will speak through them. This means we don’t have to rely on eloquence or fear being “good enough” witnesses — God Himself will speak through us.

Counter-Cultural Illustration:

Culture says, “Craft your own message. Control the narrative.” But Jesus says, “Surrender your words and let the Spirit guide you.” Instead of self-expression, we embrace Spirit-expression.

Think of a first time nervously reciting a line in a play, only for the director to gently whisper the line to them from the side of the stage — suddenly the actor is confident and able to speak focused not on the audience but on the task at hand. The Spirit does the same for us when we are on the spot.

Key Idea:

God equips His people with His Spirit, giving them the words and courage they need in every situation.

Don’t be anxious – He will give you the words – but how will you know His voice if you are not listening to Him M-Sat

Give you the Words to proclaim the Truth – the truth should be our only defense

This is not saying we don’t have to read the Bible and Study – we still have our part to play and in 1 Peter 3:15 – but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

There are consequences for following Jesus.

         Brother will deliver brother to death – fathers will deliver children to death

         Gods Not Dead 1 reference – Africa and Asia tribes

If they hated Jesus and His teachings, how much more will they hate His followers

If they persecuted Jesus for His teachings, how much more will the persecute His followers

Supporting Scriptures:

Acts 4:13 – “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

Luke 12:11–12 – “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. How often do you rely on your own strength instead of the Spirit’s guidance?

2. Have you ever experienced the Spirit giving you words in a moment you didn’t expect?

3. How can we cultivate a life that listens for and trusts the Spirit’s leading?

Point 3 – Fearless Faith: Confessing Christ Boldly (Matthew 10:26-33)

Explanation:

Jesus reminds His disciples that no sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father’s will and that every hair on their head is numbered. If God cares for sparrows, how much more does He care for us? That truth frees us to boldly confess Him before people, even at great personal cost.

Counter-Cultural Illustration:

Culture says, “Be quiet about your faith. Keep it private. Don’t offend.” But Jesus says, “Confess Me before men.” Silence may feel safe, but it can become spiritual compromise.

Key Idea:

We are called to fear God above all else and boldly confess Christ before others.

Not fear man – they cannot kill your soul – to apart from the body is to be in the presence of the Lord

FEAR Acronym

Only fear the one that can destroy both body and soul

– that is where your strength is

God will reveal all and nothing will be hidden

All sin will be revealed

God’s judgment will fall on those who reject and those who did His Will God’s blessings and will receive their compensation

You value is not in what you do – but who you are – you are created in His Image – bear His fingerprints – you are more valuable than creation

He knows you intimately – even the number of hairs on your head

Illustration: Consider a soldier who carries a photo of his family close to his heart as motivation to face battle. Knowing who we belong to gives us courage to face opposition — we live for an audience of One.

Supporting Scriptures:

Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation.”

Psalm 118:6 – “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Donald Hagner said, ““God has the knowledge, the power, and the concern to protect the disciples from any ultimate harm or injury.”

And since He also sends us He has the knowledge, power and concern to protect us

Jesus was on a divisive mission – separating those who Follow God, Follow Him and those that reject Him – those that follow and acknowledge Him to others Jesus will acknowledge to the Father and those that deny Him, He will deny before the Father

More on His divisive mission next week

Open-Ended Questions:

1. Why do we sometimes fear people’s opinions more than God’s approval?

2. What does it look like for you to confess Christ boldly in your current context?

3. How does remembering God’s care for you give you courage to face rejection or opposition?

Closing Idea:

The world may oppose us, but we are not alone — God’s Spirit is with us, His eye is on us, and His mission is before us. Fear God, not man, and live boldly.

Final Summary:

Matthew 10:16–33 is a sober but hope-filled passage. Jesus does not sugarcoat the cost of discipleship. He sends His followers out as sheep among wolves, warns them of persecution, and calls them to fearless confession. But He also promises His presence, His Spirit, and His Father’s care.

This passage calls us to:

Courage in hostility — stepping into the world with faith, not fear.

Dependence on the Spirit — trusting God to give us the words we need.

Bold confession — living unashamed of the gospel.

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers must be courageous. May we be those workers — eyes open, hearts steady, and voices bold — no matter the cost.

Let us Pray!