Matthew 10:16-11:1 study

10:16-23

16 Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be wise like snakes but innocent like doves. 17 And watch out for men; for they will hand you over to the Sanhedrin, and in their synagogues they will beat you with whips; 18 and you will be brought before both rulers and kings for My sake as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, do not be anxious about how or what you should speak; for what you should speak will be given to you in that hour; 20 For you are not the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is the one speaking through you. 21 And brother will hand over brother to death and a father his child, and children will rise in rebellion against their parents and put them to death. 22 And you will be hated by all on account of My name; but the one who endures to the end, this one will be saved. 23 And when they persecute you in this city, flee to another; for truly I say to you, you will by no means finish going through all the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.

NOTES:

parts of this seem to fit their temporary mission, and parts seem to fit better with the long-term mission after Jesus’s ascension

Matthew–Luke Section Overview

The apostles should always be shrewd; when persecuted, they may flee to safety.

Matthew–Luke Comment

Disciples must be careful, but not so careful as to take no risks, saying and doing nothing.

Matthew–Luke Comment

Jesus and his apostles keep moving because the cause is urgent: “You will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (10:23b). This difficult saying is variously interpreted. Skeptics say Jesus erroneously believed he would come in eschatological glory within months. Some evangelicals say Jesus comes in judgment on unbelieving Israel when Roman armies smash Jerusalem in AD 70. Others locate his coming in the death, resurrection, and ascension that mark him as King of Israel and Lord of all. The last two views have merit, although it is difficult to choose between them.

10:24-33

24 A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a servant than his master. 25 It is sufficient for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household. 26 Therefore, do not be afraid of them; for nothing is concealed which will not be disclosed, and nothing is secret which will not be made known. 27 What I am saying to you in the darkness, say in the light; and what you hear in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; but instead, be afraid of the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for one assarion?[1] Yet not one of them will fall to the earth apart from your Father. 30 And even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Therefore, do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32Therefore, everyone who will profess allegiance to Me in the presence of men, I also will profess allegiance to him in the presence of my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns Me in the presence of men, I also will disown him in the presence of my Father who is in heaven.

[1] A Roman copper coin, worth about one-sixteenth of a denarius; in today’s currency, probably a few dollars.

NOTES:

The goal of discipleship is to become like the teacher

Matthew–Luke Comment

So then, “Do not fear those who kill the body” but can do no more (

the command “Do not fear” is the most common command in Scripture

10:34-39

34 Do not think that I came to bring peace upon the earth; I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I came to cause a separation between a man and his father, and between a daughter and her mother, and between a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law, 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 37 The one who loves father or mother above Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter above Me is not worthy of Me; 38 And whoever does not take hold of his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 The one who finds his soul will lose it, and the one who loses his soul for My sake will find it.

NOTES:

Matthew–Luke Section Overview

This segment clarifies what Jesus’ kingdom brings. Contrary to expectations, the Messiah does not immediately inaugurate an era of peace, prosperity, and faithfulness (

10:40-11:1

40 The one who receives you is receiving Me, and the one who receives Me is receiving the One who sent Me. 41 The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive the reward of a prophet, and the one who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive the reward of a righteous man. 42 And whoever gives to one of the smallest of these only a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. 1 And it happened when Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He passed over from there to teach and preach in their cities.

NOTES:

Matthew–Luke Comment

As one treats Jesus’ agents, so one treats Jesus. This is right, for they do his work, in his name.

Jesus expands the principle in 10:42. If service to the apostles is good, so is service to “little ones.” Jesus certainly cares for children, and children can be disciples—thus a “cup of cold water” for a little one can be taken literally—but commentators often propose that the “little ones” of 10:42 represent the humblest of Jesus’ followers. Further, the smallest kindness, the simplest gesture, to the smallest person gains a reward.

Matthew–Luke Response

Jesus demands great sacrifices of his disciples. In 10:40–42, he promises that he sees and rewards each one great or small, and this is a valid motivator.