Responding to Rejection #1

This will turn persecution into opportunity to share Gospel

​ CSBBeware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts and flog you in their synagogues. You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. 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, because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.

And the Kingdom will come

​ CSB“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 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.

We must do it like Jesus did.

​ CSBA disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!

16

In , the wolves are in sheep’s clothing; here, they have taken the costume off, open opposition.Sheep are helpless, , .Cunning: Disciples are not to be dumb like sheep, self preservation as in is encouraged.Doves are always prey, never predator, vegetarians. Cunning is not for harming opponents but for preservation for the preaching of the gospel.Wise about what is good, innocent about what is evil ()Dangers: 1) We would be stupid and let evil overtake us in persecution and become one of them, damaging the gospel work. 2) We would not be innocent, acting like them.This takes smarts and innocence. Nice without naivete.

17

Floggings implies they will count you as guilty; this is the context we are to be innocent and cunning in.

18

Moving beyond the Galilee mission. In Acts, 3 governors ans 2 kings mentioned. ( ; ; and for “kings” see ; )Persecution leads to the spread of the gospel, it creates opportunities to witness.How can we use current opposition to Christianity as an opportunity to witness rather than becoming un-innocent, un-cunning in letting evil overtake us?

19-20

Don’t worry about responding to those who oppose you. Don’t sit wondering, “What clever reply could I take them down with?” Not to excuse preparation in study of the word and prayer (Have a ready defense!”) The antidote to worry is the Holy Spirit’s sure guidance. The Spirit will also prepare us for the moments that come if we listen and grow.

21

Martyrdom first time introduced. Scale of persecution increases. Bigger than Galilean mission, Matthews audience. Not just apostles now.“Put to death” word implies official offense and execution, Christianity illegal now.

22

Tacitus claimed Nero’s persecution was because “Thy were hated by the whole human race” (odium humani generis)Hated because of Jesus, not us. Crucial to gospel proclamation is that we are hated for the right reason; not because we are evil but because we are His.The world hates us because the world hates Him ((; ).This is one side, some will accept, light of the world, salt of the earth, welcomed and listened to.Will be saved: Not physically, but spiritually. (Security of the believer?)

23

Moving to the next town means fast spread of the message, not pearls before swine, Paul practices this several times (; , ; , ) is where we get “coming of the Son of man”. He comes before Go here to receive authority, authority is given in disciples lifetime in . In ascending then, Jesus comes before the Father as Daniel prophesied and receives power. This is also when the mission expands beyond Israel to all the nations. Jesus is now “King of Kings”, other nations, not just Israel! Matthew already establishes Jesus's legitimate authority as King of Israel, the scope expands!

24-25

Slaves: unique to Matthew in Gospels, apostles referred to themselves this way (; ; , etc; ; ; ). Comparison, not saying we are necessarily here.Our expectation is not to have it easier than Jesus but to become like Him, suffering and receiving honor.On becoming like the master: , :2We will be thought less of, accused wrongly, as Jeuss was, don;t be surprised (“I can;t believe you would say that ...”, offended so easily in shock)