SF061 - THE MARKS OF A DISCIPLE - PART TWO (Matthew 10 34-42)
Matthew 10:34-42
Introduction
Jesus’ most crucial and definitive teaching about discipleship, setting forth its true nature and its real demands, is presented in the remainder of this chapter. The call of the Great Commission is the call to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matt. 28:19).
Disciple-making is the central work of the people of Christ’s church, the work of bringing men and women to a saving relationship to Jesus Christ and of helping them grow in His knowledge and likeness. It is what Paul calls “the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).
When Jesus called the twelve to Himself, He carefully instructed them about what they would be expected to do and to endure. In so doing, He excluded the half-hearted people who wanted the benefits of the kingdom but not its commitments. He elected to Himself only those who were willing to enter the narrow gate and walk the narrow road.
In Matthew 10:24-42 Jesus sets forth the essence of this Christian dedication and consecration. Jesus identifies a comprehensive definition of discipleship, in which He lists some six marks.
The true disciple of Jesus Christ
1. Emulates His Master;
2. Fears God rather than the world
3. Confesses the Lord
4. Forsakes family
5. Follows his call
6. Receives a reward.
4A. A Disciple Forsakes His Family (10:34-37)
1B. The division you will face. (10:34-36)
Know Christ, no peace! (10:34)
Ø Jesus warns that He did not come to bring peace to a sinful world.
Ø Light and darkness are always at war.
James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Faith in Christ will often divide families. (10:35-36)
Ø “Set…against,” is from dixazo which means to cut in two, and is used only here in the New Testament.
Luke 12:51-53 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 "For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
2B. The decision you must make. (10:37)
A question of loyalty
Ø “loves…” phileo; as devotion based in the emotions, often distinguished from agapa (love), which is devotion based in the will
Ø “more,” huper; literally over or above.
A measure of worth
Ø “Not worthy,” axios; literally refers to weigh on a scale, to balance the scales.
Ø Partial loyalty to Christ does not measure up.
The price of discipleship
Becoming a Christian requires affirming the Lordship of Christ to the point where you are willing to forsake everything else. It is not simply raising a hand, signing a card, or walking down an aisle and declaring love for Jesus. Salvation is by faith alone, apart from any works at all; but faith that is genuine will be manifested in a commitment that cannot be swayed by any influence. A believer’s commitment to Christ is so profound and far-reaching that any relationship that endangers that relationship must be sacrificed if necessary. (MacArthur)
John Bunyan was told to quit preaching or be thrown in prison. He knew that if he went to prison his wife and children would be left destitute. Yet he knew he must preach the gospel God had called him to preach. Because he refused to stop preaching, he was imprisoned; and from his cell he wrote,
The parting with my wife and poor children hath often been to me in this place as the pulling of the flesh from my bones; and that not only because I am somewhat too fond of these great mercies, but also because I would have often brought to my mind the many hardships, miseries, and wants that my poor family was like to meet with, should I be taken from them, especially my poor blind child, who lay nearer my heart than all I have besides. Oh, the thought of the hardship I thought my blind one might go under would break my heart to pieces.… But yet, recalling myself, thought I, I must venture all with God, though it goeth to the quick to leave you. Oh, I saw in this condition, I was a man who was pulling down his house upon the bead of his wife and children; yet thought I, I must do it. I must do it.
5A. A Disciple Follows His Call Even to Death (10:38-39)
1B. The call you must answer. (10:38)
It is a call to self-denial.
Ø You must abandon everything and give yourself without reservation to Christ.
Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
It is a call to sacrifice.
Ø The cross was a symbol not only of suffering but of death!
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
2B. The contradiction you must accept. (10:39)
Finding is loosing and loosing is winning.
The willingness to forsake everything, including physical life, for the sake of Christ indicates the spirit of true discipleship, and therefore a person who is destined for heaven and eternal life in God’s presence.
6A. A Disciple Receives His Reward (10:40-42)
1B. The reward of receiving (10:40-41)
When we receive the Lord’s messenger we receive the Lord.
Ø To receive the messenger we must receive the message.
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
John 5:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
When we receive the messenger we receive the messenger’s reward.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
2B. The reward of giving (10:42)
The reason for giving
Ø “In the name of a disciple,” in the context this is the same as doing it in the Lord’s name.
The recipient of the gift
Ø “These little ones,” refers to insignificant believers.
The simplicity of the gift, a cup of water
Ø It is not the size of our gift it is the motive that counts.
Whenever we become the source of blessing for others, we are blessed; and whenever other believers become a source of blessing to us, they are blessed. (MacArthur)
Application
Are you a true disciple of Christ?
Are you seeking to emulate Him?
Do you fear God more than the world?
Are you openly confessing and identifying yourself with Him?
Have or will you forsake your family for Him?
Are you willing to follow your call even to death?
Are you enjoy the rewards of discipleship?
Matthew 10:34-42
1A. A Disciple ______________ His Family (10:34-37)
1B. The __________ you will face. (10:34-36)
Know Christ, no peace! (10:34)
James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Faith in Christ will often ______________ families. (10:35-36; Luke 12:51-53)
2B. The __________ you must make. (10:37)
A question of _____________________
A measure of _____________________
2A. A Disciple Follows His Call Even to ____________________ (10:38-39)
1B. The _________ you must answer. (10:38)
It is a call to _______________-denial.
Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
It is a call to __________________.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
2B. The contradiction you must accept. (10:39)
Finding is ________________ and loosing is _____________________.
3A. A Disciple Receives His ____________________ (10:40-42)
1B. The reward of ______________ (10:40-41)
When we receive the Lord’s messenger we receive the ____________________.
Matthew 11:15 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
John 5:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
When we receive the messenger we receive the messenger’s _____________.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
2B. The reward of ________________ (10:42)
The _________________ for giving
The recipient of the gift
The _______________ of the gift, a cup of water