Matthew 10

Chapter 10

The following material is adopted from John MacArthur’s commentary on Matthew and his Study guide. Additional material taken from sources listed at the end

Read and summarize

Look for

— Prayers ( Blue )

— Promises ( Green )

— Warnings ( Red )

— Commands ( Purple )

The Second of five major discourses

— The Sermon on the Mount ( 5-7 )

— The commissioning of the apostles ( 10 )

— The parables of the kingdom ( 13 )

— The discourse of childlike faith ( 18 )

— The discourse of the second coming ( 24 - 25 )

Q: Jesus prayerfully chose twelve good men to be His followers and form the foundation for the church. If you have to pick people to plant a new church, what kinds of people would be advantageous to have on your team? What kinds of personalities might be an impediment?

The Messengers of the King ( 10:1-4 )

( 10:1-4 ) And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

— Jesus calls people from all walks of life

— The main feature of this list is its diversity. Jesus chose His disciples from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences. About all they had in common was it seems that none of them were privileged or from backgrounds of high status.

— This is very much in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

— “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.” ( 1 Cor 1:26-29 )

— consider your calling, Paul always uses the term calling to refer to the saving call of God, the effectual call that results in redemption

— He used common people and uncommon leaders; rich and poor, educated and uneducated

— God is not looking for millionaires or celebrities to do His work

— God can use anybody, no matter who insignificant he or she appears

— In fact, being successful could be a hinderance ( cf. Matt 11:25 )

— Scripture makes no effort to mask the faults and shortcomings of God’s people

— It is a marvelous insight into the grace of God toward us to see Christ dealing so lovingly and patiently with men who are weak and unresponsive

— When you feel small and useless, remember God uses ordinary people to do his extraordinary work

( 10:2 ) Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother

twelve

twelve referring to the number of tribes of Israel, and the sons of Jacob

— These twelve, by their doctrine, were to judge the twelve tribes of Israel ( Lk 22:30 )

— These were the twelve stars that made up the church’s crown ( Rev 12:1 )

— The twelve foundations of the new Jerusalem ( Rev 21:12, 14 )

— The twelve loaves on the table of show-bread, the twelve wells of water at Elim

Peter

— Peter is always listed first in all the gospels

— He was the leader

— No other apostle speaks as often or is spoken to as often

— No other disciple was reproved as often or as severely as Peter

— No other disciple so boldly confessed Christ or so boldly denied Him

— Peter always asked questions; a person who does not ask questions has little chance for success as a leader, because he has no desire or willingness to inquire about what he does not understand

— The Lord changed his name from Simon to Peter (stone) but when he was reprimanded of sin or weakness, the Lord called him Simon ( Lk 5:4; Mk 14:37; Jn 21:15-17 )

Going Deeper

— In all four gospels the lists of the apostles are divided into the same three subgroups

— The first group includes Peter, Andrew, James and John

— The names are in different orders in the gospels but the first name in the group is always the same

— These are the men that Jesus called first

— We know the most about these men; these were his inner circle

— The second group includes Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew

— These are the men that Jesus called next

— The third group includes James the son of Alpheus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot

— These are the men that Jesus called last

— We know nothing about these men except Judas Iscariot

— Jesus loved them all equally, empowered them all equally but because of the physical limitations of all men, He was not able to give them equal attention

— Matthias or Paul? Something fun to ponder.

Some view Paul as the 12th apostle, as the replacement for Judas (vs. than Matthias). Matthias was chosen to be the 12th apostle after Judas had betrayed Jesus. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. Paul mentions the twelve, and Matthias at that point was one of the twelve (1 Cor 15:5).

Note: Matthias was selected by lot as the Apostles waited for the Holy Spirit in the 10 days between Jesus ascension and Pentecost. Just Saying……

Judas ( 10:4b )

( 10:4b ) and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him

— Judas Iscariot is synonymous with treachery and betrayal

— In Dante’s Inferno Judas occupies the lowest level of hell, which he shares with Lucifer, Satan himself

— Christ chose Judas but scripture does not tell us where or how

— Judas had no spiritual interest; he had no interest in the coming kingdom only what personal gain her might derive from being in Christ’s inner circle

— This man, though thoroughly responsible for his own wicked deeds, was an instrument of the devil ( Jn 6:70, 71)

— Being a very selfish person he was unable — or unwilling — to understand the unselfish and beautiful deed of Mary of Bethany, who anointed Jesus ( Jn 12:1 ff ); he was unable to see that the native language of love is lavishness

— Christ chose Judas intentionally and specifically, “for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him” ( Jn 6:64 )

— Judas is the world’s greatest example of lost opportunity

Author unknown

Still as of old,

Man by himself is priced.

For thirty pieces of silver

Judas sold himself, not Christ

Going Deeper

— We are tempted to become discouraged when our spiritual life and witness suffer because of our sins and failures

— The apostles turned the world upside not because they were extraordinary but because they surrendered themselves to God, whose power is perfected in our weakness ( 2 Cor 12:9 )

— This has always been God’s way, since He has never had anything but imperfect and sinful men through whom to work

— Noah became drunk and acted indecently

— Abraham, the father of the faithful, doubted God, lied about his wife, and committed adultery with her maid

— Isaac told a similar lie about his wife when he thought his life was in danger

— Jacob took advantage of his brother Esau’s weakness and extorted his birthright from him

— Moses was a murderer, and in pride he struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God instructed

— His brother Aaron, the first high priest, lead Israel in erecting and worshipping the golden calf

— Joshua disobeyed the Lord by making a treaty with the Gibeonites instead of destroying them

— Gideon had little confidence in himself and even less in God’s plan and power

— Samson was repeatedly beguiled by Delilah because of his great lust for her

— David committed adultery and murder and was almost a total failure as a father

— Elijah stood fearlessly before 850 false prophets but cowered before one women, Jezebel

— Ezekiel was brash, crusty and quick to speak his mind

— Jonah defied God’s call to preach to the Ninevites and resented His grace when they were converted through his preaching

— The Bible never hides the imperfections of its heroes of faith. One of the indications that it is not authored by men.

Q: Why didn’t Jesus send the disciples to the Gentiles or the Samaritans ( 10:5-15)?

Principles for Effective Ministry ( 10:5-15 )

( 10:5-15 ) These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. 11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

— Initially these men were told to limit their activity to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” ( Matt 9:36; 15:24; cf. Jer 50:6; Ezek 34:5, 6; Ro 1:16 )

— God chose them to tell the rest of the world about him

— One reason Jesus sent His disciples only to the Jews is that He came to them initially for the purpose of offering Himself as their King and Messiah as God intended

— We will see very soon in Matthew that the Nation Israel in the persons of the Religious leaders will reject Jesus

— Jesus ends the Old Testament Age and begins the New Testament Age with His death on the cross

— The bible clearly teaches that God’s message of salvation is for all people, regardless of race, sex, or national origin ( Gen 12:3; Is 25:6; 56:3-7; Mal 1:11; Acts 10:34,35; Ro 3:29, 30; Gal 3:28 )

Going Deeper

— This chapter, from verse 5 to the end, contains one of the Lord’s instructive discourses

— This is the second of six discourses that Lord gave, the others being:

— The Sermon on the Mount, chapters 5-7

— The charge to The Twelve, chapter 10

— Discourse of truths concerning the character of the kingdom, chapter 13

— Instruction about humility, chapter 18

— Jesus characterization of the Pharisees Chapter 23

— Discourse of last things, chapter 24, 25

Q: What did Jesus mean when He said that the kingdom of heaven is at hand ( 10:7 )

The Charge to the Twelve ( 10:5-42 )

A Clear Message ( 10:7 )

( 10:7 ) And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

— Jesus has already begun His kingdom on earth in the heart of His followers

— The essence of the kingdom is the actual ruling of the king

— One day the kingdom will be fully realized

Going Deeper

— Jesus has already begun His kingdom

— It is evident in our conversion when we trust in Christ for our salvation ( Matt 18:3 )

— It is manifest in our lives and in our heart as we live out the divine principles of God’s revelation by obedience to his Word ( Matt 25:31; Acts 3:19-21; Rev 11:15; 20:4 )

— The kingdom will be seen when Christ returns to earth establish and rule it in person ( Matt 25:31; Acts 3:19-21; Rev 11:15; 20:4 )

Heal the Sick ( 10:8 )

( 10:8 ) Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

— A comparison of this verse with 4:23; 9:35 shows that what Jesus means is, “Do and continue to do what I am doing and have been doing.”

— What they received freely they were to give freely and gladly

— There must not be any money involved ( Acts 8:18-24 )

— They could have made a lot of money with the ability to heal, but that would have obscured the message of grace

Q: Why does Jesus place all these restrictions on the Apostles, telling them not to take an extra pair of sandals, money or other essentials (10:9-10 )?

Confident Faith ( 10:9-10 )

( 10:9-10 ) Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

— Jesus said that those minister are to be cared for; they went out with a minimum of clothing and supplies

— This was unique for this mission, later, he would give them different instructions ( Lk 22:35-36 )

— The point was to teach them to trust the Lord to supply their needs through the generosity of the people to whom they ministered, and to tach those who received the blessing of their ministry to support the servants of Christ ( cf 1 Tim 5:18 )

— God will provide and the apostles had to learn to place their trust entirely in him

— The disciples could expect food and shelter in return for the spiritual service they provided

— The worker is entitled to his support

— Who ministers to you?

— Make sure you take care of the pastors, missionaries and teachers who serve God by serving you ( cf. 1 Cor 9:9,10; 1 Tim 5:17 )

Q: What is Jesus teaching His disciples as He sends them out ( 10:11-13a )?

Concentration of those who are Receptive ( 10:11-13a )

( 10:11-13 ) Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.

— As a minister find someone of good spiritual moral character for a host

— Once you find a place to stay be content with it

— Don’t inquire about who is rich or where the best Inn is located

— Look for private houses and those who expect nothing but a prophet’s reward: praying and preaching

— Minister to those that are receptive

— When we took God for our God, we took his people for our people

Going Deeper

Hendriksen

—The Apostles use the familiar formula Peace to You

— In that time, as it is today, that was a customary greeting

— Nevertheless, it makes a difference who says it

— In the name of their Sender these apostles not only wish peace they actually bring it

— The special blessing was for those who by grace were “worthy” to receive it through faith, not for the others

— If the home was undeserving let you peace return to you

Q: Why did Jesus tell his disciples to shake the dust off their feet if a city or home did not welcome them ( 10:14 )?

Rejection of those who are Contemptuous ( 10:13b-15 )

( 10:13b-15 ) But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

— This is the flip-side of 10:11-13 — don’t spend undue time on those who persist in rejecting the gospel

— Many will turn a deaf ear, even to the joyful sound of the Gospel

— When leaving Gentile cities, pious Jews often shook the dust off their feet to show their separation from Gentile practices

— If the disciples shook the dust of a Jewish town from their feet, it would show their separation from Jews who rejected their Messiah

— The gesture was to show the people that they were making the wrong choice — that the opportunity to choose Christ might not present itself again

— Are you receptive to teaching from God? If you ignore the Spirit’s prompting, you may not get another chance

Sodom and Gomorrah

— Sodom and Gomorrah never heard the full gospel but only saw OT shadows

— Israel rejected the Messiah and therefore the punishment would be more severe

Q: Jesus used an analogy with four animals. What do these creatures symbolize, and what is the meaning of Jesus’ words ( 10:16 )?

Sheep among Wolves ( 10:16-23 )

( 10:16-23 ) “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21 “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Matthew Henry

— The suffering of Christ’s ministers, what to expect, prepare and bear it

— What to expect not while with Christ but after His resurrection when their mission was enlarged

— Christ tells them, they must expect greater sufferings than they were yet called to; that they should then be made prisoners, when they expected to be made princes

— It is good to be told what troubles we may hereafter meet with, that we may provide accordingly, and may not boast, as if we had put off the harness, when we are yet but girding it on

Sheep

— Sheep - helpless, dependent, and most stupid of all domesticated animals

— A picture of Christians

Wolves

— Being sent my Jesus is wonderful, but in the midst of wolves, vicious and destructive, is danger

— However, there is comfort in knowing that He, Jesus Himself, is sending them out; implies protection

— We are to proclaim the gospel, that by doing so “sheep” may be gathered from among those very people who are now called “wolves”

— In extending His personal care Jesus does not, however, exempt them from personal responsibility

Serpents

— Serpents -considered wise, shrewd, smart, cunning and cautious

— In that characteristic, at least, Christians are to emulate serpents

Matthew Henry

— Not wise as foxes, whose cunning is to deceive others; but as serpents, whose policy is only to defend themselves, and to shift for their own safety

— It is the will of Christ that his people and ministers, being so much exposed to troubles in this world, as they usually are, should not needlessly expose themselves, but use all fair and lawful means for their own preservation

— Christ gave us an example of this wisdom ( cf. 21:24, 25; 22:17, 18, 19; Jn. 7:6, 7 )

— See an instance of Paul’s wisdom, Acts 23:6, 7

Doves

— Doves -the most harmless and gentle of birds, pure and innocent; another characteristic of the Christian

— The Spirit descended on Christ as a dove, and all believers share the Spirit of Christ, a dove-like spirit, made for love, not war

Going Deeper

— Before the Lord sent the disciples out on their first missionary trip, He set before them the cost of discipleship

— The world will continue to make raids on the church just as wolves make raids on flocks of sheet ( Acts 20:29; Ro 8:36 )

— It is normal for predatory wolves to come into the flock of sheep

— It is not normal for a shepherd to send his sheep into the lair of wolves

— Yet this is where Jesus , the Good Shepherd, send his disciples — into the hostile world of ungodly souls

Q: Why would someone knowingly follow Jesus when He promises hardship and persecution ( 10:17-18 )?

The Persecution ( 10:17-18 )

( 10:17-18 ) But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

— Later the disciples experienced these hardships ( Acts 5:40; 12:1-3 )

— Not only from without (governments and courts), but from within ( friends, family; 10:21 )

— Living for God often brings on persecution, but with it comes the opportunity to tell the good news of salvation

— In times of persecution we can be confident that Jesus has “overcame the world” ( Jn 16:33 ) and those who stand firm will be saved ( 10:22 )

— It is a sad testimony that we live in a wretched world tainted with sin that we don’t know who to trust

— Do not trust in a friend; Do not put your confidence in a companion; Guard the doors of your mouth From her who lies in your bosom ( Mich 7:5 )

— Even Christ was betrayed with a kiss, by one of his own disciples

Going Deeper

Brought before governors and kings

— The immediate initial fulfillment of the prophecy is recorded in scripture

— King Herod Agrippa I killed James, the brother of John ( Acts 12:1 ). with the sword. The manner of execution indicates James was accused of leading people to follow false gods ( cf. Deut 13:12-15 )

— Paul was brought before King Agrippa II and the procurator Felix

— Pontius Pilate sentenced Jesus to die after sending Him to king Herod Antipas ( Matt 27:26; Lk 23:6-12 )

— What is most important is the fact that Jesus says this will happen for My sake

— When someone persecutes Christ’s disciple he is persecuting Christ himself, a fact that was stamped so indelibly upon the mind and heart of Paul that, however much the accounts of Paul’s conversion may vary, the words, Saul, Saul why do you persecute me? are found in all three ( Acts 9:4,5; 22:7,8; 26:14, 15 )

The Provision ( 10:19-20 )

( 10:19-20 ) But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

— Jesus told the disciples that when arrested for preaching the gospel, they should not worry about what to say in their defense

— God’s spirit would speak through them

— This was fulfilled in Acts 4:8-14 and elsewhere

— Some mistakenly think this means we don’t have to prepare to present the gospel because God will take care of everything

— Scripture teaches, however, that we are to make carefully prepared, thoughtful statements ( Col 4:6)

— Jesus did not tell us to stop preparing but to stop worrying

Q: Have you ever experienced ridicule from family or friends for being a Christian ( 10:21-23 )?

( 10: 21-23 ) “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

— These verses clearly have an eschatological significance that goes beyond the disciple’s immediate mission

— The persecution that Christ describes here belongs to the tribulation period that precedes Christ’s second coming, which is alluded to in v.23

By Family Members ( 10:21 )

( 10:21 ) “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

— True, this last clause can be softened somewhat to mean “and will hand them over to be killed” ( cf. 26:59; 27:1; Mark 13:12; 14:55 )

— Basically, this makes little if any difference

— The person who unjustly causes someone to be put to death is as guilty as if he had committed the act with his own hand ( 2 Sam 11:15, 12:9 )

By Society ( 10:22 )

( 10:22 ) And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

— From here to the end of the chapter Jesus speaks about true Discipleship; what does it look like?

— Standing firm may include public ridicule

— But, standing firm is not a way to be saved but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus

— Persistence is not a means to salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life

( 10:22 c ) endures to the end

— If the Lord repeats this twice it must have been very important

— Jesus repeats these words to the 7 churches

— To the loveless church at Ephesus

— “and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary” ( Rev 2:3 )

— “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—” ( Rev 2:26 )

— To the persecuted church at Smyrna

— ““He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’ ( Rev 2:11 )

— To the compromising church at Pergamos

— “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’ ( Rev 2:17 )

— To the corrupt church at Thyatira

— “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—” ( Rev 2:26 )

— To the dead church at Sardis

— “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” ( Rev 3:5 )

— To the faithful church at Philadelphia

— “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” ( Rev 3:12 )

— To the lukewarm church at Laodicea

— “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” ( Rev 3:21 )

Q: How long should we endure hardship and rejection of the gospel? Is there every a time to just move on ( 10:23 ) ?

Time to move on ( 10:23 )

( 10:23 ) When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

— What must the messengers of the gospel do when a city rejects them and the gospel?

— To be sure, they must be patient ( Is 5:1-7; Lk 13:6-9 )

— These same passages, however, also teach that there is a limit to God’s patience and to that which in imitation of Him, his followers should exercise

— Nowhere does the Bible teach that a kingdom worker who, while working in a certain village or town, is being constantly harassed and whose message is being persistently rejected must stay in that same place year after year until he dies

— Would not his talents be wasted? Would it be fair to other communities that are crying for help? Let him move out!

— That the apostles adhered to this principle is clear from many passages ( Acts 12:17; 13:46, 51; 14:6, 20; 16:40; 17:10; 14 )

The Hallmarks of Discipleship — Part 1 ( 10:24-31 )

( 10:24-31 ) “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

— A disciple becomes like Christ, his teacher, when he learns and obeys Scripture

— The logical conclusion of being like Christ is to be treated like Christ

— If Christ suffered, so will his pupils; look at how the teacher is treated; don’t expect to be treated any differently

— Family members and servants should not expect to be treated better than the head of the family is treated

— If we are open and live our faith in “plain view” you will be treated like Christ

Going Deeper

— Jesus here teaches with the widest possible perspective, “For every person who would be my disciple,” He says in effect, “here is what I ask. For all who follow Me, this is the cost of discipleship”

—John tells us that when Jesus demanded complete identification with him — pictured by the eating of his flesh and drinking of his blood — “many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore” ( Jn 6:55-66 )

Q: What point was Jesus making in using the name Beelzebul ( 10:25 )?

— The name Beelzebub had become an epithet for Satan

— Jesus’ point was, if the people called him Satan, they would surely call His disciples the same thing

—The more we become like Christ the more attractive we become to those God is calling to Himself

— But at the same time we will become more unattractive to those who reject God

— Because they want nothing of Him, they will want nothing of us

Q: Have you ever caught yourself not sharing the gospel because you were afraid of what someone might say or think about you ( 10:26-28 )? When do you feel most bold in sharing your faith?

A disciple does not fear the world ( 10:26-28 )

( 10:26-28 ) Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

— Jesus is warning against the tragic error of being constantly filled with fear because of those who are able to kill the body, as if the body were more important than the soul

— A true disciple is not only to emulate Christ but not be afraid of the world

— When we fear what people may think, say or do, our testimony is strangled ( Prov 29:25 )

— While Peter was warming himself in the courtyard while Jesus was on trail, he found it difficult to speak out for the Lord and denied him three times

— Jesus knew that criticism, abuse and danger would be frequent companions of the apostles and He repeatedly exhorted them not to be afraid ( Matt 14:27; 28:10; Lk 12:32; Jn 14:27 )

— who is able to destroy both soul and body they can’t hurt the soul in heaven; fear Him who is able

— Do not deny the Lord ( Mark 8:38 ); speak boldly in public, shout it from the rooftops

Q: What was the price of two sparrows ( 10:29 )?

Valuation by God ( 10:29-31 )

( 10:29-31 ) Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows

— Two sparrows were sold for an assarion ( ἀσσάριον ) which was a copper coin; it was the smallest coin in circulation in Jesus’ day

— It was worth 1/16th of a denarius, the average daily wage of a laborer

— With one cent you could buy two sparrows, which were as common and relatively valueless in New Testament times as they are today

— Jesus said that God is aware of everything that happens even to sparrows, and you are far more valuable to him than they are ( many people struggle with feeling worthy )

— You are so valuable that God sent his only Son to die for you ( Jn 3:16 )

— Because God places such value on you, you need never fear personal threats or difficult trials

— These can’t shake God’s love or dislodge his Spirit from within you

A Disciple Confesses the Lord ( 10:32-33 )

( 10:32-33 ) “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

— In addition to emulating the Lord and not fearing the world, we are told to openly confess Christ before the world

— Throughout the history of the church, believers who have been unashamed to confess Jesus before men are those the Lord uses to bring others to Himself

— The same word, in the original, is translated confess and profess ( 1 Timothy 6:12,13, 2 John 1:7, Romans 10:10 )

— It means, to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, and our dependence on him for salvation, and our attachment to him, in every proper manner

— This profession may be made, in uniting with a church; at the communion; in conversation; and in conduct

— The Scriptures mean, by a profession of religion, an exhibition of it in every circumstance of life, and before all men. It is not merely in one act that we must do it, but in every act

— The person who acknowledges Christ as Lord in life or in death, if necessary, is the one whom the Lord will acknowledge before God as His own. (2 Tim. 2:10-13)

— “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” ( 2 Tim 2:10-13 )

Going Deeper

— Festo Kivengere, a leading evangelical minister in Uganda, tells the history of persecution and martyrdom of Christians in that country

— in 1885 three Christian boys ranging in age from eleven to fifteen, were forced to give their lives for Christ because they would not recant

— At their execution they asked that the following message be given to the king: “Tell his majesty that he has put our bodies in the fire but we wouldn’t be long in the fire. Soon we will be with Jesus, which is much better. But ask him to repent and change his mind or he will land in a place of eternal fire.”

— The youngest of the boys, named Yusufu, said, “Please don’t cut off my arms. I will not struggle in the fire that takes me to Jesus”

— Because of the boy’s testimony that day, forty adults trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, and indirectly countless more converts were won to the Lord over a period of many years

A Disciple Forsakes his Family ( 10:34-37 )

( 10:34-37 ) Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

— 10:34 seems to be the antithesis of the seventh beatitude. His meaning however, was that the peace He came to bring is not peace at any price

— Though the ultimate end of the gospel is peace with God ( John 14:27; Ro 8:6 ), the immediate result of the gospel is frequently conflict

— Jesus did not come to bring the kind of peace that glosses over the deep differences just for the sake of superficial harmony

— Conflict and disagreement will arise between those who choose to follow Christ and those who don’t; when you become a follower of Christ it may result in strained family relationships ( vv. 35, 36 ), persecution, and even martyrdom

— Yet we can look forward to the day when all conflict will be resolved

— This is taken from Micah 7:6. Christ did not here mean to say that the object of his coming was to produce discord and contention, for he was the Prince of peace, Isaiah 9:6, 11:6, Luke 2:14; but he means to say that such would be one of the effects of his coming

— Abraham left his father Terah and left the land of Ur of the Chaldeans ( Gen 11:31 )

— Jesus rebuked his mother and brothers ( 12:46-49 )

Q: How would you summarize Matthew 10:38-39 in your own words ?

A Disciple Offers His own life ( 10:38-39 )

( 10:38-39 ) And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

— To take our cross and follow Jesus means to be willing to publicly identify with him, to experience almost certain opposition, and to be committed to face even suffering and death for his sake

— He was demanding total commitment from them and making this call to full surrender a part of the message they were to proclaim to others; this same call to life or death devotion to Christ is repeated ( 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 14:27) ; for those who come to Christ with self-renouncing ith, there will be true and eternal life ( v. 39 )

— The cross is the willing sacrifice of everything one has, including life, for the sake of Christ

— But no sacrifice for Him compares with what is received from Christ

— Personal Note: I find it paradoxical in that when you “lose” your life for Jesus sake, you “find” what your life should really be about. Cannot find your life by searching inside yourself or for outside answers.

A Disciple Receives His Reward ( 10:40-42 )

( 10:40-42 ) “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

— How much we love God can be measured by how well we treat others

— When we welcome a person doing the Lord’s work, it is as if we are also welcoming the sender and we will receive the same reward as if we were the prophet

— And not just a ordained minister but any righteous person

— Jesus’ example of giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty child is a good model of unselfish service

— A child usually can’t or won’t return a favor

— God notices every good deed we do or don’t do as if he were the one receiving it

— Is there something unselfish you can do for someone else today?

— Although no one else may see you, God will notice; as you have opportunities to serve, God will bless you

Going Deeper

Hendriksen

He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet

— The meaning is this: He who welcomes a prophet — not necessarily one The Twelve but anyone who has the right to proclaim God’s truth — and does this not merely out of considerations of politeness or cordiality but very definitely because he regards this messenger to be a prophet indeed, and therefore in welcoming him wishes to welcome his Sender, shall receive the same reward as if he, the welcomer, were himself a prophet

— Lest there be any misunderstanding, as if the reward of grace and glory would be granted only to those who welcomed a specially commissioned messenger, Jesus adds, and he who receives a righteous person because he is righteous shall a righteous person’s reward

— The man who devotes his life to the performance of the urgently necessary and eminently noble task of providing lodging for, cooperating with, and encouraging God’s traveling children is promised the same reward as those whom he befriends

— Jesus climaxes the discourse by saying, And whoever gives to one of these little ones even so much as a cup of cold water, because he is a disciple, I solemnly declare to you, he shall certainly not lose his reward

— With a term of endearment Jesus speaks about one of these little ones, one who acknowledges his dependence on Him and reposes his trust in Him

— To the world this disciple may be a nobody, insignificant in fame and fortune

— Nevertheless, anything that is given to such a disciple is by Jesus regarded as given to Himself

Additional Resources

MacArthur, John. Matthew 8-15. Moody Press, 1987.

MacArthur, John. New Testament Commentary. Moody, 1985.

MacArthur, John. Why Did God Choose the Foolish Things to Shame the Wise? https://www.gty.org/library/bibleqnas-library/BQ72111/why-did-god-choose-the-foolish-things-of-the-world-to-shame-the-wise

Questions: https://www.bible-studys.org/Bible%20Books/Matthew/Matthew%20Chapter%2010.html

Life Application Study Bible. Zondervan, 2011.

William Hendriksen. Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1973.