Sheep Among Wolves Matthew 10:16-26

Intro:

Wolves introduced into Yellowstone

The sheep’s greatest enemy is predators, the worst of which in Palestine and in many other parts of the world has always been wolves.

Most shepherds did not themselves own the flocks but tended them on behalf of the owners.

When a sheep was killed, the shepherd was required to bring back a piece of its torn flesh or some other part of its body to prove it had indeed been killed by a wild animal

Jesus clearly identifies the sheep as you, that is, His disciples—the twelve and, by extension, all of His disciples yet to come.

The normal danger for sheep is that wolves come in among them.

But here Jesus told the twelve, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.

Read Matthew 10:16-20

Transition:

Matthew has spent the first 9 chapters providing evidence to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah

Chapter 10 shifts to training the disciples for the future

Jesus focuses on how the disciples need to live and respond to the culture

I’m not sure there can be a more instructive text at an appropriate time than this

With 3 rulings this week, the supreme court

The first ruling was the court saying that states couldn’t prevent money from going to Christian schools

The second was the protection of the 2nd amendment

Finally, Friday the court struck down Roe vs. wade

These have enraged the liberals

They’ve called for violence against churches and pregnancy centers

They’re saying that the court took the law into their own hands

In reality, this is the most democratic thing ever

Six years ago there was a man who had a vision of what would happen today

It’s not who you think it is

Mitch McConnell set out on a mission to fill the court vacancies with as many constitutional judges as he could possibly

Jesus lays out several instruction how to navigate a culture that hates Christians

He referred to them as wolves

You are being sent out as sheep among wolves

I. Be On Guard vs. 16-20

When walking among the wolves be on your guard

When Jesus says “Behold” it indicated that we are to pay special attention

Don’t be clueless or gullible

They will suffer for His name

vs. 16 Be Wise & Innocent

Jesus tells us to be wise like serpents

In Egyptian hieroglyphics, as well as in much ancient lore, serpents symbolize wisdom.

They were considered to be shrewd, smart, cunning, cautious. In that characteristic, at least, Christians are to emulate serpents.

Paul advises believers

Colossians 4:5 ESV

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Servants of the Lord are to be shrewd and cunning in dealing with the unbelieving world around them.

The basic idea is that of saying the right thing at the right time and place, of having a sense of propriety and appropriateness

It is neither brave nor wise, and neither spiritual nor loving, to needlessly incite anger or court trouble

As the most harmless and gentle of birds, doves represent being pure, or innocent, another characteristic of the faithful disciple of Christ.

Being true to God’s Word and uncompromising in proclaiming the gospel does not require, and should never include, being abrasive, course, inconsiderate, belligerent, blatant, or blunt

Innocence also involves the positive attribute of purity

We are to be like our Lord Himself, our great “high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled”.

We are to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us

vs. 17-18 Suffer for My Sake

Jesus proceeds to identify the “wolves” and then gives warnings about four areas in which they persecute believers—in religion, government, family, and society in general.

They will deliver you up gives you the idea that they are searching you out and giving you over to the wolves

Libs of TikTok

A homemaker started a twitter account called libs of tiktok

All she did was repost what liberals were saying on social media

She got into hot water because she started posting what transgender teachers were teaching in schools

A reporter from WaPo tracked her down and posted her personal information online

People were threatening her safety and she had to go into hiding

Twitter suspended her account

Funny twist is that reporter from WaPo has been demoted because it was found that she lied about sources in many of her articles

The disciples were preaching in the temple and were arrested

They were supposed to go to court the next day, but God let them out of jail

They went back to the temple and started preaching

There asked nicely to come to court where they were beaten

Acts 5:40 ESV

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

They went out rejoicing for being considered worthy

Don’t hide your faith and understand they are coming for you

vs. 19-20 Don't Be Anxious

When they deliver you up, don’t be anxious

Don’t worry about what to do or what to say

Philippians 4:6 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

When you get in trouble go to prayer

God is sovereign

There is nothing the enemy can do to harm you

II. Endure to the End vs. 21-23

When walking amongst the wolves endure to the end

Now it gets personal

This is where the real hatred will come out

vs. 21 Civil War

It will be civil war in some homes

Families will turn on each other

Don’t believe this?

How many of you couldn’t see a family member because you weren’t vaccinated?

It ruined peoples holidays

I haven’t seen my dad in three years

After I went through my covid I told my dad I wanted to see him for his birthday

He hmmmed and hawed for a couple of minutes before he changed the subject

I knew what was going on

He couldn’t see us because of his bat crazy wife

Talked to him on Father’s day and the tone changed. He still didn’t invite us to come and see him, but he was wishing he could drive up and see us

Micah 7:6 ESV

for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.

He warned that “a man’s enemies will be the members of his household

During Roman persecutions of the second and third centuries an untold number of Christians were betrayed to civil authorities by a brother or father or child.

That tragic practice has been repeated many times, and it is not unknown even in our own day.

In certain religious cultures a funeral service is held for a family member who becomes a Christian, because in the eyes of his relatives he is no longer alive.

vs. 22 Hated by All

Believers will not be hated by every single unbeliever on earth.

As verified by the last two thousand years, believers find they are hated by all classes, races, and nationalities of mankind.

Some believers live lives of almost constant conflict with the world, while others seem to escape it entirely.

Some Christians are not persecuted simply because their testimony is so weak it goes unnoticed by the world.

When biblical doctrine and standards are compromised to accommodate fallen human nature, society has little argument with that kind of Christianity and will give little opposition to Christians.

Matthew 24:9 ESV

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.

Endurance of persecution is the hallmark of genuine salvation

Endurance is evidence of salvation, proof that a person is truly redeemed and a child of God.

Persecution quickly burns away chaff in the church.

Those who have made only a superficial profession of Christ have no new nature to motivate them to suffer for Christ and no divine power to enable them to endure it if they wanted to.

Nothing is more spiritually purifying and strengthening than persecution

vs. 23 Flee the Persecution

III. Persecution is Part of the Package vs. 24-26

When walking amongst the wolves understand its part of the package

vs. 24-25 Student Not Above the Teacher

vs. 26 Everything Will be Revealed

1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV

Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.