Earlier in this chapter, Jesus is prepping his twelve closest disciples as they get ready to go on their first missionary journey. He informs them that they will be endowed with supernatural power. They will actually do the same type of miracles they saw Jesus perform!!! I am sure they were pumped and ready to go. But now, Jesus is very candid about the persecution they will face in the future as well. Nobody would be against such acts as healing the sick, cleansing lepers, raising the dead and casting out demons (Matthew 10:8), so what is it that will bring men to deliver them over to the courts and flog them in the synagogues? (Matthew 10:17)
Matthew 10:16-25
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ What do you make of the “animal” metaphors in verse 16 (sheep, wolves, serpents, doves)? Think about how each word has been used in Scripture before and after this account. How can 21st century Christians be wise as serpents but innocent as doves? Read a good example of how Paul did this in Acts 26:24-29.
+ What do you make of the phrases “beware of men” in verse 17 and “flee” from one town to the next in verse 23? Are we to be or act “scared” as followers of Jesus?
+ What is the ultimate reason(s) the disciples will be persecuted? I found three in these verses!!!
+ Have you ever had the experience of the Spirit giving you words to say in a certain situation when you weren’t prepared to answer? If not, why not?
+ Have you ever been “hated” for the sake of Jesus name? If not, why not?
+ Jesus is obviously referencing Himself as the master in verses 24-25. Why does He use the name Beelzebul? What is the literal translation of that term? Do you see Jesus’ name as bringing that kind of reaction today?
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Have you ever felt like a sheep in the midst of wolves? Sure, I have been mocked by friends and family members alike for my Christian faith, but rarely to the point where I felt like I was speaking to people who wanted to “devour” me for what I was saying. Why is that? It dawned on me that maybe I am not truly presenting the Gospel message.
“If God is not holy, wrathful toward sin, concerned about righteousness and justice and is only one big bundle of celestial love, who needs grace or mercy? But God is holy and we are not. We need a savior. We need the cross. The problem is this message is repugnant to wolves. No sinner wants to hear about his sin. He does not want to hear about a holy God. But Jesus gave that message to His Apostles and sent them out among wolves to preach it”. (Sproul, Matthew: An Expositional Commentary, 2019)
Heavenly Father, forgive me caring more about being liked than presenting the truth of Your Word. Strengthen me with the power of the Holy Spirit to stand firm in the midst of persecution for the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord. Amen.
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?