Faithfulness To Jesus!

¹⁶ “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd (wise) as snakes (serpents) and harmless (innocent) as doves. ¹⁷ But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. ¹⁸ You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are My followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about Me (Jesus). ¹⁹ When you are arrested, do not worry (anxious) about how to respond (speak) or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. ²⁰ For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

²¹ A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. ²² And all nations will hate you because you are My followers. But everyone who endures (perseveres) to the end will be saved. ²³ When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.

²⁴ Students (disciple) are not greater than their teacher, and slaves (servants) are not greater than their master. ²⁵ Students (disciple) are to be like their teacher, and slaves (servants) are to be like their master. And since I, the Master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of My household will be called by even worse names!

²⁶ But do not be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. ²⁷ What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout (proclaim) from the housetops for all to hear!

²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. ³⁰ And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. ³¹ So do not be afraid (fear not); you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

³² Everyone who acknowledges Me (Jesus) publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. ³³ But everyone who denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before My Father in heaven.

³⁴ Do not imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ ‘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 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’

³⁷ If you love your father or mother more than you love Me, you are not worthy of being Mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. ³⁸ If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. ³⁹ If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.

⁴⁰ Anyone who receives you receives Me (Jesus), and anyone who receives Me receives the Father who sent Me. ⁴¹ If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. ⁴² And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

^11:1 When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to His twelve disciples, He went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.

Matthew 10:16-11:1 (NLT)

In the earlier verses of Matthew 10, Jesus called twelve of His disciples. Jesus gave these twelve disciples His power to cast out evil (unclean) spirits and to heal (cure) every kind of disease and illness (Matthew 10:1, 7-8). In essence, these twelve disciples would be continuing Jesus’ public ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing (see e.g., Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35). However, Jesus warned these twelve disciples also to anticipate hostility towards their words and deeds. Matthew 10:16-42 discusses Jesus’ instruction to His disciples and their coming hostility in detail. Jesus’ instructions in these verses applied to not only the twelve disciples’ short-term missionary assignment, but all disciples of Jesus.

First, Jesus told the twelve disciples that He was sending them as “sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16). Jesus instructed the twelve disciples, also called apostles, to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16; see also Romans 16:19). Jesus warned His disciples then and now, they will face persecution and trials because of their faithfulness and obedience to Him (Matthew 10:17-18). However, Jesus encouraged His disciples to endure and persevere when facing persecution and hostility because of their ministry from Him (Matthew 10:22).

In the world, Jesus warned His faithful disciples that they would face trials, sorrows, and opposition just as He suffered because of His faithfulness to God (see Matthew 10:24-25). Furthermore, Jesus warned His disciples that they would be handed over to courts, flogged in the synagogues, and dragged before governors and kings (Matthew 10:17-18). Even more, Jesus cautioned His disciples that brother would betray brother, a father will betray his own child, children will rebel against their parents, and all nations will hate them because they followed Him (see Matthew 10:21-22, 34-37).

In Jesus’ first coming, Jesus brought division since some heeded Jesus’ call to God’s Kingdom and while others rejected Him (Matthew 10:34-39; see also Matthew 3:12). Living for Jesus and obeying His values, morals, and commands often bring on persecution from others, but with it comes the opportunity to tell the Good News (Gospel) of salvation. Inevitable, belief and faithfulness to Jesus will cause separation between those who believe and those who do not, even within a family. The main point of Jesus’ warnings is that love of Him and God’s Kingdom must take precedence over every other human relationship. Nevertheless, Jesus does not want His disciples neglecting their families (see e.g., Matthew 15:3-7; cf. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16). Rather, our faithfulness and commitment to Him and God’s Kingdom must be our first priority (Matthew 6:33; see also Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37).

Moreover, Jesus told His disciples not to be fearful or afraid (Matthew 10:26, 28; see also John 16:33) because “everyone who endures (perseveres) to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22, NLT; see also Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13; Revelation 3:5). Such endurance and allegiance to Jesus are hallmarks of true salvation (see also 2 Timothy 2:11-13; Hebrews 3:6, 14; Hebrews 6:11-12; Hebrews 10:-35-36). Jesus said, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for Me, you will save it” (Matthew 10:39, TLB; see also Matthew 16:24-25). As believers in Jesus, we must persevere and be wholeheartedly faithful to Jesus! The true and living God promises always to protect, guard, and sustain Jesus’ faithful followers (Matthew 10: 19-20, 29-31; see also Matthew 28:20; John 12:25-26; Hebrews 13:5-6). God loves and values you (John 3:16).

Everyone who publically accepts and obeys Jesus on earth, Jesus will acknowledge them before His Father in heaven (Matthew 10:32; see also John 8:31; John 15:4, 10). However, everyone who denies Jesus here on earth, Jesus will also deny before His Father in heaven (Matthew 10:33). Jesus and God are one (see e.g., John 10:30; John 14:9; John 17:11, 21-23). Everyone who welcomes Jesus will be welcome by the true and living God in heaven (Mathew 10:40; see also John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

References

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Ross, Mark E. Let’s Study Matthew (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2009).