mat11

Matthew 10:1 Jesus calls unto Him the twelve, this I believe is actually a continuation of the last verses of chapter 9 and a disciple is one that is taught by another. A disciple is one that learns by following or adhering to the works and teachings of another. Here we find Jesus giving the disciples the authority to minister as He did, casting out unclean spirits, healing all types of disease and sickness, the same authority given to us today through the mighty name of Jesus.

Matthew 10:2-4 See also Mark chapter 3, now the names of the apostles are given by Matthew, but first let's look at what an apostle is - the word apostle means "one sent." And apostle is like an ambassador sent to foreign countries to represent the king, the president, etc. One could also say a missionary is liken unto an apostle because the word missionary its self means "one sent." According to Hebrews 3:1 Christ was an apostle also. To be an apostle one must spend time to with the teacher, for the Christian the teacher is Jesus and it is with Jesus that we must spend time. Now some have felt that the phrase, 'the first' signifies a standing of greater importance to Peter and Andrew but most probably it refers simply to the fact that Peter and Andrew were the first called by Christ. Now something we might take note of here also is that in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts the disciples are named and they are also named each time in the same basic order.

Matthew 10:5 Jesus sent forth the disciples instructing them on what to do, where to go and how to go. He told them not to go the way of the Gentiles, any person that was not a Jew was considered a Gentile. The reason they were not yet to go to the Gentiles is because the time was not yet for that to happen. The Gospel must first be preached to the Jews the people of the covenant of God. Later, though, as we know from Scripture Jesus gives them authority to preach to the entire world. And they were not to enter any city of the Samaritans. The Samaritans accepted the books of Moses but did not worship at Jerusalem and were also bitter enemies of the Jews.

Matthew 10:6 Jesus commands them to go the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus was sent to the Jews and so while He was on earth the disciples would also go only to the Jews, the lost souls of God's covenant people.

Matthew 10:7 Jesus tells them that as they go about preaching, teaching, ministering to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus had not yet become King so as John preached, so must they, and it would not be until the day of Pentecost that Christ's kingdom would be set up on earth and in heaven.

Matthew 10:8-10 Christ commissioned them to not only go forth with the Gospel but to also heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons, and this was to show that they truly had the authority of Jesus. And Jesus told them also not to charge for these miracles. This does not mean they were not to receive support for their ministry just that they were not to charge so many measures of silver for cleansing a leper, so many measures of gold for casting out demons, so many measures of copper for raising the dead, etc., Christ freely gave them the power and authority to do these great things and freely they will give. Christ told them to not take with them anything other than what they had on - nothing extra for the worker is worthy of his support. They were travel with very little belongings or money because they could rely on the love of the people to meet their needs along the way and they wouldn't have to ask for it.

Matthew 10:11-13 And into whatever city they entered they were to inquire as to who were Believers in that area and that is where they would stay while there. And they would say unto the house "Peace to this house" which was the common greeting given when one would come into a house and if the house were not worthy than the greeting of peace would be returned back unto the disciples. In other words the blessings that the disciples pronounced upon the house would return unto them. If those in the house receive the Word they will also receive blessings, if they don't the blessings will come to the disciples.

Matthew 10:14 For the Jewish people to shake off the dust from their clothes or feet was to symbolically declare a total banishment of that house or possibly entire city. So for the disciples to do this also meant that the house or even city was not worthy of Christ and they were removing themselves from the house or city and never returning to it for it was unworthy to receive. It was an outward sign of saying the people in that house or city was unholy, impure, and simply full of sin, they were pagans, and a heathenistic people.

Matthew 10:15 Christ says that for that city or house that turns away or is turned away from by the disciples it is worst than what it was for Sodom and Gomorrah. To turn away Christ when He is presented to you in such a manner of reality is opening your self up for the worst possible judgment from God on that last day of judgment. If you keep your self in a life of sin you will be sentenced to eternal hell and damnation, Sodom and Gomorrah were burnt by fire and life ended, at the last day of judgment the sinner will be captured by the waves of hells fire but will not die but endure eternal hell-fire.

Matthew 10:16 Christ says be cautious for I send you out into a land of wolves and ravenous heathens seeking only to hurt, destroy, and kill the Gospel of Christ. Without the power of Christ we are defenseless against the wiles of satan and his forces of evil. And serpents even though represented most often as agents of satan they are also a very cautious creature avoiding danger whenever possible and this is how the Christian, the Believer should be - cautious avoiding all forms and signs of danger. And we should be as innocent as the dove. The dove has always been a symbol of peace and innocence because of its peaceful nature. A dove is not a bird of prey and does not attack or prey on other birds.

Matthew 10:17-20 But we must be cautious and wary of men (they are wolves and tools of satan) because many will come to you as something they are not and when you least expect it they will devour you and bring you before the councils trying you for things you did not do, listening and taking every word you say scrutinizing them for words to use against you. Be cautious as to how you speak making sure that your testimony is of God and Christ only, not of self, and do not worry about what to say should you be brought before the council for God will supply you with the words you need at the time you need them. Until that time remain in the council and do not speak nor become anxious for when your words begin it will not be you speaking but instead the Spirit of the Father God in you.

Matthew 10:21 Jesus now tells of horrors to come where brother will deliver up their own brother unto death. Family members will turn against one another because of Christ. Their own family will put many that believe in Christ to death because of their belief even at times.

Matthew 10:22 And the hatred that will come to you because of the name of Christ will be great. Christ even says that a Believer will be hated of all men for His name's sake. The word "all" is used in a general manner meaning that most will not receive the Word of Christ. We as Believers will have friends but they will be few and far between. The hatred expressed towards the Believer is not because of the Believer, but because of what the Believer stands for - the Gospel and acceptance of Christ! And for every Believer that endures to the end eternal life will be theirs.

Matthew 10:23 Now Jesus says that when you receive persecution in a city leave that city for another one and continue to proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus tells them to not go into the areas where they know they will receive great resistance but instead go into those areas where there will be followers and friends. The phrase saying that they will not have gone through all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes is a bit puzzling but can be interpreted to mean that they were not to preach that the kingdom of Christ had already come but that it was to come. And it could also be interpreted to mean that not all cities will be gone completely through before the kingdom of Christ is established or until Christ goes to be with the Father. And we know both of these statements to be true. Neither has the kingdom came nor did all cities of Israel receive Word of Christ before Christ established His throne in heaven with the Father after crucifixion.

Matthew 10:24-25 Jesus says we cannot expect to be treated greater than He, but we should be prepared to be treated just as He! In Luke 6:40 Jesus says something very similar which helps to give meaning to this passage. Any one that learns from their teacher will be as their teacher. And if the teacher is treated well the student will be treated well, if the teacher is treated badly the students can expect the same. As disciples of Christ we should not expect a life greater than His or without certain difficulties. In other words Jesus is warning us that the Christian life will not be easy.

Matthew 10:26-28 We are told that nothing will be hidden, all things that are thought to be hidden will be found out and all that is taught to us by Christ we should proudly proclaim from the rooftops. And Christ says to not be afraid of them that might attempt to destroy us by death, because it is not the body that is important but instead the soul! And we should fear (revere) the one that created not just our body but also our soul - GOD! It is man that can kill this body, but it is God that can condemn our soul to eternal hell.

Matthew 10:29-31 But if we are in God and He in us and our mind is set on Him and the things of Christ than how much more would God take care of us His children. He even knows the number of hairs on our head. And He takes care of even the smallest and least valuable birds - even they are under His divine care. The value of the sparrow is minute but God sees the fall of even one sparrow, and so how much more would He see our every need and hurt.

Matthew 10:32-33 These next two verses are very simple yet very profound! The content of these scriptures is so very important for us to grasp. Jesus is saying that Jesus will confess any person that confesses HIM before man before the Father! In other words if you are not ashamed, or afraid to tell others that you stand for Christ, Christ will tell the Father of you! But anyone that denies Christ, Christ will deny them before the Father. It's very simple, but yet it's something the majority of us don't want to think about it. We don't want to think about it because of its simplicity - Claim Christ as your own before man or be disowned before the Father! If some one at work says, "hey I heard you were one of those Christians!" Your response should be, "no, not just one of those Christians, but a proud Christian, in love with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!" Jesus makes it very clear, if you claim Him in private, than you must claim Him in public.

Matthew 10:34-36 Christ says that He did not come to bring peace to the earth but to conquer peace by doing away with the evil that is in the earth. Peace is already in place but is hindered and blocked by the evils of this world. Every time the Word of God is preached or taught evil arises and tries to stifle it, hide it, block it, hinder it, discolor it, and dishonor it. Before peace can truly be found evil must be removed. Christ forewarns that even though His coming was to secure peace and eternal joy, because of the total opposition of peace to evil great waves of evil would come forth causing harm, bloodshed, and even death to those proclaiming peace. And Christ says that He comes forth with a sword, not the sword we commonly think of though, but instead the Sword of the Spirit. And Jesus says also that in His coming church will come against church, brother against brother, father against son, daughter against mother, one will accept the Gospel one will not. If you look at history you will see that families stand together through basically every single hardship, argument, politics, etc., until it comes to religion and than individual members pit against one another. There are many testimonies of Christian men and women telling of how they accepted the Lord and were banished from their family because of their stand for Christ.

Matthew 10:37 Here Christ is not telling us to love our parents any less, but simply that we should love Christ more than we love anyone or anything else. Christ should be the first and foremost thing in our life.

Matthew 10:38 And here Christ requires us to carry the same load He carried even if it means unto the cross. In other words our love for Christ should be one that would give up our life for His. If we are not willing to give up our life for Christ than we would not be worthy of receiving the blessings of Christ.

Matthew 10:39-40 Jesus is saying here that for those of us that continually seek after things in life, even though we seem to find them we are losing unless Christ is first and foremost in our life. Most of the time when we seek after things it is for our own self-glory and it should be for the glorification of God. No matter how much we think we have -- if we have forsaken Christ we have nothing! Jesus is giving the apostles some thing to look forward to in saying that for those that have accepted Him, received Him, or found Him, and lost their life because of Him, will find life in Him. In the natural we can take pills, medicines, exercise, and do all things possible to extend life, but if we do not find Christ during that time, we might extend our life on earth but we will lose our soul, but if we find Christ and lose our life because of it, we will have saved our soul and it is the soul that counts! When you give the Gospel of Christ to others you are giving them Christ and if they receive Christ through the Word they are virtually receiving Christ and all He represents!

Matthew 10:41-42 A prophet is a person appointed by divine powers to deliver God’s messages to the people. And things done in the name of prophet or righteous person are done because of the peoples love for the person (2nd Kings 4) and those doing this will receive the prophet’s or righteous person’s reward (John 3:4-8) what a blessing this is to those that are not prophets or righteous. And Christ goes on to say that for those bestowing kindness to “Little ones;” meaning not just children but anyone lesser than another or weaker than another in the name of Jesus, meaning it comes from the Lord, that person will receive the blessing of the Lord. Now, many interpret this passage to also mean salvation, but salvation does not come from good works, salvation is through grace by the person receiving Christ as personal savior and believing in Him as the crucified and resurrected Son of God! Salvation is a Gift of God through Christ by Grace (Isaiah 45:21-22; 59:16; John 3:16; 4:10; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:15; 6:23; 8:32; 2nd Corinthians 9:15; Ephesians 2:5-8 2nd Timothy 1:9; and Titus 2:11).

Father, help each one of us that claim to be Your disciples to take up things belonging to a disciple such as fighting the fight of faith, confessing and professing the Gospel of Your son, taking up our cross and following in His steps daily going forth with Him at our lead even though it may cause suffering even to the point of losing our life, Father give us the strength and boldness to be worthy soldiers for You! Father, it is because of you that we exist today, let the eyes be opened to see this reality in Jesus name amen.
Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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