Matthew 10

S - Matthew 10
O -
So I discussed this chapter with dad after I read it because I found it quite difficult to understand.

Jesus's twelve disciples
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.


and the purpose was to
6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'


The first question I had was about this verse
15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
I have heard about the cities Sodom and Gomorrah before but can't exactly remember the story behind them. So I was reading into Genesis 18-19 for background.


16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 
Jesus uses some animal imagery here haha. Sheep among wolves - as though it is natural for the people of Israel to "prey on" the disciples and their preaching the gospel. Also, to be shrewd (having sharp judgement) but be innocent (i suppose, not to be influenced by sinful ways).


This verse was quite encouraging
19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
It is synonymous with parts of Romans 8. It is a relief that the Spirit can act for us in times of strife, as long as we choose to live by the Spirit.


21"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 
This verse was also discussed - it would refer to how Jesus would have to be put first before brother, father or children.


23 ...I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
This is pretty astounding...that the disciples probably won't get through the whole of Israel before Jesus's death and resurrection. So the Gentiles and Samaritans won't have heard the gospel until Jesus died (Great Commission)


25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub,how much more the members of his household! 
I also wasn't too sure about Beelzebub - He's the prince of demons. If the head of the house is the devil, the members will be like him.


28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 
Another verse - The One - referring to God. He is the judge and the wages of sin is death.


29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 
I was a little confused with this at first, but it is actually part of a recurring motif that Jesus speaks of. If God looks out for the sparrows that don't seem to be worth much (a penny for two), yet he knows the number of hairs on your head, God will certainly not let you fall. These rhetorical questions make you realize that your worries or doubts in God are pointless because he will never fail us. Jesus remembers to frequently reassure us with this through his teachings so far in Matthew.


"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
Jesus states the terms in black and white here. If we choose to recognize and have a public relationship with him, he will acknowledge us before God. This would be one reason to be baptised - as a public declaration of our belief in God.


34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.35 For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- 36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 
Then there's this part about how Jesus has to be the priority before our family. God is jealous and he wants us to seek him first before anybody or anything.


39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 
It is only in God that we find our lives; he is the purpose of our lives. Those without God wouldn't truly have a purpose to their lives.


Another part I was confused about
40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
I remember the notes in the study bible saying that those times were times of persecution for Christians and that it was dangerous for people to be receiving the disciples and showing them hospitality. For them to receive the disciples would be to receive God. If they receive a prophet or righteous man, they would receive their due reward, but if they receive Jesus' disciple, the reward would be eternal, just as they received God.


A/P - be clear about our priorities in life. Spread the gospel and make disciples. Evangelism doesn't have to be on mission work out of the country. Here the disciples were spreading the gospel to the Israelites - people around them.