Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: The Master s Plan (Matthew 10:16-25) Sermon Series: Portrait of a Follower

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1 Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: The Master s Plan (Matthew 10:16-25) Sermon Series: Portrait of a Follower SERMON SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY Question: Why does t he Lord make disciples? Disciples are sent ones, on a mission. (Specific purpose.) Walk with me. Walk for me. Walk like me. About the mission To bear witness; as God s communicators, enduring to the end. Note: Being a disciple is a lifelong assignment. LET S REVIEW 1. What are 1 or 2 key truths you take away from this sermon? What motivates you each day? Pastor Garry mentioned our lives and circumstances are not accidental. What passage did Pastor G make reference to in talking about this? Check out Matthew 10:29. What is the reason Jesus gives to the disciples for them to be fearless? Page 1 of 7

2 DIGGING DEEPER 1. Setting context. Read Matthew chapter 10. a. What is a marked difference between verses 5 to 10; and verses 16 to 25? In verses 5 to 10, Jesus is speaking about the immediate future; the disciple s first short-term mission if you will; in verses 16 to 25 Jesus is zooming out; and speaking about the long-term assignment for disciples. In the short-term, the disciples were to focus specifically on the Jews of Israel; and to especially avoid the Gentiles and places where they live. However, in the long-term Jesus says, disciples will be witnesses also to the Gentiles. Paul makes reference to this overarching plan in Romans 1:16. b. Luke 10:1-20 appears to be a parallel account to Matthew 10. Is this a parallel to Matthew 10:5-10; and/or v. 16 to 25? Why? Luke s passage is most likely a parallel to Matthew 10:5-10, however, it does not include Matthew 10: In Luke s passage the 72 go out and then return, which is what I have described as a short-term mission. However, in our primary text, Matthew 10:16-25 Jesus describes a great deal of persecution, including disciples being dragged off hither and yawn; flogged in synagogues; and so on. Many of these sorts of events have been recounted in the book of Acts Acts records times in which early church leaders were first called before Jewish officials of the national council (Acts 4:1-22; 5:17; 7:12), later before the ruling authorities in Israel (12:1-4; 21:27-23:11), and finally before the rulers of the Roman world (14:5; 16:19-34; 17:1-9; 18:12-17; 23:24-26:32; 28:17-31) NIV Application Commentator, Michael J. Wilkins When the 72 returned from their short-term mission trip, there was no mention of these experiences, nor are there any written accounts of these sorts of events prior to Jesus resurrection. 2. Page 2 of 7

3 Understanding persecution and the principle of righteousness a. Read Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Peter 2:12; 3: In light of these passages, how are we to understand persecution and maligning disciples? Disciples are not to look for persecution. In our primary text the Lord says disciples should flee to another city when the hostility becomes too great. However, He does mention it is an indicator disciples are on the right track so to speak. Nevertheless in the above passages, we see the disciples conduct must always be good, wholesome, and kind. Persecution comes not because of seeking to cause a disturbance or be difficult. On the contrary, disciples are to seek to live at peace with others, however, in walking for and like Jesus, persecution will naturally fall upon the follower. 3. Understanding the Mission and the Master a. John 1:29-36; 3:17; 8:18; and Isaiah 53:7. Note 3 similarities between Jesus actions & what He is asking of His disciples. In these passages (and many others) we see Jesus is The Sent One; so it is natural His disciples are sent ones; Jesus is described as The Lamb. There are at least 28 occurrences of the word lamb in the book of Revelation. As Jesus comes in vulnerability amidst fierceness, so to His followers. We also see in the above text Jesus bears witness. IN MY LIFE 1. How does this description of a disciple effect, change, or alter your view of being a follower of Jesus? Can you list some reasons or things which motivate you in your day? Do you have a sense of purpose in life beyond the obvious? Having an answer to why and helping train others in discovering this is vital for disciples of Jesus. 2. What are some challenges you can imagine with being a disciple on a mission? How will this change the way you live? Sometimes you might just feel tired; the difficulties might be too much; the stress; keeping up, keeping going amidst what feels like resistance; or when there seems to be no positive response. 3. Daily prayer: Lord help me to see others the way you do. Help me notice the opportunities you have prepared for me. Lord, remind me I am on a mission. Memory verses: Matthew 10:29-31 Page 3 of 7

4 Text Study (Here are various Bible translations of the passage.) English Standard New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update The New International The New Revised Standard The Message 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 Father speaking through you. 16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20 For it is not you who speak, but it is Father who speaks in you. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 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 Father speaking through you. 16 See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20 for it is not you who speak, but Father speaking through you. 16 Stay alert. This is hazardous work I m assigning you. You re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. 17 Don t be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation just because you believe in me. 18 Don t be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they ve done you and me a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! 19 And don t worry about what you ll say or how you ll say it. The right words will be there; 20 the Spirit of your Father will supply the words. 21 Brother will 21 Brother will 21 Brother will 21 Brother will 21 When people Page 4 of 7

5 English Standard New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update The New International The New Revised Standard The Message deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. 22 and you will be hated by all for my name s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 22 You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 22 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 22 There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don t quit. Don t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. 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. 23 But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 23 It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived. 24 A disciple is not above his servant above his master. 24 A disciple is not above his slave above his master. 24 A student is not above his servant above his master. 24 A disciple is not above the slave above the master; 24 A student doesn t get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer doesn t make more money than his boss. 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. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! 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! 25 it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! 25 Be content pleased, even when you, my students, my harvest hands, get the same treatment I get. If they call me, the Master, Dungface, what can the workers expect? Page 5 of 7

6 Word Study Send: to cause someone to depart for a particular purpose to send. i ; implying for a particular purpose; To send off, forth, out. Distinguished from pémpō (3992), to send, in that apostéllō is to send forth on a certain mission such as to preach (Mark 3:14; Luke 9:2); speak (Luke 1:19); bless (Acts 3:26); rule, redeem, propitiate (Acts 7:35; 1 John 4:10); save (1 John 4:14). The expression that Jesus was sent by God (John 3:34) denotes the mission which He had to fulfill and the authority which backed Him. The importance of this mission is denoted by the fact that God sent His own Son. In the NT, to send forth from one place to another, to send upon some business or employment (Matt. 2:16; 10:5; 20:2); to send away, dismiss (Mark 12:3, 4); to send or thrust forth as a sickle among corn (Mark 4:29). ii Sheep: one in God or Christ s care and possession, formally, a sheep iii ; a figurative extension of meaning of πρόβατον a sheep, 4.22) a follower of Christ, with the implication of needing care and guidance a person who is like a sheep. iv Wolf: fierce person, the figurative extension of the prior entry v ; a person who is particularly vicious and dangerous vicious person, fierce wolf, fierce person. vi Wise: wise, having the capacity to understand, often in the daily things of life, hence, shrewd vii Innocent: pure, innocent, formally, unmixed; pertaining to being without a mixture of evil and hence to being pure pure, untainted. viii Beware: be alert for, watch out, be on guard, beware; to be in a continuous state of readiness to learn of any future danger, need, or error, and to respond appropriately to pay attention to, to keep on the lookout for, to be alert for, to be on one s guard against. ix Flog: beat with a whip, flog, scourge Anxious: be anxious about, worry, have anxiety, be concerned x ; to have an anxious concern, based on apprehension about possible danger or misfortune to be worried about, to be anxious about. xi Endure: resist, stand firm by holding one s ground Enough: Sufficient; pertaining to what is sufficient for some purpose and accordingly resulting in satisfaction xii ; This verb indicates that to be personally content is helpful to others, and furthermore, when one helps others he senses his own sufficiency. xiii Page 6 of 7

7 Be (v. 16): be, possess a certain characteristic; to possess certain characteristics, with the implication of their having been acquired to be. xiv Above: above, a marker of status; To be like (v. 25): With a particle of manner (Matt. 10:25, so that he become as his teachers xv Endnotes i Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (1:190). New York: United Bible societies. NT (New Testament) ii Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G649). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers. iii Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.) (DBLG 4585, #2). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc. iv Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). v Swanson, J. (1997). vi Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). vii Swanson, J. (1997). viii Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). ix Ibid. x Swanson, J. (1997). xi Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). xii Ibid. xiii Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). xiv Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). xv Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). Page 7 of 7