Matthew Matthew 10:24-33 The Disciples Job Description ~ Part 3 T he following is from The Journal Chretien: Saturday, April 19, 2008, by Gospel for Asia We will burn you like Graham Staines Two young women from a Gospel for Asia Bible college were chased and threatened by 70 anti- Christian extremists after conducting a worship service in Orissa, India. Chunile Wyn and Preeja Sushan are student missionaries serving their internship in Orissa. On Sunday, the extremists entered the building where the women were worshipping with 15 other believers. The radicals carried sticks and stones, but all the Christians escaped the church unharmed. However, Chunile and Preeja were still in the building, and the anti-christians surrounded them and shouted threats. We will burn you alive like Graham Staines and his children! they shouted at the women. Graham Staines, an Australian missionary in Orissa, was burned to death in 1999. Religious extremists set fire to the vehicle Staines and his two young sons were sleeping in, killing them all. The extremists eventually let the women out of the church, but then chased them through the streets until the girls found a phone booth. Chunile and Preeja called their Bible college, and a pastor came to protect them. By the time he arrived, the extremist crowd had dispersed, leaving only threats that the women must never come back to their village. Chunile and Preeja request prayer that they can continue their internship without fear. They also ask for prayer that the anti-christians will realize Christ s love for them and stop hindering the Gospel. Also lift up the district pastor in this area, that he will be able to stand strong and encourage the local believers. Assist News Service 1 On the night of January 22, 1999, Graham Staines had attended a jungle camp, an annual gathering of Christians of the area to strengthen fellowship and for teaching. In the night he was sleeping in his station wagon when it was set afire by a mob. Graham and his two minor sons were burnt alive. 2 There is a cost to being identified with Christ. We began discussing this last time. In this session we will see Christ lets His disciples know to expect discrimination at best and persecution at worst. While this is a subject we find uncomfortable, the biblical expectation is that we understand these truths as a promise of blessing, one that may come in different forms. VII The Extension of the Kingdom 8:1-10:42 C. Second Discourse: The Apostolic Mission 10:5-42 1. Long-Term Mission Verses 24-33 a. Identified with Christ Verses 24-25 b. Courage from Christ Verses 26-31 c. Testifying for Christ Verses 32-33 Introduction: In Chapter 10 we have seen Jesus delegate His disciples to move from being just recipients of Jesus teaching to the dissemination of the kingdom gospel. For those disci- 1 http://www.journalchretien.net/spip.php?breve11799 2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/graham_staines
ples who walked with Him this meant a short-term mission. They were given an urgent mission, to spread the word to the people of Israel. They were not to go to the Gentile, nor the Samaritan. But Jesus didn t limit His focus to this short-term mission. Jesus expanded His concerns to a long-term mission. As we saw last time the injunctions and warnings can be understood as applying to the early church, at Pentecost and beyond. They can be applicable to the church from Pentecost to today. They can be applicable to disciples even in the Tribulation period. The point is, we are called to be disciples. We are called to be identified with Christ. And as a natural consequence believers are persecuted by religions, by governments, and even by members of their own families. Verses 24-25: Do we have to face these tests? the disciple may ask. And at different times in history, amongst different cultures and peoples, the answer may be, Not always. But keep in mind, even the founders of this nation fled Britain because of religious persecution and a desire for religious freedom. So the point here isn t that every believer in every age will be persecuted, but every believer shouldn t be surprised if persecution comes. And here Jesus explains why. The latter part of verse 25 seems to come out of nowhere, but more on that in a moment. What it comes down to is, if Jesus was persecuted, tried, and executed, why should His followers expect any less? Consider what John records: Remember the words I spoke to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also (John 15:20). Here Jesus notes there are two sides to being identified with Him. For those who reject Him, His followers will also be rejected. But for those who desire to follow Him, they will be willing to follow those who speak for Him and are called by Him to lead His sheep. A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40). I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him (John 13:16). So the warning again is, don t be caught off guard if your efforts to spread the gospel are not only rejected, but are treated with a level of hostility that seems to be unwarranted. Anti- Christianity isn t just about the rebellion of humanity, but it is also about the rebellion of Satan and His followers and their desire to somehow interfere with God s will. This in spite of the fact they know they will fail. Which brings us to the last part of verse 25. Jesus has been taking about the identification of followers with their master and the resultant sharing of His persecution. Then comes this statement regarding His being called Beelzebub. What s this all about? First, the word Beelzebub means Lord of the Flies. The NIV Bible Dictionary states: ) 356 (
BAAL-ZEBUB (Heb. baal zevuv, Baal, or lord of flies). The name under which Baal was worshiped by the Philistines of Ekron (2 Kings 1:2, 3, 6, 16). Elijah rebuked Ahaziah for consulting this god to find out whether he would recover from his illness. This is almost certainly the same name as Baalzebub, or Beelzebul in the Greek text. Beelzebub is the prince of the demons (Matt 10:25; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18-19), and is identified with Satan (Matt 12:26; Mark 3:23; Luke 11:18). 3 Thinking back to 9:34, this is the one the religious leaders identified with Christ when accusing Him of working miracles by demonic power. So why is his name brought up here? Carson explains: Beelzeboul is recognized in the NT as the prince of the demons and identified with Satan (12:24-27; Mark 3:22-26, Luke 11:18-19). Thus the real head of the house, Jesus, who heads the household of God, is being willfully confused with the head of the house of demons. The charge is shockingly vile the Messiah himself rejected as Satan! If so, why should his disciples expect less? This verse has not been constructed by the evangelist out of bits from 12:22-32, as if the charge were leveled at Jesus only the once. On the contrary, 9:34 suggests that it was a frequent slur. 4 But the Pharisees said, It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons. But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges (Matthew 9:34, 12:24-27). Of course there is a negative flip side to all of this. When those claiming the name of Christ behave in ways that are contrary to scripture, they bring disrepute on His name. Have you seen any examples of both sides of the story, believers suffering because they re believers, or individuals bringing disrepute on Christ s name by their identification with Him? Verses 26-31: Not surprisingly, Jesus knows what they and we may be thinking. This is scary stuff. So what does Jesus say? Don t be afraid. Yea, sure! Don t be afraid of those who are the persecutors. Yea, sure! Okay, it s easy to say don t be afraid. But Jesus is really telling the disciples how to handle their fear. What is important here is giving God s Word to a fallen world. While the message of salvation was hidden, it will be progressively revealed until that day when it will be fully revealed. This will occur at the time of Christ s return. But even today the message of salvation is revealed to those who are willing to let the Spirit bring understanding and acceptance. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God (1 Corinthians 4:5). Don t be afraid because we don t have to fear death at the hands of the persecutor, not because they can t kill us, but because physical death sends us home to be with the Father. It is 3 Douglas, J. D. and Merrill C. Tenney, editors, NIV Bible Dictionary, The Zondervan Corporation, 1989. 4 Carson, D. A., The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Matthew, Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids, MI, 1990. ) 357 (
God whom we need to fear. God is the only one who has any power of import. This warning here isn t that if we fail God He will send us to hell. The point is since we are God s we have nothing to fear from men. Don t be afraid the third reason is because of perspective. God is in control. God loves us. God doesn t make mistakes. He watches over all of His creation, so how much more will He watch over His own children. This isn t about feelings. It is about truth. Where do you get your security? Where do you get your worth? I m not asking about theological truth, I m asking about on a practical day-to-day basis. Be honest with yourself. And finally, keep in mind the answer isn t always the same from minute to minute, hour to hour, or day to day. Stonehouse notes: Verses 32-33: It is interesting that Jesus talks about standing for Him or denying Him before the acts of both Peter and Judas. And since we know that Peter denied Him but at the same time we know he was forgiven and served Him, then this passage can t be talking about an act as much as a heart condition as the pattern of one s life. The christological implications of Jesus words are unavoidable. Jesus makes the entire position of men in the world to come, whether for weal or woe, to depend upon their relationship to and attitude toward him in this present world. Is this a claim which any mere man might have made? Do we not encounter here essentially the exclusiveness of Acts 4:12? (Stonehouse, Origins, p. 190). 5 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Remember the entire context here is the commission to the disciples of the day to go out to Israel and spread the kingdom gospel, to the disciples of today and tomorrow to spread the gospel of salvation. And while this call can be costly, we are not to be fearful because God is the one who is sending us out. And the message we have is the one and only truth which can bring people out of the pit to eternal life. Therefore we must be able to say I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17). Conclusion: And so the Christian life is one of perspective, a perspective that is upward and then outward, not one that is self absorbed or fearful. Wiersbie summarizes this whole section by stating: While the truths in this section would apply to God s servants during any period of Bible history, they seem to have a special significance for the church today. The emphasis is, Fear not! (Matt. 10:26, 28, 31) The particular fear Christ discussed is explained in Matthew 10:32-33 : the fear of confessing Christ openly before men. God has no secret service. The public confession of faith in Christ is one evidence of true salvation (Rom. 10:9-10). Several reasons show why we must not be afraid to openly confess Christ. Let s examine these reasons that are found in Matthew 10. 6 5 Ibid. 6 Wiersbe, Warren, W., Be Loyal-Matthew Victor Books, Colorado Springs, CO, 1989. ) 358 (
That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Romans 10:9-10). Wilson puts it this way: Confidence from God means a new perspective on life s problems. Jesus said that God is aware of everything that happens even to sparrows, and you are far more valuable to him than they are. You are so valuable that God sent his only Son to die for you (John 3:16). Because God places such value on you, you need never fear personal threats or difficult trials. These can t shake God s love or dislodge his Spirit from within you. But this doesn t mean that God will take away all your troubles (see Matthew 10:16). The real test of value is how well something holds up under the wear, tear, and abuse of everyday life. Those who stand up for Christ in spite of their troubles truly have lasting value and will receive great rewards (see Matthew 5:11-12). We have to fight to find this perspective because Satan wants to keep us ineffectual and defeated. The world wants to drag us down. And we are also dragging around the old flesh. Paul was constantly dealing with this truth. We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members (Romans 7:14-23). And when we focus on this truth we can say with Paul: What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24) But praise the Lord we can also say: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit (Romans 7:25-8:4). So through faith in God, dependency on the shed blood of Christ, the filling of the Spirit, and the Truth of His Word, we can advance the Gospel without fear, looking forward to that day ) 359 (
when we will see Christ. And so we advance the gospel giving the truth to the lost, that they are lost without hope if they are without Christ. Following Christ. Matthew, look up; you are called! City man, you are called! Partner, you are called! Cashier, you are called! Don t you hear? Called! Answer to the call. Business men, Christ walks into business, and calls men by His grace while sitting at the seat of custom. He is instant in season, and out of season. Now, the 28 th verse: And Matthew left all, rose up, and followed Him. My hearers, I have told you often from this pulpit unless God had spoken in this Book I had no message to men. My whole stock-intrade is just to repeat what He has said. Look at it. And he left all, rose up, and followed Jesus. If that entry has not been made in your spiritual biography and diary, your life has not been worth living up till now. I dare to repeat it, and look into your face. With all your abilities, your years, honors, successes, unless that red-letter entry can be put beside your name, your life is a wretched failure up to now. He left all, rose up, and followed Christ. Then he began to live; never till then. The life received meaning and purpose. ~ McNEILL. ) 360 (
Matthew Matthew 10:24-33 The Disciples Job Description ~ Part 3 VII The Extension of the Kingdom 8:1-10:42 C. Second Discourse: The Apostolic Mission 10:5-42 1. Long-Term Mission Verses 24-33 a. Identified with Christ Verses 24-25 b. Courage from Christ Verses 26-31 c. Testifying for Christ Verses 32-33 Introduction: Verses 24-25: (John 15:20; Luke 6:40; John 13:16; Matthew 9:34, 12:24-27)
Verses 26-31: (1 Corinthians 4:5) Verses 32-33: (Acts 4:12; Romans 1:16-17) Conclusion: (Romans 10:9-10, 7:14-23, 7:25-8:4) Personal Application: Where do you get your security? Your worth? Be honest with yourself. Finally, keep in mind the answer isn t always the same from minute to minute, hour to hour, or day to day. This week meditate on God as the only source of security. Prayer for the Week: Lord, search my heart, showing me where I put my trust. Help me to make sure that I live in the reality that my trust must only be in You. In Christ s name, amen.