Matthew 10 - Not So Good News


Matthew 10:16 (ESV)
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Matthew 10 is a difficult chapter to read. At the end of chapter 9 Jesus said that the harvest is white but the workers are few. In chapter 10 Jesus sends his twelve apostles out to preach, heal, and cast out demons. One would expect that the crowds will surge around them as it has around Jesus. But that is not what Jesus says. He says that there will be rejection, opposition, and persecution. Families will divide. Enemies will reject and attack.

That is not what the disciples expected to hear. Jesus says, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master” (Mt 10:24-25a). If he had stopped there the disciples might have expected a large following like Jesus had. They might have forgotten the opposition of the Pharisees. But Jesus didn’t stop there. He went on, “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household” (Mt 10:25b). Jesus had just been accused of casting out demons by the prince of demons (Mt 9:34). Could the disciples expect any less?

Following Jesus will not be a cakewalk. Following Jesus may involve rejection and even vehement opposition with violence and lies. What is Jesus’ instruction? “So have no fear of them” (Mt 10:26). When our minds are set on things of this earth we have fear. When our comfort, peace, and prosperity is our primary goal we will have fear. When our primary objective is the “good life,” then fear will infiltrate our minds and hearts. Jesus said, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Mt 10:34). He doesn’t mean that he wants us to go to war. He means that his message will divide people sharply, yet we should not live in fear.

How can we possibly avoid living in fear when lies are told about us, false accusations are made, and our very lives are threatened? Three truths must be kept before us at all times. First, the job is not done. We have a higher calling than safety and prosperity. The disciples were told that their job would not be finished “before the Son of Man comes” (Mt 10:23). Our job is not yet done. Stay focused on why we are here. Second, God is watching over us. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Mt 10:29-31). Nothing escapes God’s notice. We are of value to him and he is watching over us. Third, people will respond to our message and God will reward those who are kind to us. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me” (Mt 10:40). Our work is not in vain.

Jesus’ warning was not what his disciples expected. There is much more in this chapter, but this truth is clear: We can be certain that there will be opposition to our message and our faith, yet we are called to live in His peace, not the world’s fear. We are to be faithful to our calling. The harvest is white. The laborers are few. The work will be difficult, but nothing escapes God’s notice. So let us stop looking down at our own peace and prosperity and take Jesus’ advice to look up and see that the harvest is plentiful. Let us then pray (Mt 9:37-38), trust (Mt 10:26-33), and get on with the work (Mt 10:16).

Comments