February 1, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Matthew? Here’s today’s reading:
Matthew 10 (NIV)
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness............Continue Reading
I imagine how excited and yet afraid they must have been. And how comforting to not have to worry if they need to defend themselves, that the Holy Spirit will ‘do the talking’.
26 seems very applicable and comforting related to our nations predicament right now.
Jesus is sending out His disciples to continue the work He has started. His disciples are an eclectic group of individuals but no one of particular importance furthering the humble works of Jesus.
He definitely prepares them for what they will do and what they will teach. He also warns them of the danger they will face and reminds them they will not fight back but rather be gentle as a dove so they need to stay one step ahead. He also tells them that this work will come with no monetary reward and they will just be provided for by the houses that welcome them and not all will.
I love that He finishes this chapter reminding us all that standing up for Jesus will not always bring peace to our lives and many times bring disputes even among your own family but God wants NO ONE before Him. He comes first!
I like what Kelly said….just what I was thinking!
Jesus sends out the 12 and tells them what to expect, and what He expects of them. Jesus didn’t promise us a life of peace and ease as believers. This chapter is about preaching the gospel and facing the consequences….which will come. Once again Christ raises the expectation of commitment and reliance on Him.
At this point, His message is specific to the Jews, will they accept Him? They won’t. Their treatment in the synagogues and before the governors will be a witness to the Gentiles. The persecution will go as far as their very own homes. Even so, He knows. He is paying attention to every situation they face.
It is just like Jesus to prepare His apostles for what they will face before they are sent and because He includes in His warnings things they would not face on this mission, He has in mind future evangelistic efforts and future generations of believers as well. It is also neat that He gives them the ability to perform miracles. This would reenforce the things they preached as well as clearly align them with Jesus. After assuring them of how their physical needs will be addressed, He primarily warns them about the opposition they will face. He describes the nature of the opposition, the breadth of it and the reason for it. The world will hate them/us because they hated Jesus. But they and we are to be undaunted. We are to recognize the value and necessity of what we proclaim as well as not being afraid of people who can do so little to us. What we should be afraid of is God who will send people to hell without Jesus. We also are emboldened in our witness because of our tremendous value to God and the rewards we will receive for faithfulness.
Because as wonderful as Jesus is, His message will divide people. Therefore we can’t put anyone before Him because we could then be put in the position to choose between Jesus and someone else…and the choice is clear……
7 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.