Matthew 10

Written on 05/09/2024

Verses 1-8

  • Jesus gave power and authority to His twelve disciples to heal all kinds of sicknesses. This means that He gave them the ability and the permission to heal. 

    • This applies to us in that we also have the ability to heal (Mark 16:17-18). 

      • Jesus commanded the twelve disciples to teach us to do the same works (Matthew 28:20).

    • But remember that God determines the timing—when He grants a healing or miracle (Acts 14:3, Hebrews 2:4, 1 Corinthians 12:11).

 

Verses 9-11

  • This passage's primary application is for the apostles, who, in certain seasons, gave all of their time to preaching the gospel, and they needed to trust that the households they converted to Christ would help to give them food and water when they needed it (1 Corinthians 9:3-14, 1 Timothy 5:17-18).

    • For us, this simply means to trust that God will take of care of you. Do work, but don't put your trust in your money.

    • Also understand that when you help people, they will also want to help you. Serving others with the gospel will bring you support in times of need.

 

Verses 12-15

  • When you share Christ with others, try to get to know their family also. Desire to win whole households to Christ. Be kind and generous to the family. 

    • If your message isn't received, after showing your kindness, you will have to move on.

 

Verses 16-20

  • The world will be harsh. So, be loving to others, but also be logical and wise in your actions, to avoid death whenever possible 

    • (Paul did this [see teaching on Acts 23]).

  • When you gain opportunities to speak to people, trust that God will give you the right words.

    • Growing in hearing from the Spirit will help this. 

 

Verses 21-31, 34-39

  • Believers will be hated more and more, and they will even be harmed by their own families. If Jesus was hated, we will be too (John 15:18-21).

    • So, don't love your biological family more than Christ. Be willing to lose anything to follow Him.

  • Persecution will come. Again, avoid physical death whenever possible. Escape persecution the best you know how.

  • And don't be afraid of people that want to kill you. Physical death is nothing. Going to hell (which is spiritual death) is what's serious. That's why you need to fear God and not man.

    • As a believer, because you fear God, you are saved from spiritual death, so there's no need to fear man or physical death.

  • Understand that your life is extremely valuable to God. If the life of a bird is in God's hands, yours certainly is too. God will protect you as long as He must.

 

Verse 27

  • Two things are revealed here.

    • To communicate to the world effectively, it's important to pray behind closed doors (Matthew 6:6), even in the dark, and quietly listen for the voice of the Spirit. We should share what we hear from the Spirit!

      • Sitting in the dark, to shut off the sense of sight, helps one, for a time, to hear better. 

      • For your prayer time, rise early in the morning, when your body is most rested, and sit still in the dark with ear plugs in. Try to quiet any anxious thoughts and simply listen for the voice of the Spirit. Do this daily and you will learn to hear more!

    • Secondly, we must communicate the message of the kingdom urgently, so that as many people as possible with hear it! This is what is meant by preaching from the housetops.

 

*Sum it up, the key to not fearing death or persecutors, and staying bold in your faith, is:

  1. Be willing to lose anything, including family, for Jesus.

  2. Keep your fear of God!

  • Keep this in mind: At the beginning, fear of God's wrath in hell is important. But as you mature, understand that your fear should be the fear of God being without God, or of being without love (God is love). Do everything because you love to be with God and walk in His love!

 

Verses 32-33

  • If you fear God and do not fear man, be bold to profess your faith in Jesus no matter who you're around.

    • But if you do fear man, you'll be afraid to be bold about your faith. This fear, if left unchecked, will grow and could cause you to deny Christ. Don't let fear continue!

 

Verses 40-42

  • Honor believers for who they are! Honor them as you would honor Christ.

    • God will reward us in the kingdom of we honor His people and treat them well.

  • Don't neglect even little acts of love and compassion. These are important and also will be rewarded by God.