Monthly Archive for August, 2008

Matthew 10:40f

Published on August 22, 2008 in Matthew. 0 Comments
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40“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
 
Jesus closed His second sermon (the Mission Discourse) with this section (10:40-42), which deals with reward for those who treat the apostles with hospitality. Not all will reject them as apostles.
 
Jesus gave three equivalent ways that people can receive/welcome His apostles:
 
·         As a prophet in the name of a prophet
·         As a devout person in the name of a devout person
·         As little ones in the name of a disciple
 
10:40
 
“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
 
There is a close correlation between Christ and His apostles. Receiving a messenger of Christ is equal to receiving Christ Himself. The word “receives” is literally welcomes. This may allude to providing hospitality for travelers. Receiving Christ is equal to receiving the Father. It was the Father who sent out the first missionary—Jesus Himself.
 
10:41
 
He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward.
 
The overriding issue in chapter 10 has to do with Jesus launching His mission to Israel. Here He asserted that those who turn positive volition to that mission will receive a prophet’s reward.
 
A prophet is someone who carries a commission from God. When a person comes in the name of a prophet, he comes with divine office. It is not so much the prophet as the office of the prophet that is the issue. Those who respect the office of the prophet will receive the prophet’s reward. A “reward” is recompense—something a person receives for doing something for someone else.
 
And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
 
Our criterion of judgment about a messenger of God is his character (righteousness). The idea is this: “Is he devout to the will of God?” Any other criterion such as attractiveness, personality, and charisma are not valid.
 
10:42
 
And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
 
Small acts of kindness to Jesus’ messengers (little ones) will get a reward. Jesus keeps account of such things.
 
PRINCIPLE: God gives unique importance to ministers of the gospel.
 
APPLICATION: A country that receives an ambassador from another country establishes formal relations between them. Followers of Christ need to take heed regarding how they welcome ministers of the gospel
 
No act of kindness towards a messenger of Jesus Christ will go unnoticed by God.
 
10For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.Heb 6:10

Matthew 10:37f

Published on August 20, 2008 in Matthew. 0 Comments
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37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
10:37
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.
The word “loves” refers to affection, a word for reciprocal love with someone. It is one thing to love someone, but it is another to like them. There are husbands who love their wives but do not like them. These couples have certain sublime moments, but the rest of the time they are at each other’s throats. When Christians have the capacity to love, they not only love each other but they like each other. This is rare but it comes with maturity from the Word of God and growth in Christ. It is wonderful to both love and like someone. If we love someone, we want to be with them occasionally, but if we like them, we want to be with them all the time. Jesus says in effect, “Your capacity for enjoying others depends upon your relationship to me.” If we put the Lord first, everything else follows.
“Worthy” here means more than deserving; it carries the idea of having ultimate value. Those in Christ’s ministry must value Him above all else.
And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Love here has to do with priority of loyalty. It is tempting in the middle of family conflict to shift loyalty away from Christ. Natural affection cannot trump God’s greater, main concern.
10:38
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
The cross in this verse is not referring to the physical, wooden cross where Christ suffered, but to the custom of crucifixion. The Roman Empire customarily crucified thousands of people all over the realm. The “cross” refers to a method of execution that involved the condemned person carrying his cross to the place of crucifixion. This happened to the Lord. It was a sign of disgrace for the man carrying the cross, because those who carried a cross were condemned to die.
Following Christ requires sacrifice of self and self-interests. Jesus demands undivided loyalty. Carrying the cross involves giving up family relationships if necessary, putting the Lord before anything else. We cannot appreciate this unless we know His value. We cannot work up this kind of love, for we find it in understanding the person and work of Christ.
For the third time in two verses Jesus speaks of being “not worthy of Me.” Worthiness denotes equality of weight or value. People who do not put priority on things of greatest value do not give Jesus His due value. Jesus is the greatest weight on the scale of values. The price we put on Him transcends all other values. Jesus severed His relationship with the Father on the cross by His willingness to die for our sins. Jesus even allowed His relationship to the Father to break for three hours while dying on the cross for our sins.
10:39
He who finds his life [soul] will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
The idea of “finds” is to discover, as in “he who discovers his life (soul).” In this context, family relationships have become the overriding importance of one’s life, making rapport with others a panacea. We never know who we are until we fall in love. A man may think he is totally self-sufficient, but when he falls in love, he finds out that there is an entirely different world! However, if he thinks this is the ultimate experience, then Jesus has a shock for him. If he thinks he has discovered his soul, it is a false impression.
The person who loses his life (soul) puts Jesus first. He loses his life, in the sense of understanding the most important dimension to life, by picking up the cross of Christ’s ministry. People will look down their noses at this mission. However, the person who does not put self first will “find” his soul in God’s plan for his life.
Every person has only two alternatives when it comes to Christ: (1) live for self or (2) live for Christ. Self-protection is an enemy of Christ. To gratify personal interests instead of living for Christ is to lose the life we have. Anxiety about persecution or shame is a value not worthy of Christ.
PRINCIPLE: Following Christ is a radical issue of total commitment.
APPLICATION: There is no neutrality when it comes to Christ; either we are for Him or against Him. He is a divisive person because of this. It is His message that causes the division; either we accept it or we don’t. Eternal issues are at stake; it is either heaven or hell—believe God or reject His message.

Matthew 10:35f

Published on August 19, 2008 in Matthew. 0 Comments
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35For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
10:35
For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;
Verses 35 and 36 are quotations from Micah 7:6. This is a quote from King Ahaz’s reign. A division in his day pointed to division in Jesus’ day.
Jesus divides relatives because some believe that He was the Messiah. The word “set” literally is to divide in two. This causes a choice to be made between Christ and close family members. Christ is a divider of families. The believer is not the problem here, but rather the people closest to him. Their attitude is that the believer must choose between Christ and the family. The Lord must be the believer’s first priority (vv. 36-38).
10:36
and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
People will reject family members who accept Christ as Messiah. This is the effect of preaching an exclusive message. The truth of the gospel forces conflict by the nature of its message.
PRINCIPLE: There is no alternative to putting Jesus first.
APPLICATION: Due to the nature of the gospel message, Christians cannot escape conflict. Once we identify with Christ, trouble will follow. When we enter a time of deep problems and reversals in life, we must love Jesus more than our families or ourselves.
As a person grows in Christ, His love for family will grow and become more powerful. This is because capacity for love grows. This, however, does not preclude problems in the family.

Matthew 10:34f

Published on August 18, 2008 in Matthew. 0 Comments
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34“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
Jesus now admonished his apostles to put loyalty to Him above everything (10-34-39). He did this in striking, stark terms, saying that the apostles would have to undergo suffering for Christ. It takes sacrifice to serve Him.
10:34
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth.
Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was not to bring world peace or peace among family members. He came to make peace between people and God (Eph 2:14-17).
I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
The purpose of Jesus’ coming was to bring a sword; a sword severs things in two. Ministering for Him will involve conflict and strife. The issue is divided loyalty. Jesus Himself suffered at the hands of men, even to the point of dying a criminal’s death (Php 2:5-8). The cross is the reason for spiritual warfare. This will divide people until Christ comes to set up His Millennial kingdom. This division will reach into the closest relationships, including the family.
PRINCIPLE: The cross divides by the nature of its exclusive message.
APPLICATION: Many evangelical leaders today make the presumption that Christ came to bring peace on earth. This is the very opposite of what Jesus said. Jesus did not come with a social gospel. He came with a message that precluded other beliefs.
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.Jn 14:6
 
12Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”Ac 4:12
 
Jesus came to offer a theocratic kingdom to the nation Israel, but when Israel rejected that message He deferred that purpose until the Millennial kingdom. Jesus will come to make peace after the Second Coming.
Many Christians live their lives under the policy of “safety first.” There is no such policy in the Word of God. The Christian is to live by faith, courage, and risk for the advancement of Christ in his world. The Christian life offers danger, not comfort. Those who seek comfort above all cannot live the life God designed for them.

Matthew 10:32f

Published on August 17, 2008 in Matthew. 0 Comments
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32“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

10:32

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

The word “confess” carries the idea of identifying. To confess Jesus before men publically is to articulate solidarity with Him.

10:33

But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

The denial here is the decision of comprehensive denial before men publically. Jesus will deny reward to those who refuse to confess Him publically.

12If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.2 Ti 2:12

PRINCIPLE: Christ honors those who confess Him publically.

APPLICATION: When we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, Jesus will proclaim “Well done” or He will deny us reward. The issue is not our eternal salvation but reward due to loyalty and publically proclaiming Christ.

Matthew 10:29f

Published on August 16, 2008 in Matthew. 0 Comments
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29Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Having warned the apostles not to fear men in the previous verse, Jesus now turned to give them pictures of how God valued them (10:29-31). If God valued them, then there was no need to fear men. Jesus gave two illustrations of this principle:
1.    Value of sparrows
2.    Hairs of our head
10:29
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?
Sparrows are common in Palestine. Two copper coins would buy five sparrows (Lu 12:6); they were of little value and were the least expensive sacrificial offering to buy.
And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
This is a picture of God’s providential care over the least of His creatures. God is fully cognizant when a sparrow falls to the ground.
10:30
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
This same principle holds for the hairs of our head. God numbers each one.
10:31
Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
There is no need to fear people because God providentially watches over us as His valuable creatures.
PRINCIPLE: God governs our problems.
APPLICATION: God providentially controls all of our circumstances and their timing. Since this is so, we should be free from fear. God has the power and knowledge to care for us.

Matthew 10:28

Published on August 14, 2008 in Matthew. 0 Comments
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28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
From a human level, the worst thing a minister can face is the death of his body. Murder is the most terrible thing one’s opponents can inflict. However, there is something worse—the killing of the soul. The latter should be the fear of those who proclaim Christ. The ultimate disaster is not physical death but spiritual death.
The soul is not the same as the spirit. The soul is our mind, emotions, and will (our personality), but the spirit is our capacity to relate to God. The soul (the person) goes into an eternal state, either heaven or hell. The body will ultimately go there as well.
But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
There is a proper fear—fear of God who can kill both body and soul in eternal judgment. Fear of Him overcomes fear of them.
The word for “hell” here is geenna. This word is from two words: ge (valley) and hinnom (Hinnom) = the Valley of Hinnom. The Valley of Hinnom was a valley south of Jerusalem. This valley became a figure of hell, the place of final judgment. The body as well as the soul of unbelievers will go to hell.
PRINCIPLE: God alone controls our eternal destiny.
APPLICATION: It is wise to fear God who has control over our eternal destiny. Why fear man, who can kill only the body? Physical death pales in contrast to the prospect of eternal hell. God will vindicate believers and punish persecutors. Christians should never fear man, for fear debilitates our ability. A football player who fears the opposition cannot play at his best. The player who loves contact and deals with pain has an advantage over the player who doesn’t. The believer will not ultimately lose the battle. Fear of people will hinder dynamic ministry. Remember Martin Luther’s hymn:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever.
God separates the body and soul at death (2 Co 5:1-10). To be absent from the body is to be present (face-to-face) with the Lord (2 Co 5:8).
23For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24Nevertheless to remain in the flesh (body) is more needful for you. Php 1:23-24
 
The Christian never fears hell because of the death of Christ on the cross to pay for his sin. Jesus took my hell that I might have His heaven. He paid for any and all of my sins at any time or place. There is no sin for which He did not pay. Therefore, God can never put me in hell, for I believed that Christ paid for my sins. It is impossible for God to go back on His Word or promise.

Matthew 10:26f

Published on August 13, 2008 in Matthew. 0 Comments
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26Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 27“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
10:26
Therefore do not fear them.
The Lord tells His apostles not to fear three times in this chapter (vv. 26, 28, 31). Fear hampers people from doing what they should do.
For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
God will ultimately vindicate Jesus and His followers. The gospel is covered or obscured now but a day will come when it will be revealed. Enemies of the gospel will use deceptive methods to oppose the gospel. These methods will come to open conflict one day, then God will resolve the issue.
10:27
“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
Jesus communicates with the apostles in private but they were to speak to it in public (housetops were flat). Boldness is necessary for those who proclaim the gospel. Boldness is the opposite of fear.
PRINCIPLE: The gospel calls for fearlessness in gospel presentation.
APPLICATION: The overriding purpose for some in the ministry today is to please men and to accommodate their thinking. Culture overcomes message in this thinking. Judgment of men toward the gospel should not daunt courageous presentation of the gospel. There will be a day when God sets all things right.

Matthew 10:24f

Published on August 12, 2008 in Matthew. 0 Comments
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24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
This section (10:24-42) deals with the fear of confessing Christ openly and the reasons for not letting fear overtake us.
10:24
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
Jesus just warned His apostles that they would face persecution (v. 23). They might have wondered why they had to face this. Jesus anticipated this and established a principle for them—their relationship to Jesus is the reason for their problems.
10:25
It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.
A disciple is a follower; the apostles were to follow Jesus in His sufferings.
10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death… Php 3:10
 
If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
“Beelzebub” means lord of the flies. He was a Philistine, Ekronite god that the Jews used as a symbol for Satan, the prince of demons. That was a great slander to Jesus’ name.
PRINCIPLE: Those who have a relationship with Jesus need to expect treatment no different than what He received.
APPLICATION: Jesus does not ask us for something that He did not experience Himself. If men persecuted Jesus while on earth, should we expect anything less?
Jesus did not mask problems that we face; He put them right out there for all to see. In effect, He invites us to fellowship in His sufferings:
12Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.1 Pe 4:12-13
 
The disciple is not greater than his Lord.

Matthew 10:17f

Published on August 10, 2008 in Matthew. 0 Comments
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17But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
10:17
But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
Jesus warned the apostles that they would face legal issues, for there were people out there who wanted to haul them into court. Religious leaders wanted a closed shop in religion.
10:18
You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
The hauling of apostles into court would be a testimony to legislators, even to Gentiles. Adversity sometimes brings opportunity to spread the message.
10:19
But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
The apostles had no need for prior knowledge to defend themselves in court, for God would provide enablement for their defense. Anxiety (worry) was not necessary in this situation (6:25-34).
10:20
for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
The Holy Spirit gave the apostles wisdom to speak in this situation. God’s providential hand would help the apostles right at the moment of need. God did not leave them to their own devices.
10:21
“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
The apostles had to understand that their own colleagues would commit treachery against them. Even children would turn on their parents, who would be put to death.
10:22
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
All classes would hate the apostles. Persecution would come from the general population.
This was the second time (10:18) Jesus used the phrase “for My name’s sake.” The idea is “on my account.” “Name” stands for person. The cause of persecution was who and what Jesus was, and what He stood for. Identification with Christ can be a problem.
But he who endures to the end will be saved.
We find this statement again in 24:13 where it refers to Jews in the Tribulation enduring to the end of the Tribulation. “Endures” here carries the idea metaphorically of survives, stays alive. Here, the idea is that God would give deliverance in ministry to those with tenacity or bulldog stick-to-itiveness.
10:23
When they persecute you in this city, flee to another.
If persecution came in one city, the apostles should flee to another city. They should not take unnecessary risks with their lives. It is one thing to be brave and another to be foolish. Here Jesus was saying, “Don’t court trouble.”
For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
This sentence is exceedingly difficult to interpret. This is because we take the phrase “the Son of Man comes” normally as the Second Coming. This interpretation is also the normal usage (24:30; 25:31; 26:64; except for 16:28).
However, the “coming” in this verse means Jesus’ coming to meet the apostles before they finished their ministry. Jesus would rejoin the apostles before they finished their mission. “Comes” carries the idea of “arrives.” Jesus would eventually overtake them in their ministry to Israel. The urgency with which Jesus challenged the apostles—as well as the fact that Jesus addressed the apostles directly in this passage—argues against an interpretation here of the Second Coming.
PRINCIPLE: God always provides for ministry.
APPLICATION: God works all things together as good. God makes provision for us the moment we need it.
28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.Ro 8:28