17 “But 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.
And 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
