They are told what they should suffer, and from whom; counsels are given them what course to take when persecuted, and encouragements to bear up cheerfully under their sufferings (v. 16-42). These things, though primarily intended for direction to the apostles, are of use to all Christ's ministers, with whom, by his word, Christ, and will be with us always to end the world. M. Henry.
Mat 10:34 "Do not suppose that I came to bring peace to the earth: I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I came to set a man against his father, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;
Mat 10:36 AND A MAN'S OWN FAMILY WILL BE HIS FOES.
Mat 10:37 Any one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and any one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Mat 10:38 and any one who does not take up his cross and follow where I lead is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 To save your life is to lose it, and to lose your life for my sake is to save it.
Mat 10:40 "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives Him who sent me.
Mat 10:41 Every one who receives a prophet, because he is a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward, and every one who receives a righteous man, because he is a righteous man, will receive a righteous man's reward.
Mat 10:42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, I solemnly tell you that he will not lose his reward."
We are living in very difficult days for Christians when Satan and evil men are mounting an all out attack on the Christian Church across the world. This is exemplified by the callous shooting of 9 believers in a African American Methodists church in Charlestown USA. The young white supremacists sat for one hour in a Bible study before pulling out a handgun and mowing down theses saints. God sees and He is there to console and comfort. May revival come to that church.
What is happening to Christians in Syria and Iraq is terrifying yet amazing. Muslims are seeing what their religion really is and are turning to Christ in their thousands. It is quickly becoming an overflowing flood across the Muslim world. They are having their Day of Grace after so many centuries of Bondage.
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| Christians fleeing Mosul N. Iraq |
Mat 10:34 "Do not suppose that I came to bring peace to the earth: I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
Notes
"Do not suppose that I came to bring peace to the earth:
The Teaching and kindly ministry of Jesus up to this point in Matthew is clearly outlined but Chapter 10 gives the disciples a reality check before they are sent out on their first mission. Not everything was going to be easy for those who serve Him.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace Isa 9:6 and He is the One who has made peace through the Blood of His Cross. He came to bring peace between God and man by bringing us Salvation.
His peace….. is not just an absence of strife but it is a peace that means the Overcoming of Sin and Bringing in the Salvation of God. Leon Morris p. 266
Mat 10:35 For I came to set a man against his father, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;
Mat 10:36 AND A MAN'S OWN FAMILY WILL BE HIS FOES.
Notes
Now we see the IMPLICATION of Following Jesus in a family.
to set a man against his father…
Here Following Jesus is more important than Family Loyalties. Since the father was the head of his household and the loyalty and honour owed to him was above all loyalties. To bring division between father and son was to offend in one of the most deep-seated convictions in the minds of his disciples. Leon Morris
A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;
Division in the women of the household too is very serious. Nobody is left out of this serious split caused by following Jesus.
Mat 10:36 AND A MAN'S OWN FAMILY WILL BE HIS FOES.
One’s enemies would be the members of one’s own family. This is the last place in the world where we would expect to see division and hostilities because of Christ.
In the Middle East when a person turns to the Lord openly, then the family in duty bound to kill that person. So many believers have died in so called “honour killings”.
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| Mosul (AsiaNews) – Iraq’s Christian community has been the victim of another targeted killing. This morning, an Orthodox Christian was killed in Mosul, northern Iraq. The dead man had been the victim |
Mat 10:37 Any one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and any one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Notes
Warmest Affection binds a family together.but Jesus demands a greater affection and loyalty.
The meaning of this is clear. Christ must be loved supremely, or he is not loved at all. If we are not willing to give up all earthly possessions, and forsake all earthly friends, and if we do not obey him rather than all others, we have no true attachment to him.
Is not worthy of me - Is not appropriate to be regarded as a follower of me, or is not a Christian.
Barnes Notes
Mat 10:38 and any one who does not take up his cross and follow where I lead is not worthy of me.
Notes
CP.Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any one desires to follow me, let him renounce self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.
Leon Morris explains,” For us this is a remote metaphor [or example]. But Jesus’ hearers were people who had seen men take up their cross (anyone condemned to be crucified was required to carry the cross beam to the place of execution). They knew that when this happened and the man went off with a little knot of Roman Soldiers, he was on a one-way journey. He would not be back. Thus, for them, taking up the cross stood for the uttermost renunciation of the claims of self. The person who took up a cross had died to a whole way of life;
Jesus demands from everyone who follows him nothing less than death to self.
To follow means to abandon what we have been doing completely and to follow as Christ’s disciple”
Are you willing to follow behind Your Master and Teacher. To Imitate Him as His disciple?
To be continued.
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