In this episode on Matthew 10, Jesus responds to the statement at the end of chapter 9, praying for God to send more labourers into the field, by sending out the 12 discipes to do what he had been doing, teaching and healing. We take a close look at the instructions Jesus gave the disciples. In the middle of this chapter is a verse that is possibly the most misunderstood verse in the Bible. We shed light on the passage so that you need no longer be led to be afraid of God as the one who can destroy your body and soul in hell. What a relief to discover that is not referring to God.
SHOW NOTES
Matthew 10 NLT Jesus’ Job description for his Disciples
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
10 Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. 2 Here are the names of the twelve apostles:
1. first, Simon (also called Peter),
2. then Andrew (Peter’s brother),
3. James (son of Zebedee),
4. John (James’s brother),
5. 3 Philip (Greek speaking),
6. Bartholomew or Nathaniel,
7. Thomas (the incredulous),
8. Matthew (the tax collector),
9. James (son of Alphaeus),
10. Thaddaeus,
11. 4 Simon (the zealot),
12. Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
The miracle of taking these 12 men, who were at war with each other, to form the nucleus of the Church is often missed. Zealots spent their time planning the death of tax collectors and would have been assisted by some of the other disciples who also despised tax collectors. The 11 Galileans wanted nothing to do with a Judean (Judas). Peter was inclined to leap before he looked, and Thomas suffered from paralysis of the analysis. If Jesus can use these 12 disparate men to form the genesis of the church, he can do it with any willing group. More importantly, he can incorporate you into discipleship as Saul of Tarsus’ metamorphosis into Paul of the Damascus road.
5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
Jesus sent the disciples where they would have less opposition, among those they knew, some of whom had already been healed by Jesus. They also had little prejudice against their fellow Jews and were still subject to their national prejudice against non-Jews. Jesus is making it as easy as he can for his disciples to succeed. He is giving them a light task (Matthew 11:28-30).
Jesus empowered the disciples with his own gifts for the world. Notice the verbs used, announce, heal, raise, cure, and cast out. This is what Jesus did to give credibility to the Gospel. When Jesus called Believers to pray to the LORD for harvesters (9:35-38) he had in mind a replication of what happened at the end of chapters 4 and 9, where the record is that Jesus healed all who came to him.
9 “Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. 10 Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.
Jesus tasked them to follow his example (Matthew 8:20). He trusted the leading of the Spirit for daily destinations and material support.
11 “Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. 12 When you enter the home, give it your blessing. 13 If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. 14 If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. 15 I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.
This was not time for confrontation but emancipation. He released men and women from their guilt and shame, from their disease and depression, from their leprosy and demon oppression. They also needed to be released from their fear of God. Jesus removed the fear of God by his loving acceptance of all who came to him and by his teachings about the character of God. The parable of the prodigal son is better recognized as the parable about the fabulous father (Luke 15). Jesus will also focus on the character of God in verses 26-31 of this chapter.
Jesus shook the dust off his feet when he left unbelieving Nazareth and went to accepting, Capernaum. Jesus does not ask that we remain in abusive situations if we can leave them.
16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. 18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers aboutme. 19 When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. 20 For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Wolves are sly and dangerous. Doves are harmless or gentle. This is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).Trust God for your safety and for what to say. Fix your heart and mind on the goodness of God and when you have opportunity you will be able to communicate the love of God to the hearers. It is in loving our enemies that we demonstrate the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:43-48; John 13:34-35). At the same time, we are to avoid persecution as much as possible.
21 “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.
Do not be surprised by opposition from within the family. Fear is more powerful than family ties. The influence of sin overcomes blood ties easily. This need not be a surprise to us. Lucifer was part of the heavenly family. Cain killed his brother, Abel. The malignity of sin is demonstrated by hatred from those who are meant to be closest to us.
22 And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.
Again, don’t be surprised because there is constant war between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of this World. It is the battle between self-giving love and binding selfishness. It is the battle between Jesus Christ and the Devil. The Devil wants the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven destroyed. The consequence of sin is death. It is not a game. There are real casualties, and spiritual casualties are the worst ones.
23 When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.
Be wise. Avoid confrontation as much as possible. Spend your time with those who want to hear the Good News. There are enough searching people to occupy Believers until Jesus comes.
This passage indiates the return of Christ would not be long waited for. The “soon” coming of Jesus is always present truth for Christians.
24 “Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than theirmaster. 25 Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names.
Don’t be surprised. If your master was maligned, expect the same. Why would you have immunity? What is unstated is that eventually within a few years the Master would be rejected, tortured, and murdered and many of them would be too. Now Jesus continues his warnings but also promises his care.
26 “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
There will be a day of revelation when the truth will be laid bare and all motives will be visible.
28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God (the One), who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
In these five verses (26-31) Jesus admonishes us not to be afraid three times. Don’t fear those that threaten you, or can kill your body, rather remember you are of great value in your father’s eyes and he cares for you.
In apposition, Jesus wants us to fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Notice that the New Living Translation replaces “the One” with God. It is the only English translation out of more than sixty to include this translator bias. The Greek does not identify who is to be feared but even here translator bias is evident because the Greek text has inserted “the One.” This is done here and in Luke 12:5 and is a consequence of the translator’s failure to understand the character of God as revealed by Jesus Christ.
Most, if not all commentators, believe the cause of this total destruction in hell is accomplished by God. This is the result of neglecting the picture Jesus, the only eyewitness of God (John 1:18; 5:37; 6:46; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16), gave us of his Father who is the personification of the Beatitudes. The most compelling evidence of the unconditional goodness of God might be what Jesus told Nicodemus:
John 3:17 NLT God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
This means, according to Jesus, God is always in the saving business and never in the destroying business. Jesus demonstrated the fulness of God (Colossians 1:19; 2:9) in his life on earth. Jesus did not fail to demonstrate the justice of God which is saving sinners who never chose to be sinners. Adam made this choice for them. God’s justice is in saving sinners from the effects of Satan’s lies and Adam’s misguided choice.
The point of Jesus admonition is not to fear the Father because the Father attaches great value to us. Jesus thus excludes the possibility of God destroying anyone’s body or soul. There is one who would like to destroy both body and soul. He is identified by the apostle John and the author of Hebrews.
John 10:10 NLT
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a
rich and satisfying life.
Chapter ten of John’s gospel is amplifying the care of the good shepherd for his sheep. The thief is the enemy of the shepherd and the sheep. It is the same devil who possessed Herod to kill the baby boys in Bethlehem and who tempted Jesus Christ at every opportunity (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; Hebrews 4:15).
Notice that the devil’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy the sheep. Jesus’ purpose is to give them a rich, satisfying life. The contrast is too clear to be missed. Matthew 10:28 must be understood against the truth of John 10:10.
Hebrews 2:14 NLT Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.
The author of Hebrews does not explain the mechanics of how Jesus’ death broke the power of the devil and death, but we know the Son achieved our liberation from death and the devil by laying down his life and self-resurrecting (John 10:18).
Hebrews 2:14 indicates that “the power of death,” is held by the devil. Clearly this death is not that which men can inflict on each other with or without the devil’s assistance. Jesus, on the other hand, identifies himself as “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Again, the contrast is between a death dealing devil and a life-giving Saviour. We only perish if we reject the care of God by our rebellion against love.
In Eden God did not say, “If you sin, I will kill you.” He said that if you eat of this tree the consequence are that you will die, spiritually, emotionally and finally physically. When Adam and Eve sinned God brought them cloths, symbolic of forgiveness (Zechariah 3:1-5) and hope (Genesis 3:15). If there is any remaining confusion about the causation of death it was dealt with at Calvary. Here the kindest, most compassionate, innocent man who ever lived was executed by the spiritual, political and national leaders in Judea. With the crowd’s exaggerated curse, “his blood be on us and our children” we have evidence
that they were under the influence of the destroyer or the devil (Exodus 12:23; John 8:44; 10:10; Revelation 9:1, 11).
32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
This is not a tit-for-tat statement but acknowledgement that God does not violate or manipulate our choices. Jesus is dogmatic in Matthew 5:39 that God does not resist evil beings. In addition, God loves every created being unconditionally as affirmed by Jesus himself in Matthew 5:43-48. Jesus cannot heal those who refuse to be healed. This would be abuse of their power of choice. He cannot claim those who refuse him as his blood bought children in the heavenly court where they are accused by the devil (Job 1 & 2).
34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.
This is an ironic statement by Jesus. He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and he effected reconciliation between us and God (Romans 4:25-5:2; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21), and between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14). To know that God is not angry and condemning towards us is to gain moral peace. Jesus describes his mission in 11:28-30 as being one of gentle care.
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
10:35 ‘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. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’
This familial conflict is revealed not caused by the Good News. When the new heart is created in a family member the rest of the family is opposed to this miracle. It is this negative response to the goodness of God changing the human heart which results in the reaction of hatred from the Kingdom of this World. This negative reaction caused the plagues on Pharoah and causes the seven last plagues at the end of the age.
37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
These are Middle Eastern statements of contrast. They are true but seldom stated this forcefully in English. Jesus is reminding the hearers of the seriousness of the conflict between the kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of this World. Taking up a cross means that death is imminent
40 “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. 41 If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. 42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
Salvation is not a reward, but a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-10). This is true physically. We receive our life as a gift from our parents. At the same time there are rewards, or consequences, for our actions in life. Our identification with Jesus Christ results in life-style changes. We become compassionate and merciful, and so we are kind to the “least.”
Chapter ten is instruction given to the disciples Jesus had chosen. It is useful for modern disciples. The goodness of God is opposed in many overt ways by the Kingdom of this World. There are also covert ways in which the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are persecuted.
Jesus stated the way his brothers and sisters are identified. It is by their love for each other (John 13:35). It is not by their claims for orthodoxy or accumulation of good works but by the way they care for each other.
Ian Hartley, August 2024
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