March through Matthew in a Month

Matthew 10

We continue our march through Matthew’s Gospel--one chapter a day--28 chapters--with points to ponder, background information and personal application. May God strengthen our faith on this spiritual journey in His Holy and living Word.

Some Points to Ponder as we read Matthew 10:

1. The names of Jesus’ 12 disciples are listed (in pairs) in Matthew 10:1-4 as Jesus sends them out two by two on His mission to spread the kingdom (reign) of God. These 12 chosen by Jesus bring to mind the 12 tribes of Israel God chose to be His people before Christ. The 12 disciples of Jesus represent the fulfillment of God’s salvation plan in Christ through His Church today. Jesus is in essence Israel reduced to One and He chooses us to be members of His Church by grace today.

2. The second of the five discourses of Jesus recorded in Mathew 10:5-42 focuses on the mission of His disciples. We recall the the first discourse of Jesus was His Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7).

3. Notice in Matthew 10:5-6 Jesus first sends His disciples only to the “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (aka the Jews, God’s original chosen people)--NOT yet to the Gentiles (aka us or non-Jews). Later in Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus expands His sending mission by giving His disciple His Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations.”

4.  For comparison, John 20:21-23 records the institution of the Office of the Holy Ministry and how Jesus sent out His disciples after His Resurrection and gave them the power of the Holy Spirit and authority to forgive or retain sins.

5. It is challenging to follow Jesus as one of His disciples. Jesus tells His disciples (past and present) we will face opposition and persecution as He did (Mt. 10:16-25). Satan is always active opposing God’s plans and Truth.

6. ASK: What are some of my FEARS in life?  Are my fears about the future, job security, just making it through another day, sickness, financial issues, loneliness, family issues, the direction of society, the decline of faith as a priority, etc. 

NOTE that Jesus tells us THREE (3) times not to fear earthly things as we follow and trust in Him. 

Jesus says in Mt. 10:         

(a) 26 “So have no fear of them,…

(b) 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

(c) 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

7. Read Matt. 10:34-39. At times Jesus’ words seem harsh, provocative and impossible to do! Jesus states that even as it is so important for us to love parents and family, it is EVEN more important for our eternal salvation to love Him above all else.

8. The Lutheran Study Bible notes on Matt. 10:34-39 state: 

The radical nature of following Jesus may result in conflict and divisions with families. Jesus wants His disciples to strive for eternal life, even if this means sacrificing earthly benefits. In all honesty, we must confess that we often fail to put Jesus first in our lives, that we do not take up His cross and follow Him. What we fail to do, Jesus did for us. He took up His cross and paid the penalty for the sins of the world.

In Him, we have peace. 

+ PRAYER + Thank You, Jesus, for bearing my cross on Calvary and making me Your highest priority. Amen.

We now read Matthew 10…    

Matthew 10 (ESV)

The Twelve Apostles

10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Persecution Will Come

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

Have No Fear

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Rewards

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

+Prayer+ Dear Jesus, we often fall down, fail, and have fears as we follow You as Your disciples. Remove our fears with firm faith in You. Give us courage and joy to profess and follow You as our Savior and Lord and to share You life-changing Gospel with everyone. In Christ’s Name I pray. Amen.

Pastor Scott Schmieding

Senior Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School

115 S. Sixth Street

Saint Charles, MO 63301

636.946.2656