Matthew 10:16–33 (ESV): 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.
Abba,
I was reflecting upon this passage this morning.
This passage assures us of the certainty of suffering.
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
Like the disciples, we are seeing Christians being drug into courts and being accused falsely.
Like the disciples, we will continue to see this happening with increasing intensity as the days get darker.
Jesus, You spoke of the reality that it be so. Therefore, we should not be surprised when it comes.
This passage elevates our suffering to being about something other than ourselves.
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
At the same time, we are also reminded that it is not about us; it is about You, Abba!. It is about Your name, Your glory, Your majesty!
We are drug into the courts and accused falsely IN ORDER THAT Your NAME may be magnified
This passage provides purpose for such suffering.
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
We are accused and drug into courts IN ORDER THAT WE MAY HAVE OPPORTUNITY to care the gospel to places it may not otherwise reach…
We are accused and drug into courts IN ORDER THAT the witness of the gospel may be proclaimed in a public setting.
When we persecuted and drug falsely into court, it is FOR You, for Your sake.
This passage provides the promise of help in suffering
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.
Spirit, You will provide the voice to speak through us when that moment comes. You will not abandon us to the forces of this world but will be present in power and truth enabling us to speak words of truth to proclaim Your glory and truth in the face of such opposition!
This passage provides security in our suffering
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.
No matter the outcome of such suffering….Abba, You never lose one of Your own! :) We may have to endure pain, sorrow, and discomfort for a time. But the promise and truth is…You will not lose grip on us and let us perish at their hands and be lost for all eternity. If we perish at their hands, we are secure in Yours forevermore!
No one likes to suffer, to endure hardship. But at least we are comforted and strengthened that when it comes, it has purpose, meaning, and we are supplied by Your grace to be sustained through it.
As I pondered and meditated, it also occurred to me that it is so much easier to endure such persecution from without; from outside the professing church. When this persecution and hardship comes from those who professing to be Your followers, it is a much harder pill to swallow.
And that’s when the Spirit spoke to me…You understand.
Was is not Your own special, chosen people, Israel who refused to believe in You?
Was is not Your own people who denied your teachings?
Was is not Your own people who called you a blasphemer?
Was is not Your own people to chose to ignore time and time again the miracles that validated Your identity and message?
Was is not Your own people who sought to trap You with trickery?
Was is not Your own people who sought to stone you?
Was is not Your own people who sought Your death at the hands of the Romans?
You most certainly do understand the heartache and devastating of attack from within.
And even in this, we, Your people will be victorious and overcomers.
Abba, may we be comforted by these truths and strengthened to hold fast, to walk worthy, and to never be ashamed of the gospel…for it is the power of God for salvation, to the Jew first and also the Greek.
When persecution comes…may we honor Your name with Joy.
We love You Abba.
Amen.
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.
Abba,
I was reflecting upon this passage this morning.
This passage assures us of the certainty of suffering.
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
Like the disciples, we are seeing Christians being drug into courts and being accused falsely.
Like the disciples, we will continue to see this happening with increasing intensity as the days get darker.
Jesus, You spoke of the reality that it be so. Therefore, we should not be surprised when it comes.
This passage elevates our suffering to being about something other than ourselves.
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
At the same time, we are also reminded that it is not about us; it is about You, Abba!. It is about Your name, Your glory, Your majesty!
We are drug into the courts and accused falsely IN ORDER THAT Your NAME may be magnified
This passage provides purpose for such suffering.
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
We are accused and drug into courts IN ORDER THAT WE MAY HAVE OPPORTUNITY to care the gospel to places it may not otherwise reach…
We are accused and drug into courts IN ORDER THAT the witness of the gospel may be proclaimed in a public setting.
When we persecuted and drug falsely into court, it is FOR You, for Your sake.
This passage provides the promise of help in suffering
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.
Spirit, You will provide the voice to speak through us when that moment comes. You will not abandon us to the forces of this world but will be present in power and truth enabling us to speak words of truth to proclaim Your glory and truth in the face of such opposition!
This passage provides security in our suffering
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.
No matter the outcome of such suffering….Abba, You never lose one of Your own! :) We may have to endure pain, sorrow, and discomfort for a time. But the promise and truth is…You will not lose grip on us and let us perish at their hands and be lost for all eternity. If we perish at their hands, we are secure in Yours forevermore!
No one likes to suffer, to endure hardship. But at least we are comforted and strengthened that when it comes, it has purpose, meaning, and we are supplied by Your grace to be sustained through it.
As I pondered and meditated, it also occurred to me that it is so much easier to endure such persecution from without; from outside the professing church. When this persecution and hardship comes from those who professing to be Your followers, it is a much harder pill to swallow.
And that’s when the Spirit spoke to me…You understand.
Was is not Your own special, chosen people, Israel who refused to believe in You?
Was is not Your own people who denied your teachings?
Was is not Your own people who called you a blasphemer?
Was is not Your own people to chose to ignore time and time again the miracles that validated Your identity and message?
Was is not Your own people who sought to trap You with trickery?
Was is not Your own people who sought to stone you?
Was is not Your own people who sought Your death at the hands of the Romans?
You most certainly do understand the heartache and devastating of attack from within.
And even in this, we, Your people will be victorious and overcomers.
Abba, may we be comforted by these truths and strengthened to hold fast, to walk worthy, and to never be ashamed of the gospel…for it is the power of God for salvation, to the Jew first and also the Greek.
When persecution comes…may we honor Your name with Joy.
We love You Abba.
Amen.
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