October 28
Wednesday Night Bible Study
Jesus Preaches a Missionary Sermon and Sends the Disciples on a Missionary Journey
Matthew 10
Last week, we learned that Jesus taught His disciples to pray for laborers in the missionary field. This week we will see Him turn the disciples into those laborers.
- V.1-4 The twelve disciples are called and empowered.
- Notice in V.1 that He called the disciples to Him. Our calling is to Him. Our vocation is to serve Him according to His will. The promise is that because we are called to Him, He is going to be with us wherever He sends us.
- V.5-6 They were sent to the Jews first. Why?
- V.8 As they go, they are to preach the need for repentance because the Kingdom of Heaven was at Hand. They are also told to freely exercise the power they have been given and perform miracles. What was the purpose of the miracles?
- V.9-10 Take what you need and no more. Expect no pay, but receive what is given. Trust God to provide. What does that tell us about our service and our responsibility to those who serve?
- V 11-15 in these verses gave them instruction on receiving hospitality.
- Only stay in the homes of those who loved God.
- If the message is not received, shake the dust of your feet. What does that mean?
There are too many people out there ready and ripe for the Kingdom to waste time on those who want to waste your time.
- Judgment is going to be harsh for those who have an opportunity to receive Christ but do not.
- V.16-39 Jesus warns the Disciples to expect persecution.
- V.16,42 There will be danger, so wisdom and gentleness will be required.
- V. 17-20, 27 Because we are called to speak for His sake, the Spirit will speak through us.
- V. 21-26, 34-39 Don’t expect to win any popularity contests. In v. 25, Jesus makes it clear that we are dealing with Beelzebud, or Satan himself.
Conclusion
When will our mission come to an end?
V. 23 tells us that only when Jesus comes again will our mission end.
From the Bible
“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it.
If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
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; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
“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. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
When 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. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For 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’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Matthew 10:5-42 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.10.5-42.NKJV
Douglas Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
