Mathew 10 Thursday's reading
(1)
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against
unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease.
For some reason "cleanliness" has been on my mind a lot lately. To look upon sin as filth/dirtiness; to look at holiness as being clean and without dirt...
(5-6)
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commaanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
It is interesting to me that this verse supports some beliefs I have seen of Messianic Jews. The fact that Jesus even told his disciples to avoid those who weren't of the faith is very intriguing to me.
(7-8)
And as you go preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, clense the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:
freely you have received, freely give.
The message he gave is basically the same as John the Baptist had. The kingdom of heaven is at hand, so change your lives. Also, he gave them wonderous power such that they could help with bodily illness as well, and unlike doctors of this world that want to charge an arm and a leg to help people, the service was done freely to help those who needed them.
(10c-14)
...for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy: and there abide until you go hence. And when you come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house, or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
We are to be as workman laboring for the kingdom. We are look for those who are worthy, and shake the dust off our feet if the house/city be unworthy wherein we preach. I think its interesting about saluting houses as well, because ever since I mistakenly thought Catholics saluted their house/church (they were bowing towards the bread), I have started saluting churches before I enter as well as when I leave. I perhaps should do it more even with houses.
(16)
behold, I send you forth as sheep in the mist of wolves, be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
IT is interesting how holiness/godliness fights, as sheep into wolves... Also, interesting it is that he tells us to be as serpents. I kind of wonder if he means even that we are to be a bit conspicious in how we deal with those who are opposed to the truth. Yet harmless as doves...going in and out of them skillfully, yet harming no one.
(17,19-20) But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scouge you in their synagogues...but when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
We are not to worry about when people will deliver us up or even scouge us, but it seems the main thing Jesus is concerned with is that we worry not about our witness when people deliver us up. Most people would worry about getting scouged or caught by those who hate them, we are to let go of worry and have faith in the witness Jesus has given us. I also use this last verse in a plethora of ways to support that we do not need to meticulously plan how to witness, but God will give his Word in due time if we are dilligent and faithful.
(22) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Hmmm...yikes. Life can be rough in this world for Christians seeking the favor of wordly people, but when you care only about your Lover, Jesus, then the weariness of this world fades.
(23)
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man come.
What sticks out to me in this verse is how Jesus wants them to boldly preach. I have been contemplating this a lot lately. I think in American culture, us Christians often take a more subtle approach to evangelism, and instead of preaching on the street corners or on the beach where people gather together, we think it wiser to be what-we-call more personal. While Jesus seems to have had his twelve disciples, his ministry seems to have been preached out in the open, before believers and unbelievers alike, not confined to a church sanctuary. I say this because I am somewhat shy when it comes to this, and do not even know what I would say if I were to stand on a milk crate and preach the word. Perhaps just "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
(26-27)
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
I just smiled thinking about preaching from my housetop.
Now--that's boldness. We are to hold back nothing of what the Lord tells us and shows us!
(28)
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
To the unbeliever this body is all they got, so they fear losing it as they fear losing themselves. But not so us Christians, we are to know of the profoundness of our soul and not to fear when people threaten to end our lives or those who can end our lives, but to fear only offending him who is able to truly destroy who we are. In the parableof the sparrows, it states that God knows the death even of birds, how much moreso us who believe.
(30)
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
How meticuluos the Lord is with his creation of his creatures!
(32-33)
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
I take this verse at face value. Until I perceive otherwise, if someone confesses to me that they are Christian and are unashamed of the faith, I take them at their words. But if someone denies Christ in any situation, I take it to be a charade.
(34-36)
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword. For i am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
I have felt the rality of this situation in my own family, where I am the only stout Christian amongst 3 other brothers and my mother. I wonder if this verse also applie to you who have strong Christian families. Like Peter not wanting Jesus to be crucified, does your family sometimes, thinking it is in your best interest, oppose what God would have you do? I know it seems even in Jesus' holy family, they strongly questioned his behaviours.
(38-39)
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
I think it is important, as I have heard it preached before, that the cross was not an abstract concept/symbol to those who heard this word. The cross was a death sentence. If you place "humiliating death sentence" in place of cross, you see what Jesus was more poignantly trying to say to us. We are to lose ourselves always in our seeking of him, and not be concerned about those who will persecute us, even to the death.
We have an "identity" crisis in our generation; and the solution to this, Jesus states, is to forget about who or what your are, and lose that and you will truly find that which is worth living for. If you know who you are, you are less likely to grow or give that up for the "more perfect" path.
(40-43)
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righeous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of thse little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
The way Jesus encourages genoristy is amazing. If we just welcome those who are of the Lord because they are in the Lord, we shall receive a like reward, and the Lord will bless us as He has blessed them. All we have to do is look after those who are striving for the gospel.
God bless
tony
