Matthew 10:16 ¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 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. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 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 be come. 24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 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. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these 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.
Jesus uses three types of animals here, focusing on the commonly
held mythologies of their characters. The Apostles are going out physically
helpless in a world that has many in it who would do them harm, as sheep among
wolves.
John 16:2 They shall put
you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you
will think that he doeth God service.
But they and we, by extension, are to be wise as the proverbial
serpent, thought to be clever, plotting, and careful but harmless as doves. We
should not be naïve or unaware of the devices of the enemy and so easily taken
advantage of but at the same time we should pose no physical threat to others.
They are not to be overawed by rulers and kings but God will give
them the words to say when the time comes for them to give a defense of the
gospel. See how later Paul himself will be commissioned to preach to kings
which he does in the latter part of Acts.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said
unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before
the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Verse 21 shows that this preaching among the Jews caused division
and many families would turn in on themselves giving up their own loved ones to
the authorities for upsetting the established order. But Jesus tells the
Apostles to stay steady in their mission until it is finished and they shall be
protected. His Crucifixion and Resurrection will take place before every city
in Israel being visited.
Jesus refers to how some have likened Him to the Devil as we would
see in Mark 3:22 and later here in Matthew, chapter 12. He states that if He
has been likened to the Devil how much more so will His servants receive that
condemnation. But don’t worry, guys, be faithful and say what I have told you
to say. You are in the Father’s hands. Even the most insignificant creature is
in God’s hands and Jesus says that these Apostles are worth more than many of
them. Even the very hairs of their head are numbered. Their time on earth is
set by God, not by those who hate them.
These passages bring up some very important doctrinal points for
us to consider. Fear God not man.
Isaiah 8:12 Say ye not, A
confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither
fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13
Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let
him be your dread.
There are many verses that refer to the importance of fearing God.
Job 28:28 And unto man he
said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is
understanding.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of
the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do
his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of
the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of
the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is
understanding.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of
the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit
of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the
spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
LORD;
Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and
knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the
fear of the LORD is his treasure.
It is not just dread but also an overwhelming awe and reverence.
Psalm 33:8 Let all the
earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we
receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may
serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
And that even the death of the most seemingly insignificant
creature is in God’s control.
29 Are not two sparrows
sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your
Father.
Our days on earth are determined by God.
Job 7:1 Is there not an
appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an
hireling?
From verses 32 to 39 we see the social disruption and conflict the
Apostles faced. They are called to confess Christ before men and women and to
face family and society’s rejection for their faith. Their own family was not
to be above Christ in their hearts. Theirs was an uphill battle and a very
dangerous mission in that world. The world in which they live will hate them
because that world, as ours, hates Christ. They must be ready to expect the
worst but have faith in God’s protection and blessing on their ministry.
Whosoever receives these Apostles receives the one who sent them.
Even the smallest act of kindness that is done to one of them will be as if it
was done to Christ Himself.
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