TOS: The Hardship of His Mission
TEXT: Mt 10:16-25
INTRO: Would you be a Christian if you knew it would cost you your life? If moment you were
baptized had a target on back? Case w/ original audience of this bk; Mt wrote sometime btw 6080 AD, time when Jews hated Xians, Nero emperor of Rome (for entertainment at parties, lit
killed Xians), 3 successors not better, Jerusalem sacked leaving many dead; what would you do?
Seems they would have nothing to do w/ modern appeals to ‘just say a prayer and then you are
ok’ or ‘just ask Jesus in heart’ but never make him Lord; would be confused by ‘oh, I go to
church most of the time, so I’m good’ or ‘my parents are Xians’ or even ‘I did my quiet time’.
What would you do? Would you follow? To them, this was daily reality. We have been studying
Jesus teaching on mission (9:35-10:42) & seen the need (9:35-38) & that Jesus responded by
sending (10:1-15) but 10:16-25 Jesus warned his disciples of the hardship (persecution) &
instructed them in how to react. Pray that we learn: missionaries of Jesus must expect
persecution bc He was persecuted. See text taught w/ cycle of Truth & Instruction:
TRUTH: “You will be persecuted.” V16a Jesus says “Behold, begins w/ interjection of
warning I am sending you out already seen sent out (10:1-15) as sheep (helpless creatures) in the
midst of wolves (predators),” Know what happens when sheep wanders amongst wolves? Not
pretty. Imagine, “Oh yeah ready to go on mission! Got my camera ready to take pictures of poor
children, gonna kiss orphans & have a sight-seeing day @ end of trip!” & Jesus interjects,
“Forgot to tell you, you’re probably going to die.” Not very encouraging! Truth. Jesus knows
stakes of mission; Jesus not surprised by persecution even today; it’s truth; so instructs…
INSTRUCTIONS: 3 imp/commands, v16b-20; begins “So…” in response: 1) Be wise &
gentle. V16b so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Usually think serpent = bad (Gen 3)
but here good, wise/crafty (Proverbs, “prudent”), Lk 12:42/16:8 wise business man, shrewd, not
naïve; but also ‘innocent as doves’, not sinning or overly aggressive; pt? In persecution,
shouldn’t be naïve (fall for anything) nor forceful (hard for us). 2) Beware of men. V17-18
Beware of men, better “look out for” or “be on guard” (NI), not fearful; but why look out? for
they will deliver you over to courts better ‘Jewish courts’ (the Jews will hate you for this; your
own ppl) and flog you in their synagogues, (will beat you; not figurative; actual, physical
persecution) 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness
before them and the Gentiles. Not just Jews but Gentiles (Romans) as well; persecution to Xians
comes fr all; so ‘be on guard’ bc if not won’t be ready to be witness in court before them. Leads
to last: 3) Do not worry. V19-20 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious no worry, but
specifically what not to worry ab: how you are to speak or what you are to say, when called to be
witness, don’t worry ab what to say (witness involves speaking; evangelism must have
speaking); but why? 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. Don’t worry bc the Spirit of the
Father will speak thr you; have no worry, fear; but not bc you are strong (indeed, you are not) but
bc He is. He won’t just give strength, he is your strength. Learn something in first two sections:
LESSON 1: God’s mission includes persecution. Script teaches; how know? God’s ppl have
been persecuted. Abel; Joseph; Isr (Egy); Moses; David; Prophs; Disc; Acts; many by own ppl,
family (get there in min); cry of Ps 69:19-21 thr Script: You know my reproach, and my shame
and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you. 20 Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I
am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. 21
They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. God’s gospel
TOS: The Hardship of His Mission
TEXT: Mt 10:16-25
advances thr persecution. Acts: 1:8 command take Gospel nations, but what happens? Stay until
sign. What sign? Ch 6-7, Stephen arrested, trial, killed. 8:1-4: And Saul approved of his
execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and
they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2
Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the
church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to
prison. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Persecution grew
church; Tertullian, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” God’s strength sustains
during persecution. Good news: promises persecution but also strength. We must expect
persecution. God only gives what can handle? No! Think disc could handle this? God is strength
when can’t handle. Bc did in past, gosp adv thr pers, & he is strength, we must expect.
TRUTH REPEATED: “You will be persecuted.” Cont v21-22 Brother will deliver brother
over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to
death, family divided; stakes = death (true today) 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s
sake. Hated, not for opinion, jerk but for his name. But the one who endures to the end will be
saved. True Xians endure persecution (1st Cent martyrs; China); know them bc will endure.
INSTRUCTION: “Keep moving!” v23 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. Debated (SofM coming? 2nd coming/70 AD) pt? Judgment (Mt); all of Isr wont hear
until so tells them: flee fr town to town; always ppl preach to! We waste time? No time! Finally:
TRUTH EXPLAINED: “You will be persecuted.” All comes together & gives reason for
persecution; is bc mean? No. V24-25 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above
his master. Naturally, know this to be true, less than; 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his
teacher, and the servant like his master. True goal every student/servant: be like master (me &
Chun); but connects: If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will
they malign those of his household.” Already seen (9:34) Jes accused of ‘prince of demons’
(Beelzebul; even Satan himself, 12:24-27). If follow Jesus, want to be like; what mean? Want to
be ridiculed like him; & draws in to mn pt: Jes tells to expect persecution bc that is what gospel
hinges on: Mt 26:57-68; 27:1-2, 11-21 delivered to Jews; flogged; gov/kings; witness; killed by
own; nothing in this passage he didn’t do for them: truly persecuted one. Hope in Gospel!
LESSON 2: God’s salvation was accomplished through persecution. APP: Gospel. I will not
boast in anything, no gifts, no pwr, no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and
resurrection; why should I gain from his reward, I cannot give an answer, but this I know with
all my heart, his wounds have paid my ransom. Those in cross will be saved (v21). We must
expect persecution bc our Savior was persecuted. Our joy! 1 Pt 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be
surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were
happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also
rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. Don’t idolize martyrs/martyrdom bc doesn’t save
(Us vs Islam) but be sure, you are saved thr martyrdom, just not your own, it was his. Hope: he
was victorious over death & so will we (NXT WK).
Missionaries of Jesus must expect persecution bc He was persecuted. Is your Xianity too safe?
Are you sharing the Gospel? Take risks for Him, church.