(60) God Speaking Through You

The Preface:

When you think about witnessing and sharing your faith, what do you picture? Often I picture trying to start a conversation, then having the person say something that I can’t defend, then feeling stupid. Is that how you picture it? Why are we so afraid?

Or, what about having a difficult conversation with a friend or family member about something you see in their life. Why do we put those kind of conversations off? Why do we avoid them all together? What are we afraid of? Afraid of being hurt? Afraid of hurting them? We face this often in our ministry of orientation. We have to often have difficult conversations about things we see in the lives of these new missionaries. While that’s “part of the job,” it doesn’t make it any easier. We tend to err on the side of avoidance until it’s absolutely necessary. This is definitely something I need to grow in.

In this passage Jesus gives his disciples instructions on how to minister in a hostile environment. Let’s see what He has for us to learn from His instruction to His disciples.

The Passage: Matt 10:16-42

The Process:

1. What kind of environment does Jesus tell His disciples they can expect on this mission He is sending them on. (Matt 10:16-18, 22a)
2. How did Jesus tell them they should act as they enter this harsh environment? (Matt 10:16)
3. Even though the environment is going to be harsh, what support does He promise them? (Matt 10:19-20, 22b)
4. As they face the challenges that are before them, what kind of perspective does Jesus encourage them to adopt? (Matt 10:28-31)
5. In the context of this passage (following the national rejection of Jesus as their Messiah), Jesus was the controversy. Believing in Him is what would produce the conflict. How does Jesus describe the conflict following Him may cause for those who believe? (Matt 10:34-37)
6. What is the reward for those who choose to follow Jesus above everything else? (Matt 10:38-39)

The Purpose:

What was God doing? Why did He have this written down?

Jesus has been preparing to send His disciples out by twos to preach to the “Lost sheep of Israel.” (Matt 10:5-6) While the nation had rejected Him, there was still a remnant of faithful followers. Jesus was sending His disciples to the remnant to proclaim His new kingdom program.

Jesus knew the Jewish leaders would not appreciate the message that was being preached. He told His disciples, the things He had told them in secret, they were to proclaim from the house tops (Matt 10:27). But, as they did, they were to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (Matt 10:16)

Jesus assured them, that while the environment was going to be hostile, they were not to worry about what they should say. As they went out in his power, healing the sick, casting out demons in His name, doing miracles, that when they spoke, it would also be in His power (Matt 10:1) . The words they spoke would be the very words of God (Matt 10:19-20). Jesus promised that the Spirit of God would be speaking through them.

Jesus warned them that His message, the message He was sending them to give, would be controversial. Because this kingdom was no longer about Jew and Gentile, it was no longer a political, external kingdom, it was a kingdom in the hearts of men. It would divide the Jews. It would divide communities. It would divide clans. It would even divide families, and marriages.

But, Jesus was calling for full devotion. He was calling for those who would deny the old and embrace the new. He was calling for those who would not cower under the oppression of the religious leaders, but be willing to stand up and embrace what Jesus was offering.

Those who would set aside the old, and embrace the new, take up the cross of crucifying the old, to follow Jesus (Matt 10:38) would find new life. (Matt 10:39) They would be freed from the bondage of that old system.

Jesus closes his instruction with encouraging His disciples with the truth that, as Jesus ambassadors, those who received them, were receiving Him. And whoever received them, would receive the reward of following Jesus, the salvation of their souls.

In the midst of the confusion and the rejection of Jesus, Jesus was encouraging the disciples that there are still believers out there. And He was sending them to find them and bring this message of the new kingdom to them.

The Plan:

As I ask these questions of myself, I encourage you to ask them too.

• What can I learn from this? What is God saying to me and my life from this passage?

Don’t fear what to say, whether that’s in witnessing, or working with God’s children in orientation or when I need to have a tough conversation with someone. Be wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove. (Matt 10:16) But be rest assured, when God is directing you, what comes out of your mouth, will be His words. (Matt 10:19-20)

What hinders you/me from speaking or doing what God is speaking to me about?

• Maybe you are worried about what others may do, say? I know I am too often.
• Maybe you are worried they may say something I can’t refute or answer? I certainly have those thoughts too.
• I am often worried that if I say the hard thing to one of my orientee families that they won’t like me anymore.
• Or, I may upset them by what I say.

Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid of those who can only kill the body.” They can’t touch you. Your source of peace is not found in this world, it’s found with your Father in heaven! (Matt 10:28) You are much more valuable than sparrows! (Matt 10:29)

Matt 10:32-33 It’s our job to simply preach the Word. We are just gardeners, preparing ground, tilling, and planting, God is the harvester!  

Matt 10:37-39 Jesus was calling for a belief that would transcend family, clan, tribe, race and culture. The call is for Jesus to be more important in your life than anything or anyone. It will cost you your life. You will have to give up your desire for security and safety and trust God with your life. But, there is so much more joy in life when we rest with God in the drivers seat. 1 Peter 1:6 (NLT) So be truly glad, “Thers is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.”

• What do I need become more aware of?

How sensitive am I to God’s voice? I think there are times when something comes to mind, but I write it off, or ignore it because “what does that have to do with me?” Or “I don’t have the relationship..” Or “it’s none of my business…” But, I don’t even stop to consider

What do I do with the things that come to mind? Pray about it? or just ignore it?

Is Jesus more important.. is helping others to know Him and to live for Him more important than my own ease and comfort?

• How does God want me to engage with this? What does He want me to do because of what He is saying here?

1. Practice listening to God more.
2. Pray about what I am hearing.
3. Be more intentional to speak what I am hearing, being wise a serpent, but harmless as a dove

The Power; Implement and Integrate

The power to change is in the implementation and integration of what God is saying to us. We can talk all we want, make lots of plans, but until we do something about it, and develop habits that integrate those truths, we will never change. What is the one thing I need to do as a result of this study today? 

My commitment:

• Practice listening to God and pray about what I hear Him saying.
• Daily share my devo with someone outside my family

Commentary: Verse by Verse

Matt 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Jesus has just finished telling them what their mission is. They are to go to the “lost sheep of Israel.” (Matt 10:6) They are not to go to the Gentiles, or the Samaritans. Only to the “lost” of Israel. People who were still searching for the Messiah. But, because the nation and it’s leaders have rejected Jesus, He is warning them that it won’t be easy. “I am sending you as a sheep in the midst of wolves.” You are going to need to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Why does He tell them to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves? Fruchenbaum said, “the apostles were to use the wisdom and cunningness of a serpent to avoid being hurt if possible. However, if it were not possible, they should be harmless as doves, willing to be hurt and yet remain harmless themselves.”¹ Arnold Fruchenbaum. (n.d.). Yeshua, The Life of the Messiah.

Jesus knew this was going to be a difficult task. He was preparing them. He didn’t want them to get hurt, therefore he instructs them to be wise in what and how they speak. He wasn’t telling them not to speak, or to shy away from speaking the truth, but to be wise about it.

On the other hand, if they are persecuted for what they say, He instructed them to be “harmless.” Don’t fight back. Be harmless. You are still responsible to be my image bearers, even in the midst of persecution!

Matt 10:17-18 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, ¹⁸and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.

This isn’t a very glowing commission! “I am sending you out like lambs among wolves!” “You will be captured and flogged!” “You will be dragged before governors and kings.” But, in all of this, I want you to “bear witness of me.”

Just like with Jesus later on, the Jewish leaders didn’t have the authority to give the death penalty. They would have to incite the Roman officials to do that work.

Jesus was sending them to the lost of Israel, but Jesus knew that the religious leaders would try and get the Roman officials to deal with them. And we know that in the end many of the apostles were Martyred.

Matt 10:19-20 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. ²⁰For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

This new kingdom program was still confusing for Jesus’ disciples. They didn’t really understand what was happening, nor what this “new” kingdom was really. But, Jesus commissioned them to go and tell the “lost sheep” of Israel about it anyway.

I think The Chosen did a good job at displaying what this may have been like for the disciples. In season 3, Jesus sends them out two by two. When they return and are sharing with each other about their experience, they share that, “I was saying things I didn’t even understand.” They recognize it was Jesus doing the work through them, even though they didn’t even fully understand it themselves.

Jesus was sending them to the lost of Israel, but they would also be standing before Roman soldiers and Roman leaders. It’s one thing to preach to those of your own culture and to other Jews. But, it’s quite another thing to preach to Romans, and Roman governors and leaders on top of that. Just thinking about preaching to a group of policeman or politicians would be very intimidating. So, Jesus encourages them. Don’t worry about what to say, “I will help you!”

I love what He says in Matt 10:20, “For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” This is what Jesus said of Himself in John 5:19, 30. “I can do nothing of my own accord.” And again in John 14:10 He said, “The words I speak, I do not speak on my own, but the Father who is in me does the work. Jesus is telling His disciples, “That is how it will be with you too.” Don’t be intimidated or afraid. The Spirit, that is in you, He will do the work!

Matt 10:21-22 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, ²²and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

This persecution will not just be “outside.” The persecution they can expect will also touch their homes and their families. There will be those among their own families who will persecute them. And, for those they reach, they too will face persecution by their families.

You can expect that your message will not make you popular. In fact, Jesus says, “You will be hated by all.” Everyone who does not believe in me will hate you!”

Matt 10:23 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.

In being wise as serpents and harmless as doves, Jesus exhorts them to flee when they do face persecution in a town.

The next phrase is difficult to know exactly what Jesus was referring to. “You will not have gone through all the towns before I come.” Commentaries aren’t clear on what Jesus meant by this. What “coming” was he talking about?

One thought is that he was referring to the immediate mission, and that they would not have time to go throughout all of Israel in the time He was giving them. Which was likely true.

But, there is also a lot referring to future ministry in this passage, that didn’t take place during the current mission, but that they would experience later, after Jesus was gone. In light of that, these words probably have a future fulfillment in mind also, the 2nd coming of Christ.

Matt 10:24-25 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵It 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.

On two occasions now, the Pharisees have publically declared Jesus to be demon possessed, and that his power to cast out demons was by the prince of demons.” (Matt 12:24; Matt 9:33-34) Jesus reminds the disciples of how He has been treated and exhorts them to expect to be treated the same way.

Matt 10:26-27 So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ²⁷What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

Even though they are to expect persecution and expect to be misunderstood, Jesus encourages them not to fear. The truth will be revealed.

They would have witnessed how Jesus responded to the accusations against him. He didn’t retaliate. He didn’t fight back or try to argue and defend himself. Jesus knew the truth would be revealed. He knew the truth, and rested in the care of His Father.

Jesus exhorts them not to fear, but to boldly declare what He has said!

Matt 10:28-33 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. ²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Jesus has been living this out before them. They have seen how He responds in the heat of the moment, and under such grievous false accusations. “Don’t be afraid of those who can only kill the body.” They can’t touch you. My source of peace is not found in this world, it’s found with my Father in heaven! Because your source of peace is not found in this world either, don’t worry about what may happen to you here.

Jesus has been living this out before them. Now He is calling them to live as He does. “Not one sparrow falls apart from your Father. My Father knows even number of the hairs on your head! You are of much greater value than sparrows!”

Matt 10:32-33 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ³³but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

The result of your conversation is in God’s hands. It’s not for you to concern yourself with how they respond. God will honor those who respond to Him and will judge those who don’t. But, that’s God’s prerogative. It’s our job to simply preach the Word. We are just gardeners, preparing ground, tilling, and planting, God is the harvester!

Matt 10:34-36 Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 

Keeping the context in mind. Jesus has been rejected by the nation. He was now building a new kingdom that is different from the Messianic Kingdom. This Kingdom would not be a political kingdom, or a kingdom based on ethnicity (Jew/Gentile), It would be in the hearts of men. (Mark 4:26-29) Therefore this kingdom, instead of uniting families and the nation, will cause division.

As Jesus sent his disciples out to preach to the lost sheep of Israel, their message would produce tension and conflict because within families and communities because Jesus Himself was the point of division. They would be divided over following Him, or following their religious leaders in their rejection.

Matt 10:37-39 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

The context here is the acceptance of Jesus. The religious leaders had rejected Him and in time, the whole nation would follow suit. In the end only his disciples would continue to follow him, and even they would deny Him and runaway in the crisis in the garden. Jesus was calling for a belief that would transcend family, clan, tribe, race and culture. The call was for Jesus to be more important in their life than anything or anyone. It would cost them their lives (which it did, literally, for the disciples). But when they were willing to die to themselves, that is when they really started living! That sounds like what Paul said in Phil 1:20-21.

Matt 10:40-42 Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. ⁴¹The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴²And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Jesus concludes His instructions with encouraging His disciples with the truth that, as Jesus ambassadors, those who received them, were receiving Him. Jesus uses 3 different illustrations to describe the disciples and people’s reception of them: Prophets, righteous person, little ones… The people who received them, and who would give them cold water, were receiving Jesus. And those who did, “by no means lose their reward.” Jesus was saying, these are the remnant who would believe and who would be part of His kingdom. The reward is receiving his kingdom. Their reception of the disciples, showed they were believing their message.

In the midst of the confusion and the rejection of Jesus, Jesus was encouraging the disciples that there are still believers out there. And He was sending them to find them and bring this message of the new kingdom to them.