As you know, we've been going through Matthew 10 in our Sabbath Bible study.
I wanted to share with you what I had organized for the online teaching class that and I had never before taken Matthew 10 apart. And I've gone over it many times, of course, but never in the way that I had. When I learned that Matthew is made up, or Matthew includes, five discourses, five lengthy discourses by Jesus Christ to his disciples and sometimes to the public, but usually to the disciples, as this one in Matthew 10 is, and that in that there is such instruction and so many powerful things that are there that I wanted to share that with you and bring it to the congregation. So we're in Matthew 10, and let me begin this one section, verse 16. This is the second section of the instruction that's contained in here. I explained that previously. So Matthew 10, 16, Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. These are men he's specifically sending. And I want to emphasize it's written to all of us to have, but it's written especially to these men who would be apostles, because this applies to them far more than any other members of the church.
They were literally sent as sheep in the midst of wolves, and we covered that in some detail. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You'll 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 will speak, for it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak. For it's not you who speak, but the spirit of your father who speaks in you. This is why it applies to them mostly, because they were going to be put in a hot seat, and they were going to speak, and he was going to inspire them in a special way. Verse 21, and this is where we left off last time, so we're picking it up now, starting again. Now brothers shall deliver up brother to death, and father his child, and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for my namesake. 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, and I've explained that phrase, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. You know, many today think that Jesus came to bring peace to the world.
That will be true in his second coming, unless of course you happen to find yourself among the armies surrounding Jerusalem that he's going to fight when he returns. If you're in that group, you won't get peace. But anybody else then on the earth is destined to have peace at his second coming. But peace won't be possible until those armies are destroyed. And that's got many implications that I don't want to go into. But bringing peace was not the purpose of his first coming. You see, his first coming, first of all, was to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of God. And he had to proclaim it to a world in spiritual darkness. And the second purpose he came was to establish his church, which would carry on his work. And the church, of course, is called out of this world, but nevertheless lives in it. And third, he came to suffer and die for the sins of all mankind, as we heard in the sermonette. Later, in verse 34 of chapter 10, he will state this even more plainly. But anyway, at the point he said that bringing peace was not his purpose at that particular time. He says in verse 22, and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. You will be hated by all. Now, brethren, I hope we see the implications of that.
The last study in this series, we went through James, John 3, 18 to 20. Men hate the light. They won't go to the light because it exposes it. They don't like it. And that's why they killed them, of course, because he taught the truth. And that's why they also persecute those who walk in the light he brought from the Father. If you're going to truly walk in the light from the Father, there are people who aren't going to like it. The notion that is common in the Protestant world, and sometimes creeps in among us, that if members of the Church are really friendly to the world, they will like us. That sounds good. You know, he does say, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father. But he also said they hate the light, and the assumption if your light is shining it'll be welcomed is misguided, or can be misguided.
So we want to be careful about that. He said you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. Increasingly today, it's the Christians that carry his name, who are being persecuted.
We see that in Muslim countries like Egypt and Nigeria. I just got an article yesterday from the Times of Israel. Jim Tuck puts out a news summary every week, and this was included in it. Christian leaders in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, with two Q's, not the one in the Bible, although they may be related, captured an organization formally attained...
sorry, Christian leaders in the northern Syria city of Raqqa, captured by an organization formally affiliated with al-Qaeda, have signed a submission document this week, banning them from practicing Christianity in public, and in return for protection by their Islamist rulers. The document, dated Sunday, and disseminated through Islamist accounts, states that the Christian community in the province of Raqqa, captured last month by the Islamic state of Iraq and the Levant, was recently given three options. Three options. One to convert to Islam. That's your first option. Two, to remain Christians but play its submission to Islam.
Three, face the sword.
This is in their doctrines.
They opted for the second choice. Then it mentions, in return, Christians agreed to a list of conditions to abstain from renovating churches or monasteries in Raqqa, not to display crosses or religious symbols in public or use loudspeakers in prayer. Use loudspeakers in prayer? How does it tie with what Christ thought? Nor to read scripture indoors loud enough for Muslims standing outside to hear. Not to undertake subversive activities against Muslims, not to carry out any religious ceremonies outside the church, not to prevent any Christian wishing to convert to Islam from doing so, to respect Islam and Muslims and say nothing offensive about them, to pay the tax, special tax, worth four golden dinars for the rich, two for the average, and one for the poor, twice annually for each adult Christian, and to refrain from drinking alcohol in public and dress modestly.
That's the conditions. You will be hated of all. And they carry that name, even though they don't know certain things that God has shown us in His kindness. But even in our country, evangelicals have been defamed because they won't accept homosexuality. Gay marriage, abortion, and access to plan B. They're not comfortable with that in their religion, but they're being targeted by it. And it's being forced by our government. Astonishing, the federal government is attempting to force Catholic groups to finance contraception, which is against their beliefs. I can't believe that's happening in America. And our leaders are ignoring, as I said in the past's update yesterday, any law in the book of God or man, God's laws, man's laws, against homosexual behavior of any kind.
They're trying to get that, the whole nation going that direction, and it's working.
We are living in an increasingly lawless age. And those who respect the Bible, both Christians and Jews, will be hated for obeying and supporting God's laws. It's just how it's going to go. He said, you'll be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
And though he has many names, the best known is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord, the one we all obey above all others. Jesus, the name under the only name of the heaven whereby men can be saved. And Christ, the promised Messiah, God's anointed, described in Psalm 2. And I'd like to review Psalm 2.
Psalm 2, the second Psalm. The heading put in there by men under the title of Psalm 2 in my Bible is the message of the Messiah's triumphant kingdom. Why do the nations, various nations of the earth, rage and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed. His anointed means his Messiah. Saying, let's break their bonds and pieces and cast away their cords from us. Let's throw away God's law. Let's throw away God's instruction. We'll cast their cords away.
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then he shall speak to them in his wrath and distress them in his deep displeasure. Yet I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree. The Lord has said to me, you are my son. Today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance. I hope this congregation understands what the inheritance is that was promised to Abraham at his seed. I will give you the nations for your inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Do you know how easy it is to break a potter's vessel? You hit it and it just shatters. Now therefore be wise, O kings, be instructed, you judges of the earth, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son. Actually, apparently the Hebrew isn't exactly kiss, but it shall respect or honor. Lest he be angry. You don't want this king upset. Kiss the son. Lest he be angry. And you perish in the way when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are those who put their trust in him. He said you're going to be persecuted by all nations for his namesake. And it's really something. His name indicates his authority and also his commission from the Father to see that God's will is done on the earth. As we saw in Psalm 2, God will set his king on his holy hill of Zion and no one's going to prevent it.
But most people today on earth think they can break their bonds and pieces and cast away their cords. So many people on earth do not want God's rule in anything unless they repent. Folks with that outlook will eventually perish.
God's got a way to show everybody the way and hopefully we'll all take it when God makes it plain to us because the world's aligned it. They don't see it. And he says, but he who endures to the end will be saved. Now he's speaking this to the apostles in particular. As I explained to the guys when I was giving the class, we and our congregations need to understand this. So I explained to them how often I've covered this in Chicago and that the word endures. That is, Strong says, bear trials, have fortitude, persevere, abide, endure, patient, suffer. Literally, as you know, it's an abiding under, hoopomeno. It means to abide under. And as I say here, we call it hoopimony. And here's an interesting comment from the expositive Bible commentary. The one who stands firm, the verb hoopomeno, does not signify active resistance.
It's not talk about resisting the authorities.
The verb hoopomeno does not signify active resistance so much as patient endurance. I think we all have to understand that. And then they give four verses where the verb is used.
First one is in Daniel. I'll just read it to you. Of course, it's that the Greek word is used in the Septuagint in Daniel. So it says, blessed is he who waits and comes to 1335 days. They use the same word to endure in the Hebrew when they translate it into the Greek. Mark 1313, and you will be hated of all for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end shall be saved. Romans 1212, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, enduring in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. 1 Peter 2, verse 20. 1 Peter 2, 20. For what credit is it when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? You endure it when you're beaten for your faults. But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, if you endure, this is commendable before God. We have a lot of people going through a lot of stuff, and we all have to endure. Luke 21, Luke 21, there must be something in the fan up here, the air up here, that makes you lose the scriptures.
Luke 21, verse 16. Luke 21, verse 16. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends. They will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all for my namesake, but not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience, by your endurance, you possess your souls. By your endurance, possess your souls. To endure is what is going to keep that soul and have it changed. It's important for us to understand this point, especially in these times we're living in. I hope we all comprehend that salvation depends on our patient endurance, and it takes faith to remain faithful under severe trial. The noun, usually translated patience in the King James, is used 31 times to encourage Christians to remain faithful to the end.
Expositors note on chapter 10, verse 22, suggest the phrase indicates to endure without breaking down. I find that one helpful. I hope you do, too. Godly patience or endurance, a fruit of God's spirit, will enable God's servants to stand firm. When speaking of end-time events, Jesus Christ said that eternal life will depend on God's spirit, producing the fruit of patient endurance in his people. It's very serious. And he said, we must endure to the end. The admonition that we endure to the end is given in Matthew 10.22, 24.13, Mark 13.13. It's given here three times. We must endure the end of the age or the end of our physical life, whichever comes first. The greatest example of enduring to the end is, of course, Jesus Christ. Let me just have a look at Hebrews chapter 12.
Hebrews the 12th chapter.
Hebrews chapter 12, and beginning in verse 1. Therefore, we also, since we are so rounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, which he listed in chapter 11, he kept going over examples of people from the Old Testament who remained faithful. Therefore also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and run with patience or with endurance as it is there. And that's the noun. The race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured, that's the verb, the cross. The more I learn about the cross and the suffering, and there are many things coming out these days that help explain it, it did take enduring.
Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down on the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who endured, again the verb, such hostility from sinners against himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. We have Jesus as the example who endured, and nobody wants to go through what he went through.
Back to Matthew 10 and verse 23.
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. Okay, when they persecute you in this city, flee to another. That statement seems pretty simple, doesn't it? They persecute you here, move over there. And it is simple. That statement's not a problem. It's the rest of the verse that they have troubles with in the commentaries.
The message of Matthew, which is by Moody's, and David Stern, the Jewish JPS, they don't even address it in their commentaries. They don't address this verse.
Adam, Clark, JF and B, and Wycliffe all comment but give very tentative explanation. Well, maybe it says, maybe it's that, and they go back and forth, and they don't really know. They're not speaking with authority. The NIV Study Bible says this. Jesus saying here is probably, Jesus' saying here is probably best understood is referring to his coming in judgment on the Jews when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 AD. So he's talking about 70 AD, according to the NIV Study Bible. You'll be surprised by the expositive Bible commentary. They say this verse is among the most difficult in the New Testament canon.
Why is it difficult? Well, they're unsure which coming of the Son of Man is being referred to. His resurrection, which is the coming of the Son of Man, the judgment about to come on Jerusalem, or his end-time return to the earth. They don't know which one it is.
And they're also unsure about the cities of Israel. You want to go over the cities of Israel, he said, until the Son of Man comes. So who's Israel? Israel. All these events took place in Judah.
Israel was carried captive centuries before.
So they're trying to figure out, wait a minute here, what's he talking about?
And they spill a lot of ink trying to explain this verse, pages and pages. We are blessed in our time and in the church to understand who the house of Israel is.
Mr. Armstrong saw himself as commissioned by God as a watchman to warn the house of Israel of troubles to come.
Look at Ezekiel, if you would, chapter 3. Ezekiel. It is more difficult today to find the scriptures.
At least for two of us.
Ezekiel chapter 3 and verse 1. When's the last time you heard this verse? Moreover, he said to me, Son of man, eat what you find, eat the scroll and go and speak to the house of Israel.
So I opened my mouth and he caused me to eat that scroll. He said to me, Son of man, feed your belly and fill your stomach with the scroll that I will give you. So I ate. It was in my mouth like honey and sweetness. Then he said to me, Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them.
For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel. You see how many times you're talking about the house of Israel here?
Not too many people of unfamiliar speech or hard language, whose words you cannot understand, surely had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you.
That's a telling statement.
But the house of Israel will not listen to you because they will not listen to me. Let's cast off their bonds and all that. For they will not listen to me. For all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted.
Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their forehead. Now, brethren, I knew Mr. Armstrong.
And when he felt God wanted him to do something, I felt this scripture applied to him. His face was hard. When he felt, you could talk to him, but it was easy to talk to. Very pleasant to talk to. But when he said something about what God wanted him to do, firm.
Remarkably firm. Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their forehead. Like Adam and Stone, higher than Flint, have I made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house. Now look at verse 16 of Ezekiel chapter 3.
Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Therefore, hear a word from my mouth, and give them warning from me. Give them warning from me.
And then he says, when you say to the wicked, you're going to die, and he changes? Great! If he doesn't change, you deliver yourself.
But if you don't warn them, then their blood is going to be on your head.
Now Ezekiel prophesied over 130 years after the house of Israel had been taken captive by Assyria, and to Assyria.
His prophecy was written during the Babylonian captivity, so he was not in contact with the house of Israel. And yet God says to him, go to the house of Israel.
The United States and British Commonwealth and Prophecy copyright 1967, pages 169 and 170 in the hardcover. Mr. Armstrong wrote this. The prophet Ezekiel was commissioned to go from where he was among the Jews to go to the house of Israel. Go, speak to the house of Israel, said God. Ezekiel 3.1. And again, go, get the unto the house of Israel, verse 4. But Ezekiel never took that message to the lost house of Israel. He couldn't. He was a slave among the Jews. Yet he is taking it to them today by means of having written it in his book in the Bible, and by the fact that it's being taken to those very people today by the plain truth and the world tomorrow prophecy.
World tomorrow broadcast. It is a prophecy. It's a message for our peoples today. You are reading it now! God help you heed, he wrote.
And that went over 50 years to this nation, Australia, Britain, all over the earth, but mostly to the English-speaking countries.
Not only to them, but mostly to them.
I think you will agree that although Mr. Armstrong preached for 50 years, I count that from 34 to 86, yet I don't think he would say that he had gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man came.
I don't think he got to every city. We tried!
Perhaps these verses in Matthew 10 are more prophetic than we realize.
We noted earlier in Matthew 10 that we noted when he says, For assuredly I say to you, back here in Matthew 10 and verse 22, verse 23, For assuredly I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. That that signal is the end of a section, according to James and Fawcett Brown. And there are three sections in Matthew 10. And so we're beginning now the last section. And by the way, I have not seen that break made in any pagination, any Bible that I've looked at. Now, there may be one that breaks it there, but this one goes right through. The New King James continues it right through. But we're going to look at it as though that's the end of that section, as James and Fawcett Brown, and then begins another section, of what James and Fawcett Brown said the third part, Matthew 10, 24 to 42, is of wider application still, reaching out not only to the ministry of the gospel in every age, but the service of Christ in a widest sense. So it's going to be a wide sense.
Now, as I said, there's no subject here, but we could put one in. If I were to put one in, I'd call it, a disciple must follow his teacher in everything. A disciple must follow his teacher in everything. Matthew 10, beginning in verse 24. A disciple is not above his teacher. Now, he's speaking this to the ones he's going to send out, and all but one will die in his service.
A disciple is not above his teacher nor a servant above his master. It's enough for a disciple that he'd be like his teacher and a servant like his master. If they've called the master of the house Baalzebub, how much more will they call those of his household? Therefore, do not fear them, for there's nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known. Now, first of all, let's notice the parallelism in the roles of Christ and his followers. A disciple has a teacher, but is not above it. A servant has a master and is not above him. Faithful disciples, servants, are striving to become like their teacher-master. That's what they're striving to do. I love Luke 6, verse 40. I'll just quote it to you here. Luke 6, verse 40. A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. A disciple is not above his teacher. A disciple is not above his teacher. But everyone who is perfectly trained, when we're trained perfectly, we will be like our teacher, Jesus Christ.
That's a very important thing for us to realize.
However, let's also note this. The more they are like their teacher or master, the more they will be treated the same way he was.
He said, if they have called the master of the house Baalzebub, how much more will they call those of his household? Expositor's Bible commentary, Baalzebul, they don't spell it the same way, is recognized in the New Testament as the Prince of Demons and identifies with Satan and took a bunch of scriptures. Thus, the real head of the house, Jesus, who heads the household of God, is being willfully confused with the head of the house of demons.
The charge is shockingly vile. The Messiah himself rejected his Satan. If so, why should his disciples expect less?
JF&B, in all these relations, he says here, he and they are so bound up together that they cannot look to fare better than he and should be thinking enough that they fare no worse.
That's the point Jesus was making. If they called me this, then what are they going to...
It's important to realize that. Verse 26, Therefore, do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known. The disciples or servants of Jesus Christ are not to fear those who persecute, or speak, or work against them. And he gives three reasons why.
Three reasons why.
First one is, Nothing is covered that shall not be revealed and hidden that will not be known. The first reason is that in the day of judgment, all evil works will be revealed and known to everyone. That is a frightening thought.
Ecclesiastes ends this way. Ecclesiastes 12, 14. I'll just read it to you. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Now, of course, if we're forgiven, it's gone. That's not the problem. But if we're hanging on to it, it's got to be revealed. In 1 Corinthians 4, verse 5, where they were judging Paul, he tells them in 1 Corinthians 4, verse 5, Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring both to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts, then each one's praise will come from God.
An astonishing thing.
In my experience, and maybe yours too, that sometimes God seems to handle a few things before then.
He seems to handle some things before then, but the real time is then. That's the important one. Continuing in Matthew 10, verse 27, 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. All. Some people that's easier than others.
Do not fear, therefore, you are more value than many sparrows.
Back to verse 27. What I tell you in the dark speak in the light, and what you hear in the ear preach on the housetops. Most understand this verse to mean that Christ had spoken some things in darkness which they were to later proclaim openly. That's commonly thought. Exposers Bible commentary. In a sense, the apostles were to have more of a public ministry than Jesus himself. He told them things in private, some of them which they did not understand until after the resurrection. And then they have expressions. But they were to teach them fully and publicly.
That teaching is not right.
That teaching is not right.
That view implies that Jesus gave some teaching to the apostles only.
Look at John chapter 18.
John chapter 18 and verse 19.
John 18 and verse 19.
The high priest then asked Jesus, John 18-19. The high priest then asked Jesus about his disciples and his doctrine.
See, that wasn't the way you're supposed to conduct trial.
You're supposed to have a witness who said this is what he said. You're supposed to have them already lined up and ready to go. So this guy's fishing. The high priest asked Jesus about his disciples and his doctrine. Sounds like the IRS. Who are your donors and what do you pray about?
Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where the Jews always meet. And in secret, I have said nothing.
Jesus didn't say anything in secret.
Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard me what I said. Indeed, they know what I said.
You should have the witnesses ready. He said, if I'm already in court and already bound, I'm not going to be in court. Okay. Let's how do we understand this? In this third section of teaching in Matthew 10, he seems to have been preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit, which would inspire them directly and individually. Look at John 16, back a few pages.
John 16, verse 12.
John 16, verse 12. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when he, the Spirit of Truth, has come, it will guide you into all truth. They had some truth. The Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth. For it will not speak of its own authority, but whatever it hears, it will speak, and it will tell you things to come. It will glorify me. One of the things in God's Spirit is it always glorifies God. If somebody is bragging on themselves, that's not God's Spirit speaking. It will glorify me, for it will take of what of mine and declare it to you.
All things that the Father has in mind, therefore I said that He will take of mine and declare it to you.
So I think that explains what you hear, what you learn through the Holy Spirit. Speak out!
Make it plain. Verse 28. And do not fear those who can kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Okay, the second reason not to fear is, the worst men can do is to terminate your physical life. That's the worst they can do.
But God will determine whether we are granted everlasting life or perish in Gehenna, the fire that destroys the wicked after the judgment. Jesus didn't fear those who could kill the body. You think about that?
He set the example.
And neither will His faithful disciples.
When I went over with the guys, I said, I'm sure most of you have explained this verse many times about you kill the soul. The whole idea that God can kill the soul, the idea of the soul as immortal, this doesn't tie up at all. God can kill it. He can end the life completely, but rather fear Him as able to destroy both soul and body in hell. He could call the end. So don't feel the one that can only kill the body, but can't kill the soul.
And in case many of those elders hadn't explained it, I pointed them to the United Church of God booklet, What Happens After Death, page 10, where there's a little explanation on this verse.
Verse 29, Matthew 10, verse 29. 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 numbered. Do not fear, therefore, for you are more value than many sparrows. The third reason we're not the fear men is, the father values his servants highly.
Expositors' commentary says, your father adds a piquant touch.
This God of all province is the disciple's father. God's sovereignty is not limited only to life and death issues. Even the hairs of our head are counted. Jesus' third argument against fear is, thus, the very opposite of what is commonly advanced. People say God cares about the big things, but not about the little details. But Jesus says that God's sovereignty over the tiniest detail should give us confidence that he also super intends the larger matters.
He's over everything. Even the little tiny details.
When you think about it, the whole purpose of the physical creation, all the heavens and the earth, and all that's out there from the largest to the smallest that we're still trying to contemplate, the whole purpose is for the Father and Jesus Christ to share eternal life with their children. That's the whole purpose of the whole thing.
And so he cares about it very much. If you look at Romans chapter 8, Romans chapter 8, beginning in verse 19, well, maybe I should start in verse 18.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time, and Paul had more than his share, for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected to futility.
Not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope, because the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption or decay or winding down. It creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. The glorious liberty. When that is revealed, it's going to be astonishing. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs until now. And the older I get, the more I have groans.
I think I told you, I told my chiropractor, these are groanings that can be uttered.
Verse 23, Not only that, but we also have the first fruits of the Spirit. Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the sonship. It should be. The redemption of our body. For the change from physical to Spirit.
After the physical creation has accomplished God's great purpose, the Father and His children will dwell in a new heavens and a new earth. Peter says, wherein righteousness dwells.
Back to Matthew 10, Verse 32.
Therefore, whoever confesses me before men, him will I also confess before my Father, who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him will I deny before my Father, who is in heaven. The first thing we should note here is the parallelism. A, B, A, B. A, those who confess him. B, he will confess. Conversely, A, those who deny him. B, he will deny before the Father.
Here's an example of what's called the law of just retribution. You remember Matthew 7, too? For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged. And with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. It's a just thing. We are treated the same way we treat others. Or, as Paul wrote, we reap what we sow.
Now this word confesses. Vines dictionary confesses to declare openly, by way of speaking out freely, such confession being the effect of deep conviction of facts.
The word is also used in other places. Matthew 7, 23. And there I will declare, here it's translated declare, to them, I never knew you, depart from me you who practice lawlessness.
You confess or declare. And in John 9, 22, it says, his parents said to those things because they feared the Jews. For the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed him, confessed that he was the Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. If anybody, you know, what they said in private is fine. When they said publicly that he's the Christ, they would receive persecution. It's getting like that today on other subjects. You say certain things, they're going to come after you. It's the way it's going.
It's interesting, the same word was used here by Herod, when after the daughter Herodias danced before him, he said he promised or he declared or he confessed with an oath to give whatever she asked for. And once he had promised or confessed or declared, he couldn't back down from delivering the head of John the Baptist. That's the same way.
Jesus is Melchizedek, the high priest of the heavenly temple. The high priest intercedes for his people before God. Jesus also said, no one comes to the Father except through me. So to be acknowledged by Jesus, the high priest, as his disciple, is the key to salvation. There'll be no salvation without him stating that.
In Mark 838, he made the same point negatively, just to emphasize it. I'll just read it to you. Mark 838, For whoever is ashamed of me, and my words, and this adulterous and sinful generation of him, the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. So he's telling his disciples here that Christians must openly and unashamedly acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Master, and not be shy about it.
He said in Matthew 10, verse 34, Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. I said in verse 34, he makes his point very plainly. Well, he did. Do not think I came to bring peace on the 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.
Many Old Testament prophecies tell of the blessing that will come with the arrival of the Messiah, or Hebrew, the Anointed One. Most of those prophecies will be filled at his second coming when he comes as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. His first coming, though clearly prophesied, was unexpected by most. As I already mentioned, he first came to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God to a world in darkness, to establish his church, which is called out of this world but nevertheless lives in it, and to suffer and die for the sins of all mankind. As we saw above, this world hates Christ's light.
That's why they killed him. And that's why they'll also hate those who walk in that light, as I've already said. Even families, he said, were split over the teachings of Jesus Christ.
You might want to look at Micah, chapter 7, verses 1-6. Micah. This is where this prophecy comes from.
Micah, chapter 7.
I'll read it to you, and I think you'll see it's getting like that today.
I'll read it to you from the NIV. Micah, chapter 7, the first six verses. What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleanings of the vineyard. Now, the gleanings came after the harvest.
The gleanings were what was left. The harvest already comes through. So the gleanings are done at the end of the harvest. What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleanings of the vineyard. There is no cluster of grapes to eat. None of the early figs that I crave. No good fruit available. The godly have been swept from the land.
Not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood. Each hunts his brother with a net. Both hands are skilled at doing evil. The rulers demand gifts.
That's how our system works.
The rulers demand gifts. The judge accepts bribes. The powerful dictate what they desire. They all conspire together. The best of them is like a briar. The most upright, worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchman has come. The day God visits you. Now is the time of their confusion. Do not trust a neighbor. Put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your bosom, be careful of your words. For a son dishonors his father. A daughter rises against her mother. A daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's enemies are the members of his own household. Can you see that's happening in the nation already? It's going that direction.
It's going that direction. Let's cover one more section here. In a few minutes. Matthew 10, verses 37-39. He says... Matthew 10, verses 37-39... He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 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 namesake will find it. When we're counseling for baptism, we always make this vital point using Luke 14.35. 14.25-35. Our allegiance to Christ and the Father must be greater than our allegiance to our families and even our own lives. We go over that. Do you remember the incident of the golden calf when Israel was coming out of Egypt? The children of Israel had just a few weeks before entered into the Mount Sinai covenant with God. And I want you to notice what was written in the agreement. In Exodus 22, verse 20, Exodus 22, verse 20, he says this, and they had all agreed to this, He who sacrifices to any God except the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed. Utterly destroyed. The expositor's commentary on the word destroyed says, Yahum means he must be destroyed. Hrem is something devoted to God. However, it's not a voluntary, but an involuntary dedication. It is now set apart to be banned from the earth and will be totally come back to God. Thus a wall, as if it were, the king's wives, or harem, were walled off from others. The words associated there, isolates the anathematized person, place, or thing from anyone touching, using, or benefiting from it ever again. Compare Achan's sin for taking one of the devoted items set apart for destruction in Joshua 7.13. The reason I bring this up is, anciently, the tribe of Levi faithfully carried out God's command to destroy those who had worshipped other gods. That's what the agreement was. Anyone sacrificed to any other god? He's destroyed. If you look back, and when you'll go to Exodus 32, Exodus 32, and verse 25, Exodus 32, and verse 35. Sorry, 25. Everything's going up, but not that fast. Exodus 32, 25. Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained, for Aaron had not restrained them to their shame among their enemies, then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp and said, Whosever on the Lord's side come to me? And all the sons of Levi gathered together, gathered themselves, gathered themselves together to him. And he said to them, Thus says the Lord of God of Israel, let every man put on his sword on his side and go out, go in and out from the entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor, so the sons of Levi did according to the word of God. Those who had worshiped as golden calf were in trouble. They disagreed because somebody else, you're in trouble, and would be destroyed. The Levites faithfully carried out God's command. Look at Deuteronomy chapter 33. Deuteronomy chapter 33. You may know that this is the prophecy Moses gave about the future of the children of Israel. Jacob had done that in Genesis 49, and Moses does it again in Deuteronomy 33. And in verse 8, Deuteronomy 33 and verse 8. And of Levi, he said, Let your thumb and your urim be with your holy one, the appeal to God, the looking to God for directions, whom you tested at Masah, and with whom you contended into the waters of Miraba, who says to his father and mother, I have not seen them. Nor did he acknowledge his brothers, or know his own children, for they have observed your word. Levi stood up and kept God's command, regardless of family considerations.
For they have observed your word and kept your covenant. They shall teach Jacob your judgment, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you. He would use that tribe to stand before him. And he uses that term, stand before. And a whole burnt sacrifice in your altar, bless his substance, Lord, and accept the work of his hands. Strike the loins of those who rise against them, and of those who hate him, so they do not rise again. Moses asked God to deal with those who turn against the faithful Levi.
It's strong stuff. It's strong stuff. Their loyalty to God was greater than their loyalty to family. Now, remember this. Jesus said, that's the condition for all Christians. They must be more loyal to God than to family. He said, if not willing to do that, they're not worthy of me. We are actually reluctant to declare humans as worthy of anything, except perhaps death.
But Jesus' words clearly indicate that his servants must be worthy of him. We're familiar with Luke's wording. If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters, yes, his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. So likewise, whosoever you does not forsake all that he has, cannot be my disciple. We know a disciple is one being taught by Jesus Christ. And he plainly says that if we're not willing to forsake all we have, he won't accept this as one of his disciples.
That's a condition of discipleship. That means he won't accept this as a student in his class. What worthy means becomes clear where Matthew's, from Matthew's previous word, use of the Greek word, worthy. In Matthew 3.8, John the Baptist says, bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. Showed by the fruits that they're to be worthy of repentance. And in Matthew 10.19, we just read that a couple weeks ago, Matthew 10.19, sorry, Matthew 10.9 to 13. Matthew 10.9 to 13. I'll just read it. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper for your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tourniquets, nor sandals, nor staffs, for a worker is worthy of his food.
Now to whatever city you enter, inquire who is in it, is worthy. And stay there till you go out. And when you go out, when you go out, go into a household, greet it. And if the household is worthy, let your peace be upon it. But if it's not worthy, let your peace return to you.
And he'll use it again in Matthew 22 about those who refused his invitation to attend the son's wedding. Then he said to his servants, the wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore, go out to the highways, and as many as you can find, invite to the wedding. Worthy describes those whose fruits show they respect God, they obey Him, and they're loyal to Him above all.
Those who comprehend the kingdom of God, that is, they've been given granted eternal life with God, will view God as more important than father, mother, or daughter. Eternal life is just greater than that. Let's remember, though, that this understanding must be revealed through God's Spirit. He said in 1 Corinthians, for what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him?
Even so, no one knows the things of God, the things of God, except the Spirit of God. Now, we receive not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God or which is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. We've got to comprehend the gospel to be able to hang in here, to endure, and to see if it's more important than physical life or any other consideration.
As I see it, those who drop out of God's church have not comprehended that pearl of great price, as Jesus called it, for which we have to forsake everything else to pursue it. And it's very important that we see that. And he says in verse 38, And he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. When I was a young Methodist in my early teen years, it was generally accepted that bearing your cross meant enduring some difficult trial individually. During the Second World War, Winston Churchill said that the cross he had to endure was Francis Charles the Gaul.
But that's not how we understand that verse. Expositor's Bible commentary, I think, has it right. Taking one's cross does not mean putting up with some awkward or tragic situation in one's life, but painfully dying to the self. In that sense, every disciple of Jesus bears the same cross. We each have to take up our own cross and put the old man to death. Each of us has to do that. Let's go to Romans 6.
Romans 6. He says in verse 3, Romans 6 verse 3, Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, that justice Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. Even so, we should also walk in newness of life. The old man has to die. For we've been planted together in his likeness of his death. Certainly we shall be in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. And you'll remember this verse from Galatians in chapter 2. I'll read to you from the King James, Galatians chapter 2, 18 to 20. For if I build again the things which I destroyed that was the old man, I make myself a transgressor. For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of... King James has it right? Other ones don't. I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God. Where if righteousness came through the law, then Christ is dead in vain. So it's the death of the old self. We have to put that self to death. Bear is cross. We carry it. We agree that that old self needs to be put to death. For he who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. Believing Christians know this present physical life is just temporary. Everlasting life in the kingdom of God can be ours only through Jesus Christ. Jesus lost his physical life for the truth, and his physical life, his disciples will follow his example if they're called upon to do that. In 2 Corinthians chapter 4, 16 to 18, 2 Corinthians chapter 4, 16 to 18, he said, Therefore we do not lose heart. For even though our outward man is perishing, and that's more as you go, you get you understand that one you did before, at least I do, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day for our light affliction, which is but for a moment is working for us a far more exceeding and internal weight of glory. While we do not look at the things which are seen, I love this, we don't look at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen. Christians look at the things that are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are seen, which are not seen, are eternal. Okay, to conclude, in the next section, which we won't go into, Jesus turns to explaining that his disciples must follow his examples and how his followers should be received. We'll cover that next time.
