Words of Jesus Part 7

Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

This commandment was for that time only. Later Jesus changes this commandment to, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel." At this time it was given to the lost house of Israel. When they rejected it, the gospel went to the Gentiles. However, in this day and age many Jews are coming to Christ by the thousands. So the gospel is returning to the original recipients. This should make our hearts rejoice.

Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Notice the words, "freely ye have received, freely give." This part of the commandment is for all of us. Signs should be following believers. We are not to follow the signs. We are to freely give though, not beg and manipulate people to give to a certain ministry. The gospel should always be free.

Its okay to take willing, freewill offerings because those that give up secular jobs to pastor a church or go into the mission fields need support, but to put guilt trips on people, promise them money in return and other gimmicks should never be done. I even think church dinners should be free and ask for donations only. Then the poor can be fed as well as those with money. I know of churches doing this and they get more in donations than they would have if they had sold the dinners. If by chance you don't get back more, then consider it a community service to feed the hungry. We need to get back to the "giving" rather than receiving mode on the ministry side. In saying that though, to give to ministries with a heart of love is best. It makes us part of spreading the gospel.

Matthew 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

God would lay it on someone's heart to receive them and show them hospitality. They were to trust God for their basic needs. Back then people often took travelers into their homes.

Matthew 10:11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

Those given to hospitality is probably what is meant by being worthy.

Matthew 10:12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

If they refuse the message of the gospel and become unfriendly and inhospitable do not wish peace upon them.

Matthew 10:14 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 face God's judgment if we reject the gospel because that is the only way of salvation. Jesus paid a high price for our salvation. Salvation is a gift from God that He didn't have to supply. To reject it is the reject the only way to avoid judgment over our sins. Receiving Jesus into our lives, brings us forgiveness of sins, cleansing of past sins and a new body that can never die.

Matthew 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Sodom and Gomorrah were evil and vile but they did not have the message of the gospel preached to them. That means that those that reject the gospel will suffer a worse judgment than Sodom and Gomorrah. It's like someone who pays a high price to get someone out of prison but the prisoner refuses to leave the prison. Most of them would not be stupid enough to reject that offer but many prefer to remain in their sins rather than be set free.

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.

Don't be stupid and fall into traps of the enemy but also do not harm anyone. This speaks loudly against any who would use the word of God to browbeat, persecute and force Christianity or any religion on people. We are not to physically harm anyone. The gospel of the kingdom can never be forced. How can one force someone to love, believe and receive something that only God can give?

Matthew 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

Many religions and secular governments will not tolerate the gospel and message of Jesus Christ. Even today we have much persecution in the world. The religious ones think that they are agents of God but they are not. The secular ones are blinded by Satan also. They will face God in judgment if they do not repent.

Matthew 10:18 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.

We are not to study and plan how to answer the charges brought against us but trust the Holy Spirit to speak. If we read the account of Stephen in the book of Act, we would see an example of this.

Matthew 10:21 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.

For religious reasons or for gain, many will betray one another. Some may just be afraid to go against those in control.

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

They that live godly and believe on Jesus Christ is hated by the world, by false religions and by those that do not live godly.

Matthew 10:23 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.

This must have a latter day fulfillment. The gospel will be preached to cities in Israel again.

Matthew 10:24 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?

Don't be surprised if those spreading the gospel are called names and persecuted.

Matthew10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

They will not get away with doing evil.

Matthew 10:27 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.

This is sometimes hard to accept but our fear should be in God not in those that kill the body. The body is just a temporary house. The real us will live on in eternity.

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

If our body suffers death in this life, God is there with us.

Matthew 10:30 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.

If we want Jesus to confess us before God we must not ever be ashamed to confess him on earth.

Matthew 10:34 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.

The gospel will separate unbelievers from believers even if they are in our own households. Yet we must continue in the faith putting God above our friends and family. Notice I said God, not some cult leader. If we don't put God first, we are not worthy of Him.

Matthew 10:36 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.

We are not worthy of Christ if we do not accept the results of living for Christ. If we are ready to leave off serving Christ the minute trouble comes, we are not worthy of Him. The gospel is not the easy life, get rich quick and never have problems life. That will come when we get to heaven. Here we are to serve God because we love Him and are thankful for His salvation. We are not to expect a life on "easy street."

But remember the words of Jesus, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." He will never allow us to go through more than we can bear.

Matthew 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

If we seek to live for this life only and ignore the more important spiritual things that pertain to to eternity, we shall lose our life. Those that forsake all to follow Christ will find life.

Matthew 10:40 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.

If we are kind and hospitable to those that preach the gospel, we shall receive the same reward as they will receive.

Matthew 10:42 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.

Words of Jesus Part 8

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