The Worthiest of All Causes – Matthew 10

“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.” Matthew 10:1-4

The previous chapter concluded with Jesus requesting prayer for laborers for the harvest. Now, our Lord Jesus endues twelve of His disciples with power to cast out unclean spirits, and to heal all kinds of sickness and disease. Why did He confer power unto the twelve? Matthew 9:36 says, “He was moved with compassion for them [the crowds of people], because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” Jesus multiplied Himself in the lives of others so that more people could be revived, unified and guided to the provisions that they needed.

“These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.” Matthew 10:5-10

Jesus called them to focus on the lost sheep of Israel. The Gentiles and Samaritans might have been more receptive and grateful for their ministry, but Israel was to have the first opportunity to hear the message of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus commissioned them with authority to heal the sick, cleanse lepers (there must have been many), and to cast out demons. They received this power from Jesus without earning or deserving it and were to give it out in the same manner. As far as provisions to meet their daily needs, Jesus assured them that they were worthy of such resources, and the resources would be provided for them.

“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. And when you go into a household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” Matthew 10:11-15

When they entered a geographical location, they were to find the worthy person in it and stay with them. If those in the household were truly worthy of God’s messenger, God’s messenger would experience God’s peace to remain there, otherwise, he would not. If the people of a house or city did not receive them, they were to shake the dust from that place off from their place. The disciples wiped the dust from their feet as a prophetic sign that they did not want any share in the judgment due for such a place.

In Act 13:51, the apostle Paul obeyed this directive. After being driven out of the district of Pisidian Antioch, he “shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them.” In Act 18:6, Paul “shook out his garments and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean.’”

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will 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 should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Matthew 10:16-20

Sheep do not survive amidst wolves unless the Good Shepherd guides and protects them.

Jesus coached His disciples to be wise. Men, referring to religious and political authorities, would betray and bring them to trial. Jesus assured His disciples that the Spirit of the Father would speak in and through them during such circumstances.

In the Gospels, the religious and political leaders teamed up against Jesus to silence Him. They were the thought police of their time. They did not want to lose the perks of their positions.

In the Book of Acts, the same religious and political leaders continued in their effort to suppress faith in Jesus. Then, in Acts 16:16-24, new adversaries appear, and they arrest and beat Paul and Silas. After Paul rebuked a spirit of divination out of a woman, her traffickers were outraged because their ability to make money from her was gone. In Acts 19:18-20:1, Ephesians who made much profit from selling idols caused an uproar because people were forsaking idols. Paul left Ephesus, but later in Acts 20:17-38, he met with the church leaders of Ephesus in the city of Miletus. His instruction from the Lord helped them to build a strong Christian community.

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My Name’s sake. 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, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” Matthew 10:21-23

Authority figures shall betray them. Family members shall also betray them. Jesus mentions specific examples of which family members shall betray them: brothers, fathers, one’s children. Family members shall put them to death. Jesus warned His disciples that they will be hated for His Name’s sake. He urged them to be faithful unto death. He confirmed that fleeing from persecution was the right thing to do. In other words, survive to preach another day.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known.” Matthew 10:24-26

We should not think it a strange thing that some will see our zeal for the Name of Christ as fanaticism or as a work of the devil. Recently, the Lord gave me 1 Peter 3:18 to help me keep on loving those who treat me unjustly and mischaracterize me. 1 Peter 3:18 speaks of Christ’s suffering for our sins, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God. My goal is the same as the prophets, apostles and Jesus... to bring people to God no manner how they treat me.

“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. Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:27-31

Our Lord Jesus urged His disciples to go public with their witness for Him. In Acts 12:1-28. Peter and James were arrested by King Herod. Herod had James beheaded. He would have done the same to Peter, but God’s people prayed, and God sent an angel to rescue Peter from Herod.

Herod ended the earthly life of James, but not his eternal soul. James is with the Lord now. He has a new body that will never perish again. The Lord was with James during the moment of his death. Not a hair of his head fell to the ground apart from the Father’s will. His life was more precious to God than the lives of many sparrows.

“Therefore, whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33

Thus, we should confess the Name of Jesus before people. Not just the generic name of “God” but the specific name of “Jesus Messiah.” Each time we do, Jesus confesses us before the Father in heaven. Praise the Lord!

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on 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. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And 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 sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39

I have a friend in Broomfield, Colorado, named Arthur. His friends and I sometimes call him King Arthur. He told me that for many years he was the type of Christian who went to church every Sunday, but did not consider himself a disciple of Jesus during those years. When Arthur began to read his Bible and pray daily, he realized that his life was out of alignment with God. He asked the Lord to forgive his sins and to help him be a disciple. The Lord answered Arthur’s prayers. He was so happy in Christ, but his wife and many of his friends abandoned him after that.

Its not that we want our father, mother, mother-in-law or household members to be against us.

In John 15:19, Jesus said, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” In John 15:21, Jesus said that persecution comes to us because the perpetrators do not know Him or His Father.

Thus, we cannot afford to love father, mother, son or daughter more than Jesus. We must take up our crosses and follow Jesus. When we lose our lives for His sake, we gain it.

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:40-42

Jesus closes out this chapter on discipleship with promises of rewards for those who treat His servants well. He mentions first, second and third place rewards. Rewards for receiving His prophets, His righteous men and for giving a cup of cold water to one of His little ones.

There are many “good” causes that people give their time, treasure and talent to support. In Matthew 10, Jesus pinpoints the preaching of the Gospel as the worthiest of all causes. He anoints those who serve this cause with the Spirit of His Father. He promises rewards to those who support preachers of His Gospel.

The Lord advises us in Jude 1:20-23 saying, “Beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. On some have compassion, making a distinction, but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”