Matthew 10 Part 3

Jesus gives some final warnings here as he wraps up the meeting with the 12, the tells them…

• 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

• 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

• 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

• 35 For I have come to turn

• “ ‘a man against his father,

• a daughter against her mother,

• a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

• 36 a manʼs enemies will be the members of his own household.’

Now here is is referencing Micah 7:6 when he that. He is saying that a decision must be made. Who will you choose? The world? Or God? Choosing to follow Christ will cause conflict with others maybe even your own family.

• 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

• 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

• 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

That is one of those “whaa?” statements. I think what he is saying here is that the more you seek for a life here in this world filled by the things that “society” says you need, by things the world says you need, fame, beauty, the latest gadget or whatever, the more you will find that it’s empty and unfulfilling. And when we strive for that kind of life, we lose the life with Christ. The life we could have when we are called home. But conversely, for the one that does not strive for the life the world says you should have, you will find a life full of rewards in the next. A life lived with Christ Jesus. The eternal life that Jesus promised us and all of the benefits that go along with it.

He continues...

• 40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

• 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophetʼs reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous personʼs reward.

• 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Wow. We covered a lot of ground these past three weeks. It’s a tough mission to spread the word of Christ but one we must undertake with love, gentleness and respect. There will be up’s. There will be downs. The path will be smooth and the path will be rocky. Through it all we must…

Press on. Fight the good fight. As a Soldier for Christ.