A Messiah Who Sends Part 3: The Attitude Of A Messenger Series

A Messiah Who Sends Part 3: The Attitude of a Messenger

Text: Matt. 10:24-42

Introduction

1. Illustration: We need to be like the 84 year old grandmother who fiercely maintained her independence and lived alone in the old family home. Her 4 children lived n the same town, but she rarely called them except in emergencies. It was with some apprehension, therefore, that one of her sons drove to her house one morning in answer to her phone call. When he arrived she said she suspected that there was a burglar in her bedroom closet, since she had heard noises in there the night before. “Why didn’t you call me last night?” he exclaimed. “Well,” she replied, it was late and I hated to bother you, so I just nailed the closet shut and went to bed.” That’s the kind of attitude a Christian can have when faced with the impossible. Nail the door of fear shut and go to bed in calm assurance.

2. When facing opposition, and Jesus has already guaranteed that we will, he tells us to focus not on the attitude of those opposing us but on our own attitude.

3. He tells that our attitude is to:

a. Be bold

b. Be fearless

c. Be steadfast

d. Be rewarded

4. Read Matt. 10:24-42

Proposition: As followers of Jesus in a world contrary to His Kingdom, we are to focus our attention on Him.

Transition: He tells us that in our proclamation of the gospel we are to...

I. Be Bold (24-27)

A. Don't Be Afraid of Those Who Threaten You

1. In our text today, Jesus reminds us that we are going to face the same kind of treatment that he did.

2. He says, “Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master."

a. The word "student" is mathetes, the common word for "disciple."

b. The ultimate goal of a disciple is to be like the master — a general principle of master-disciple relations in Judaism and the Greco-Roman world.

c. The harsh treatment that he is now beginning to receive from the religious leaders will be their lot as well in the ongoing mission (Wilkins, NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Matthew, 395).

d. They needed to know that they shouldn't expect any better treatment than their Lord (Horton, CBL: Acts, 199).

3. He goes on to say, "Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!"

a. The word being translated here is the word Beelzeboul, which means "Lord of the House."

b. The house was considered the habitation of demons, and so Jesus is using a play on words here to indicate that he had been accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Horton, 199).

c. The accusation that Jesus has formed an alliance with Satan to carry out his work will naturally be lodged against his disciples as well (Wilkins, 394).

4. Next Jesus tells them, “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all."

a. Three times in this text Jesus says, do not fear.

b. In light of what He had just promised, His exhortation not to be afraid was in order.

c. For looks forward, introducing the promise that in the end God will make everything right.

d. All truth and goodness and all falsehood and wickedness will be seen for what they really are (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).

5. In light of what he told them about not being afraid, he exhorts them by saying, "What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!"

a. He told them to preach boldly what they had learned from him (Horton, 201).

b. He not only tells them to preach it but to shout it from the housetops.

c. The word means "to publicly announce religious truths and principles while urging acceptance and compliance" (Louw and Nidda, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Symantic Domains).

d. Flat rooftops of Palestinian houses provided excellent places for speakers.

e. In Jesus' day a person shouting from housetops could be heard for a great distance.

f. Both official and personal announcements were often publicized by that means.

g. The objective of shouting from the housetop was to be heard by as many people as possible (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).

h. We may not have the flat roofs of Jesus day,