Matthew 10: 32-42
Are You In Or Out
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 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’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 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. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. 40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 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. 42 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.”
We are going to do a few things a little different today then we normally do. As you know I like to scan all the Gospels to see if any other writer covered the same event in which we are focusing on. Well in today’s study pieces of our Scripture are scattered in the other Gospels. So, I want us all to see where they appear and what they say. First of all let’s take a look at what Luke wrote;
Luke 12: 8 – 9, “8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
Luke 12: 49 – 53, “49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Luke 14, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
The apostle Matthew personally observed our Lord’s teachings. He was the first one to write down what he saw and heard. Luke around 15 years after Matthew’s Gospel penned, after investigating and interviewing eyewitnesses, his version. So, let us see what information Luke could refer to in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 10:34-39, 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 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’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 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. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
We cannot leave off Mark where he wrote this;
Mark 9, “41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
How do you perceive these differences? Are they in anyway unsettling to you? Well, the way I look at these variances in how they are presented in the different Gospels point out how Amazing our Wonderful Holy Spirit Is. He carefully intertwines His truth is unique ways proving it wasn’t four guys or other religious planners who got together and got their stories all in order. If that was the case then you would see all four in almost perfect harmony. Our Precious Holy Spirit Is not the author of confusion. Scripture does not conflict with other Scripture.
How do you really feel about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Are you totally sold out for Him? Would you give your life if necessary for Him? You know that there are more people doing this around the world.
To a large degree we are spoiled. We can purchase any bible at any time on line or in book stores. In many countries if you are found with a bible in your possession you can be arrested and possibly killed. Similarity, we can openly tell others about how Wonderful our Great Lord and Savior Is. If you watch the news you know that this is not the case in most of the world.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said this for all of us. Please take a moment and let these words sink in deep.
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
You might have prayed with a friend or love one to ask Jesus into your heart. Perhaps you attended a Bible believing church and came forward at an altar call before the congregation and prayed the sinner’s prayer. Is this enough? You know it is interesting that at most evangelistic rallies less than 10 % if those who came forward continue in their Christian walk. You see many can profess but not possess the Lord - The proofs in the pudding. If you have a chance, review in the Gospels our Lord’s Parable about the 4 seeds.
You need to take a hard look and see if you will give your life to our Lord. This is what this part of Scripture is all about.
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 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’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
What He Is talking about would also wind up dividing men and women in their thinking. It would divide families then as it does today. So our Lord Jesus declares that in order to give us all a ‘wake-up’ call, and in order to try to save them from this final failure.
37 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. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
It is at this point that a disciple has to choose what he will do. If he would be ‘worthy’ of Christ (deserving of His interest and saving concern) then he must put his love for Christ before his love for his father or mother. He must put his love for Christ before his love for his son or daughter. Still filled with love for them He must go forward in love to obey Jesus’ words. He must take up his cross (dying to his old life) and follow Jesus. The taking up of the cross refers to the fact that when a man was sentenced to crucifixion he himself had to take up and carry the crosspiece of the cross on which he was to die. Thus to take up the crosspiece signified deliberately taking the way of death. In this case it is used to parallel the choice between Christ and relatives. So here he is choosing to die to his relatives and the ways in which they want him to walk rather than forsake Christ. This may result in actual death through martyrdom, but not necessarily. The emphasis is on a dying to the old life and its claims upon him, for now he is following Christ, and Christ alone.
At this point he is again confirming his choice of the narrow way. If he seeks to ‘find’ his old life again by turning his back on Christ and His truth, then he will undoubtedly lose it (or ‘destroy it’). He will lose all his hopes for this world and the next. He will destroy all that is good and right in his life. But if he loses his old life for Christ’s sake (whether by a life of obedience to Christ or by actual martyrdom) then he will find true life both in this world and the next. Note the emphasis on ‘for My Sake’. For that is the point. He is not doing it in order to gain eternal reward, he is doing it for Jesus’ sake, because of his love for Him, but it is that that is then the guarantee of eternal reward.
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 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. 42 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.”
Our Precious Lord Jesus wants to emphasize that what is done to the least and smallest of His disciples is also done to Him. And in order to do this He first cites a well known proverb concerning prophets and wise men and how response to them brings a special and commensurate reward, “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet, will receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, will receive a righteous man’s reward.” The principle behind these words is clear. Identification with God’s messengers brings commensurate rewards to what they receive. Then He points out that, in the same way, if anyone gives to the youngest and smallest of His disciples just a cup of cold water, because he is a disciple (in the name of a disciple), he will not lose his reward. And what is that reward? It is far greater than that received by those who received the same reward as the prophet and righteous man; it is to receive the very Son Of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul instructs us to examine ourselves. Dear people, it is time to take your own inventory. We are not playing any games here. Are you totally in or out.?
