"A Tribal Thing" Matthew 10:21
This prophetic decree falls from the lips of the Lord in the context of His Commissioning and Charging His Twelve Interns prior to their maiden Evangelistic Campaign. According to verse 1 of chapter 10, subsequent to His Call to Internship, Jesus then temporarily Apostolized or Deputized them; in that, "He gave them power (temporarily) against unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease," and then in verse 5, "Jesus sent these twelve forth."
This Internship was characterized by Three Major Facets: namely, SHORT TERM LIMITATIONS, CLEAR CUT SPECIFICITY, and A MEASURE OF VULNERABILITY as outlined in Verse 5-20.
The SHORT TERM LIMITATIONS, as recorded in Verse 5 & 6, were related to A RACIAL THING; in that the 12 were Limited in the Scope of their Travel and Contact. For in these two verses, Jesus commanded them saying, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
The CLEAR CUT SPECIFICITY was related to A SPIRITUAL THING as recorded in Verses 7-14. They were told Specifically What To Preach: the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Told Specifically the Scope of their Ministry: to Heal the Sick, Cleanse the Lepers, Raise the Dead and Cast Out Demons. Told Specifically their Fee: Freely ye have received, freely give. Told Specifically What Not to Carry: Provide neither gold nor silver, nor brass in your purse, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. Told Specifically Where To Stay: "And into whatsoever town or city ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence." Told Specifically How to Enter a Home: "And when ye come into a house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you." Told Specifically When and How to Leave: "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."
And the MEASURE OF VULNERABILITY, as recorded in Verses 16-20, was related to A JUDICIAL THING. They were told to be Judicious in their Judgments, being aware of their Vulnerability to the Jaundiced Judgments of Men. (Read verses 16-20)
Then, in Verse 21, there seems to be a Shift in the train of thought of Jesus; for, according to my syntactical exegesis of this verse, Jesus introduces A NEW IDEA that appears to be unrelated to the LIMITS, SPECIFICS and VULNERABILITY of their immediate mission. Now you need to understand and apprehend that the very First Word in Verse 21 is Very Crucial to my argument. The conjunction which is translated "And" in the KJV is really the Greek conjunction "De." It is the Greek particle which marks the Super-Addition of a Clause, whether in Opposition or in Continuation, to what has preceded. This Greek particle "De" most commonly and frequently is rendered "But, On the Other Hand, or Now." And as such, it serves as an Indicator, introducing a New Idea into the conversation. And the word commonly used to denote the particle "And" is the Greek work "Kai."
Now as I investigated the Greek Text, I discovered the Greek particle used in this verse was not "Kai" which means "And," but rather the Greek particle "De" which denotes Opposition or Distinction, and is rendered "But, on the other hand or now."
Thus, according to Matthew’s interpretation, Jesus is Not continuing a previous idea but Shifts to introduce A NEW IDEA into this passage that is Distinct from the previous verses. It is NOT a continuation of the same idea saying, "AND the brother ..." BUT THERE IS A Shift TO A NEW IDEA saying, "NOW the brother ..." If you would read the NKJV, you would detect this difference. The word "Now" in this instance does Not express the idea of Present Time, but is a Transition to a New Idea that is Distinguished from the preceding verses.
While, on one hand, the RACIAL, SPIRITUAL and JUDICIAL THINGS have a direct relationship and impact on the 12 as a direct result of their Ministry; on the other hand, Jesus in Verse 21 introduces A TRIBAL THING which seems unrelated or distinguished from the Administration of the Gospel; and I’ll expand on this in a minute.
But for the present moment I want you to comprehend it’s as if Jesus says to them: ’Don’t be unaware of this TRIBAL THING which is happening at the Same Time. For simultaneous with your going exclusively to the lost sheep of the house of Israel in pursuit of THE RACIAL THING; as you are dealing Specifically with Preaching, Healing, Resurrecting and Exorcism in pursuit of THE SPIRITUAL THING; and while you’re being delivered to the local councils, terminating in being flogged and being brought before governors and kings as a direct result of your Ministry, fulfilling THE JUDICIAL THING; contemporaneous with all of that, says Jesus, "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." Therefore, the Lord focuses in on THE TRIBAL THING as opposed to the preceding RACIAL, SPIRITUAL and JUDICIAL THING!!!
So I thought it would advance the Equipping Motif of our Faith, if you and I would examine and extricate this TRIBAL THING of which Jesus here speaks. Perhaps if we would examine this TRIBAL THING which is upon us in the context of RACIAL, SPIRITUAL and JUDICIAL THINGS in which we are now laboring, we might just find some Sense, Cause or Reason for this seemingly Senseless Violence that Plagues our Families. Since Jesus says THIS TRIBAL THING IS INEVITABLE, perhaps we might find solace in grasping God’s Eternal Purpose in this vicious Cycle of Family Violence and Death. So we ought not mind entertaining and discussing THIS TRIBAL THING which stands out and disturbs our peaceful make-up in these infant days of the new millennium. I wonder, Are you interested?
FIRST, allow me to go back to retrieve and clarify an assertion which I tabled, because I wanted to discuss it at this juncture. I stated at that time that THIS TRIBAL THING WAS A NEW IDEA INTRODUCED BY JESUS IN THIS PASSAGE THAT IS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE PRECEDING VERSES. Allow me now to explain, applying the method of Exegesis in clarifying FOUR DISTINCTIVES.
.First, this Tribal Thing was Not Applicable to the 12. Now those of you who have already cross referenced both Mark 13:12 and Luke 21:16 which have led you to Acts 7:58 and 12:2, narrating the Deaths of Stephen and James, perhaps causing you to conclude the Matthean passage IS applicable to the 12; let me disabuse you of that notion. For both the Markan and Lukan passages are in the context of the Signs of the End of this Gospel Age which terminates in the Coming of Christ in mid-air for His Church. Whereas the Matthean passage is a reference exclusively to the First Evangelistic Mission of the 12 and the events accompanying this period. And neither Stephen nor James were killed during this period spoken of by Matthew in our text. Furthermore, there is no record of any of the 12 being killed or betrayed by their Children. And certainly, being harmless as doves, they inflicted death on no one. Therefore, this TRIBAL THING is NOT APPLICABLE TO THE 12.
Note Second, the word "MEN" in the Judicial Thing of verses 17-19. The literal meaning of the Greek word translated "men" is "Human-Faced or Human-Faces." In literal language Jesus says: "But beware of Human-Faces." The term is genderless and generic, in that, it stands for all human beings with human faces of both sexes, male and female, of any race, color, creed or national origin.
The term also indicts the Character of Man, in that, the nature is Depraved, Wicked, Alienated from the life of God; in a word, Unsaved. Inclusive in this term "Men" is described a Human Relationship based on Human Likeness and Image. It speaks of a relation of all men on the basis of a Common Progenitor in fallen Adam, a relation of Common Brotherhood with no implied Blood-Ties.
But juxtaposed to this relationship is a Different Relationship spoken of in Verse 21; a Relationship based on Blood, Genetics and Kinship. Whereas in the previous verses, Fallen Men, bearing the Image of Adam, would deliver up the 12 deputized Men representing the Image of God to the councils, governors and kings; but juxtaposed to that, "the brother shall deliver up the brother ... the father the child ... and the children their parents." Therefore, it speaks of a Relationship based on flesh and blood; a close Kinship; A TRIBAL THING.
Note Third, the word "Council" in the Judicial Thing of Verse 17. Says Jesus: "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the COUNCILS, and they will scourge you in their synagogues." The Greek word translated "Council" here literally means "Small Sanhedrins." The Small Sanhedrins were 7-Men Local Courts in every town or village in Israel. This Council had Judicial Authority to adjudicate Misdemeanors and smaller matters relating to the Traditions and Carnal Commandments of the Levitical Law. But this Local Council had absolutely No Authority to adjudicate Felonies, Murders or matters deserving the Death-Sentence. That authority was entrusted to the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, which consisted of 71 men. Thus, the "Council" could only mete out the punishment of "Scourging or being Beaten with a Whip" to those found guilty, and that was done in the Synagogue.
But Fourth, note the word "Death" in the Tribal Thing of Verse 21. Whereas in the Judicial Thing, the 12 would be delivered up to the Councils to be whipped by unsaved men; the brother delivers up his father, the father his child, and the children deliver up their parents TO DEATH! That implies that Brother, Father and Children shall act as Cop, Judge, Jury and Executioner. There will be no due process of law; no presumption of innocent until proven guilty; no jury of one’s peers; no advocate for the accused; no impartial judge. Just Family Folk, Kinfolk doing what is right in their own eyes!
You need to understand that the Greek word translated "shall deliver up" connotes more than the idea of a betrayal of a trust or a relationship. It connotes the idea of to take possession of another so as to take one into custody, and then, to hand that person over to the Power of Death For Keeps!
Therefore, DEATH as used here denotes a Violent, Un-Natural Death as opposed to Natural Death. The Deliverees shall not die of Old Age nor of Cardiac Arrest, nor of a Disease or Sickness that is within the body. This death shall be imposed from the Outside; such as by crucifixion, or by knife, sword, or a rope around one’s neck; or a bullet penetrating a vital organ; or by lethal injection or the gas-chamber. This violent death means the Separation of the Soul from the Body resulting in the End of Life on this earth. No Out-Of-Body Experience. No Revival by Resuscitation or C P R. No Coming Back to Life as we know it. JUST DEAD!!!
Now the Scriptures teach that Natural Death is the result of "the wages of sin," the punishment for sin as adjudged by God the Righteous, as is a violent death in some cases. But when I examined our text, I immediately HAD A PROBLEM! My problem was in determining What Crimes were the Brother, Child and Parents Guilty Of to Merit such a Death at the hands of Their Own Family Members? What did the brother do to this brother, or the child to his/her father, or the parents to their children that would Merit Their Lives to be Taken in a Premeditated and Vindictive Manner?
Perhaps you don’t have a Problem with this. But excuse my sensibility. I have to confess, IT TROUBLES ME!! Could they be guilty of Verbal or Physical Abuse? Or could it have been the Theft of some Family Inheritance? Or could the reason be a case of Incest, Pedophilia or Rape? Or could it be a case of Neglect or Abandonment?
And if abuse, theft, incest, pedophilia, rape, neglect and abandonment: are these justifiable grounds for Family Members to Kill One Another? And if they are, then I’ll have to ask: When did God appoint them as His Agents of Death? Did He do it when Cain slew Abel his brother? Did He do it when Absalom killed his brother Amnon, or when Jephthah killed his only daughter? What brother or father or child did God send thru Egypt the night of the Passover at midnight as His angel of death, visiting every bloodless home taking the first-born? The answer is NONE!!!
In fact, God’s unalterable and timeless Law is still "Thou shalt No Kill." He has not amended that commandment with an exception, as except in the case of self-defense or extenuating circumstances. In fact, the Hebrew rendering is much stronger than the English translation. The Hebrew translation is : "NO MURDER!" That is, No Murder by No One under No Circumstance at No Time - Absolutely No Murder!
Now since we have determined from the authority of God’s Written Word that No Brother, Father or Child is justified in Killing His Brother, Child or Parent and, consequently, negating any claim of being God’s Authorized Agent of Death; then I believe it follows that we ought to prayerfully search for THE CAUSE OF THIS TRIBAL THING.
Now I don’t mean to scare anyone, but there is a Scary Truth revealed by the Lord. For in verses 35 & 36 of this same 10th chapter of Matthew, our Lord says that He’s the Obvious Cause of this Tribal Thing. Says Jesus: "For I came 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; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household." Jesus says that He is the Obvious Cause of this Tribal Thing. He says : "I CAME TO TURN THE FAMILY AGAINST EACH OTHER!"
The implication here is that, if you and your family do not love Jesus more than all others and you are not saved, sealed and satisfied; then YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ONE ANOTHER: "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."
As it relates to the Tribal Thing, the Changeless Christ has taken great pains to disabuse us of any preconceived misconceptions we might have as to the Intent and Motif of His Incarnation. Some believe falsely that His Mere Presence in our midst on this planet called Earth produces a kind of Plenary Peace irrespective of the Prevalence of Gross Injustice. But, says Jesus in verse 34, "Think not that I am come to send Peace on earth: I CAME NOT TO SEND PEACE, BUT A SWORD." My family and friends, there can be No Peace Racially, Spiritually, Judicially or Tribally in the Absence of Justice! Our brothers and sisters in South Central Los Angeles were right in chanting "NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE" following the Uprising. For Justice Delayed Is Peace Postponed!
But lest I get ’Caught Up’ before I lead you up, I must address One Final Matter. I must insist that though Jesus is the Obvious Cause because of Justice -
YET, SATAN IS THE ACTUAL CAUSE BY VIRTUE OF THE SECRET WORKING OF EVIL.
The implied impetus behind the brother delivering up his brother to death, the father his child and the children their parents is THE ACTUAL AND ACTIVE PRESENCE OF SATAN. For did not the Lord Jesus expose him as a Thief who come to Steal, Kill and Destroy? I believe that He did!
Now the difference in terms of Semantics between the Obvious and the Actual is that the Obvious is Clear, Transparent, Truthful and Easily Detected. And Jesus came out clearly in verses 34-36 stating His Obvious and Unmistakable Intent. Whereas, on the other hand, the Actual is Elusive, Evasive, Subtle and Hidden in Camouflage. And Satan’s Presence is not easily detectable in the context of Matthew 10; yet, Jesus Exposes his Persuasion and Politics being Present in the Context. For when Jesus gave His 12 Interns Power against Unclean Spirits in verse 1, in that very act, He Exposed the Hidden Presence and Protestation of Satan.
I submit that Satan is the Actual Cause of this RACIAL THING inherent in Social and Economic Policies that manifest itself in Slavery, Discrimination, Apartheid, Classism, Racial Profiling, and Ethnic Cleansing. And lest we get caught up in this Racial Thing ourselves, we must try to understand what motivates the world-view of a people who claim to be building a democracy with justice and freedom for all, and at the same time owned slaves and deny others basic human rights? I tell you, the Instigator of this Obvious Racism in America and elsewhere is SATAN, THE ULTIMATE RACIST. He has a problem with those who rival his imagined superiority. He hates the whole of the human race. And to maintain his Racist attitude, Satan practices Divide and Conquer methods among the races.
I further submit that SATAN IS THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THIS SPIRITUAL THING CALLED SIN, WICKEDNESS AND EVIL IN THE NATURE OF MAN. It is his invisible power of persuasion in the children of disobedience which prevents them from receiving the glorious light of the knowledge of God in the person of Jesus Christ. It is the Politics of his Pull that activates the lust, greed, arrogance and perversity in man’s nature to perpetuate our inhumanity to one another in the name of Religion and Holy Wars.
Behind the Violence of this Tribal Thing is SATAN. Violence racks our streets, haunts our families and kills our leaders and children.
Oh Tribal Members, it is clear to me that the Salvation of the Family IS OUR ONLY HOPE! Since the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father his child; and all the children shall rise up against their parents and shall be the cause of their death, then I believe that PERSONAL EVANGELISM MUST BE OUR TOP PRIORITY!
If your brother is not saved, YOU ARE AT RISK! If your father is not saved, YOU ARE AT RISK! If your children are not saved, YOU ARE AT RISK!!
This, then, should incite you to WITNESS TO YOUR OWN FAMILY; for the Promise is still to You and Your Children and to as many as the Lord our God shall call. WITNESS TO COUNTERACT THIS TRIBAL THING!!!
