The Cost Of Being A Disciple Of Christ

Matt 10:32-11:1 THE COST OF BEING A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST

Matt 10:32-11:1 ESV

32So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

34“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

40“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

11:1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

11:1 tells us Jesus finished instructing His disciples. He has been teaching them since He gathered them in 10:1.

• If your Bible has the words of Jesus printed in red, you will see the whole of Matt 10 in red, starting from 10:5.

• Jesus taught them before sending them off to preach about the Messiah.

• He gave them the authority to minister in His name, heal the sick and proclaim the message of the Gospel.

For the initial trip, they were asked to go to the Jews and not to the Gentiles or the Samaritans (10:6).

• But even among their own, Jesus says not everyone will welcome them. Some will not be happy with what they say.

• They are unwilling to believe Christ and will reject them, despite the miraculous signs that accompany the message.

Over this chapter, Jesus highlighted some things His disciples need to take note of.

• I want to highlight 4 key points from the words of Jesus today:

1. AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, WE CAN EXPECT REJECTION AND OPPOSITION.

• 10:14 “If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” Not all will welcome you.

• Later on in 10:16-18 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.”

• This will get more intense. Not only will they face rejection, but soon when the disciples begin to testify before the Gentiles, they will face even harsher opposition.

That is why in our text today, the Lord says:

• 10:34-36 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”

• Jesus was NOT talking about the peace we have with God. He was NOT talking about the peace we have because of His presence.

Jesus was saying that with His coming, like the wielding of a sword, it would cut and cause fights or divisions. People will argue and disagree with one another.

• It would separate those who believe and others who don’t. And that could happen even among loved ones within the family.

• Hence Jesus says a man opposes his father and a daughter goes against her mother.

• Our faith in Christ and their rejection of Christ will set us apart.

• We do not wish for this to happen but it does, and Jesus says this is a price that a disciple has to face. We did not say this to scare us but to prepare us.

As disciples of Christ, we can expect rejection and opposition.

• The world may not agree with us or our loved ones may not understand us, but the Lord says we are to stand firm in our faith.