Message Notes

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 21 MAY 2023
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 10

Subject: SENDING OUT THE APOSTLES

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.

Matthew 10:34-39

A SEEMINGLY CONTRADICTORY WORD

1. The Lord Jesus is called “The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)

a) It is more than just the usual polite greeting commonly uttered

b) His title reflects the gift that He can offer

c) Peace is taken too much for granted

2. He promised Peace to His disciples John 16:33

a) Peace amidst turmoil in the world

b) Peace of heart and mind though one may be hated

c) Peace that is distinctive from the Lord

3. Here, He warns of “a sword” Matthew 10:34

a) It is a word of warning

b) It speaks of hurt

c) It speaks of warfare

THE SWORD OF DIVISION

1. Almost inevitable conflict

a) Family conflict

b) Enemies in the household

2. This is an unfortunate consequence

a) When people reject the Lord

b) When sin prevails

c) When hostility is allowed free rein

HUMAN LOVE

1. For family

a) Father/ mother

b) It can be very deep and strong

2. For the Lord Jesus

a) It is to surpass love for even one’s parents

b) Love for the Lord to this extent is to walk worthy of the Lord’s love

COPING WITH HOSTILITY

1. The Challenge of Real Faith

a) To take up the Cross

b) To follow the Lord

c) To walk worthy is to be able to do all these things

i) Faithfully

ii) Courageously

iii) Steadfastly

2. The Danger of not being able to follow faithfully

a) We may love our life too much

b) We seek only earthly comforts and joy

c) We can “lose it”

THE CHALLENGE TO WALK WORTHY

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3

1. A word of challenge from the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians

a) To know that there is a noble and high calling from God

b) To rise up to the challenge of walking worthy of our high calling

2. This is our Challenge today too

a) To appreciate our high calling

b) To walk worthy of that calling

i) To love the Lord

ii) To take up our cross

iii) To deny self

iv) To follow Him fully