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The First Word of Warning

Text: Matthew 10 : 32- 42

Jesus must have startled His disciples when He first brought up the startling prospect of enemies arising from within the family.

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death,
and a father his child; and children will rise up
against parents and cause them to be put to death.
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
Matthew 10:21, 22

THE SECOND WORD OF WARNING

As Jesus continued to prepare His disciples for ministry, He took up this theme a second time and said,

“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. and a man’s
enemies will be those of his own household.”
Matthew 10:35-36

1. A predictive statement

This text must be read as a most solemn predictive statement. He did not desire this to happen, but it will happen.

2. A realistic and true statement

Jesus never minced words when He taught. Always, He opted to proclaim the whole truth, even though some of His words must have sounded terribly painful and difficult to understand.

A DEEPER COMPREHENSION NECESSARY

Let us take time to ponder these words carefully, lest we run the danger of misunderstanding them.

1. In the general context of spiritual warfare

The disciples had now come to understand and accept that their ministry was set in the context of a great spiritual warfare.

a) Known enemies

In any war, there would be “known enemies.” This is true in spiritual warfare too. Those who opposed the truth would appear as the known enemies. The Pharisees, the scribes and the Sadducees revealed themselves as opponents of Jesus most openly.

b) Unknown and unexpected enemies

One of the most difficult things to understand and to accept that there could be enemies from within the same household. Nevertheless, the initial shock of realization must give way to comprehension and acceptance! The family may become even more fragmented than is feared!

2. The Role of Jesus

Jesus knew that He Himself would be at the center of the controversy! In every heated spiritual argument or debate, He would be right at the center.

“For I have come to set a man against his father…”
Matthew 10:35

a) This does not have to be the case necessarily

This sad situation need not be the inevitable one. A son could turn to Jesus in faith as his father did, and the conflicts would have ended immediately. In like manner, a mother could come to faith in Jesus, and her conflict with her daughter-in-law would cease forthwith!

b) The deadly power of sin

As the disciples went deeper into ministry, they would see for themselves, first hand the deadly power of sin. People would blame Jesus for their family problems, instead of looking squarely at the problem of sin in their own lives. People would jeopardize family harmony and then put the blame on Jesus!

c) Jesus willing to accept blame

Jesus knew the human heart only too well. People looked for scapegoats. They would always try and find something or someone to blame for their problems and difficulties. In this case, Jesus would be that convenient cause of blame.

d) No compromise on the Core content of the Message

Central to the message of the Christian Gospel was Jesus Himself! You could not preach the message of the Gospel without emphasizing the central role Jesus played.

i) He has to be preached as the Messiah.

ii) He has to be proclaimed as the Saviour.

iii) He has to be owned as the Lord.

iv) He has to be worshipped as the Son of God.

The preaching of the Gospel cannot be reduced to preaching about global peace. The Gospel message cannot be reduced to doing charitable deeds, and avoiding the mention of the name of Jesus!

This approach has been advocated by some, but cannot be defended Biblically. A message that compromises the central role of Jesus, so as to avoid problems is not the Gospel that the disciples were sent out to proclaim. The true disciple must brace himself to walk in full obedience to what Jesus taught. He cannot do otherwise!