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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 147

Looking into the Not-So-Distant Future

Text: Matthew 10 : 16 - 31

As Jesus spoke of the present ministry, His mind looked beyond the immediate mission to the future. It would not be very long before His disciples would be on their own, serving farther afield. It would not be unwise to prepare their hearts and minds for what lay ahead. If nothing else, He could teach them even deeper principles of ministry.

“But beware of men, for they will deliver you up
to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
You will be brought before governors and kings
for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the
Gentiles.”
Matthew 10:17-18

“Beware of men…”

On the one hand, the disciples were sent out to minister to people. On the other hand, the very same people who hear them could be turncoats! What an awesome and difficult thought this was!

This was as puzzling a thought as being sent forth with authority (power) and yet they were to be as docile as sheep and harmless as doves! People were also described as “wolves”.

How were the disciples to defend themselves then? Were they to defend themselves at all? But first they must learn this vital lesson, they must not be gullible. They must learn what it means to be wary of men!

“They will deliver you up to councils…”

This was a shocking statement to make! Jesus was talking about people who attend synagogues, wasn’t He? If so, how could He say things like that? Ah, but He could! Was He not thrown out of the synagogue in Nazareth? Did they not try and throw Him down a cliff? Yes, Jesus was right when He warned His disciples that the ministry that lay ahead of them would be fraught with danger!

“And scourge you in their synagogues…”

From time to time, people speak of the synagogue leaders meting out punishment on law breakers. These leaders were empowered by both the religious and civil authorities to deal with criminal or severe religious offences.

Scourging is perhaps better understood as “flogging”. The Roman way of scourging is quite different. The former involves the application of rods on the body of a convicted felon. The latter was used by the Romans alone. It was a cruel practice. Those who were physically weaker could actually die under Roman scourging.

Were the disciples to prepare themselves mentally for such a possibility? Jesus of course was speaking of the future ministry. It was wise to prepare the minds of His disciples for the hardship that they would have to accept and endure in the ministry.

“You will be brought before governors and kings…”

Could things get worse? Jesus anticipated that they would! Not only local synagogues were expected to resist the spread of the Gospel, but even foreign judges (governors and kings) would be inveigled to counter the efforts of the Apostles!

“For My sake…”

How would the disciples be able to bear all these things? Jesus urged His disciples to dwell on this single thought! Did they really believe that He was the Messiah? Then for the sake of the Messiah, they must bear hardship. Did they believe that He was the Lord? Then they must be prepared to suffer much for the sake of their Lord . Did they really believe in the Gospel they expounded to all who came to hear them? Then they must be prepared to suffer much… “For His sake”.

“As a testimony to them…”

Their opponents had closed their hearts to the message of the Gospel! Thus they will resist every effort of the disciples to spread the Gospel! The disciples must not allow fear to affect their trust in God adversely!

They must keep bearing in mind that they were witness for the Lord. They must seek to bear a good testimony before all! The way in which they were able to take suffering for the sake of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, would already be a wonderful testimony to all and sundry.

“And to the Gentiles…”

So Jesus, in this phrase, anticipated future ministry to Gentiles! The disciples were not quite ready for this bold venture to the Gentiles. Nevertheless, Jesus was right in preparing the hearts of His disciples to anticipate the challenges that lay ahead!

A FAR-SIGHTED VISION

How far-sighted Jesus was! Let us look once again at what He had planned to do all along.

1. He issued a Call to people to become His disciples.

2. He trained them personally so that there would be definite changeover from disciples to apostles.

3. The disciples were now being readied for further ministry. They may perceive their ministry as comprising two stages. The present stage was just a stepping stone for the next stage. It was important that the disciples look at both the present and the future ministries.

Jesus made a forecast of the future! The disciples must be prepared to suffer for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ. They must never lose sight of the glorious privilege to be sent forth as apostles-servants of the Lord Most High! With all their hearts they must determine to be faithful and fruitful in their ministry!