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Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 159

Surfacing the Question of Being Worthy

Text: Matthew 10 : 32- 42

There was much to ponder over, especially the part concerning family turmoil. How would anyone be able to make such a hard decision? There will surely be deep emotional upheaval. Family ties that have existed for a whole life time would wrench the heart when the issue of faith in Jesus comes up! Is there no other way to resolve thorny issues? Jesus then brought up the question of being worthy of being called the children of God.

“He who loves father and mother more than Me
is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or
daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
Matthew 10:37

1. The question of love for Jesus

Jesus did not make it any easier for the disciples when He made this statement. He was pushing an already hard point! How much did the disciples really love Him? How did that compare with love for family members?

Why did Jesus raise this issue, and in this manner too? The answer lies in our knowledge of who Jesus is. Did not the Lord command Israel to cultivate a deep love for Him too? Let us read again the famous words of the Shema of ancient Israel.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is
One! You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Israel’s love for God was tested many times. It was tested against many things. God had the prerogative to command full and complete love from Israel. Thus He tested the genuineness and the depth of the nation’s love. The following may be highlighted.

a) Tested against the love for idols.

b) Tested against the love for material things.

c) Tested against the love for walking in self-willed ways.

Israel failed miserably. The nation proved that there was no great depth of love at all. Was there genuine love in the first place?

Jesus also had every right to ask for this kind of love from His disciples. Was their faith genuine? If so, how deep was their love for Him? Would they be prepared to suffer for His sake? These were difficult and awkward questions to raise up. However, they must be raised and answered too! Jesus did not deny the disciples the right to love the family. However, He raised a thorny issue. If push comes to shove, would they be able to prove that they loved Jesus as He deserved to be loved?

2. The question of being worthy

This was just as hard a question to raise up! There was no escaping the sharpness of this question. The issue of worth may be understood better if other related questions were to be investigated.

a) What was the worth of the salvation that Jesus offered?

b) What was the worth of being called to serve Him as disciples-apostles?

c) What was the worth of being so greatly empowered for ministry?

d) What was the worth of being honoured before the Father in heaven?

Many things are taken for granted! Too many things! Jesus did not want His disciples to take for granted their relationship with Him, and the ministry that had been entrusted to them! The issue of worth must be raised together with the question of love. There must be an affirmation from both heart and mind that believing in Jesus and suffering for Him was worth it all!

IMPORTANT THINGS THAT MUST NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!

How would the disciples be able to heighten their love for Jesus? How would they be able to place the worth of being called disciples-apostles of Jesus at premium value? Let us ponder the following thoughts.

1. Life in Jesus

What was life really like before faith in Jesus? Prior to knowledge of Jesus, none of the disciples could speak of having a great life! Now they were having the time of their life! Imagine being in the Presence of Jesus! Imagine hearing and seeing the things that they did. Imagine further – the prospect of powerful ministry! Should not the heart be filled with love for Jesus? Should not the heart determine that following Jesus was worth every sacrifice – including suffering a hard time from members of the family?

2. Eternal Values

Jesus had always emphasized eternal values. They now had a chance to prove that they had understood His emphasis. There will be suffering. But what was a little suffering on earth, compared to eternity?

3. Strength of faith

The disciples knew that their faith would be evaluated as they faced the trials of life. Had they learned much? Had their faith grown further since the day they were rebuked by Jesus for having so little of it? Strength of faith was closely related to depth of love for Jesus! If they really comprehended who Jesus was, then there must come that strength of faith that would enable them to suffer anything for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ!