Matthew, Chapter 10

Matt. 10:23

Matt. 10:23 "But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come."

The enemies of the Lord's church, of His ministers, and of the true gospel think to destroy the church and the spread of the gospel through persecution. However, it has just the opposite effect. Persecution is one of the greatest causes of the spread of the gospel. The following passages show this effect:
1. Acts 8:1 "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." Persecutions drove the disciples from Jerusalem to all the regions of Judaea and Samaria. Being scattered by persecutions they went every where preaching the word.

2. Acts 11:19 "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." Again, persecutions scattered the disciples and they went every where preaching the gospel.
3. Acts 13:50 "But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium." This is one of many examples where Paul was persecuted in one city and then went to another to preach the gospel.

"Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come." I believe this is speaking about the Son of man coming in judgment at 70 A. D. to destroy the nation of the Jews because of their unbelief and slaughter of the prophets and apostles.


Matt. 10:24-28

Matt. 10:24 "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

The Lord was ridiculed, persecuted, derided, chided, and killed. None of these things were done unto him because of all the good things that he did, but because he shined a light on their evil works and exposed them for what they really are. They were also envious of him. If they did these things to the Master, then it makes sense they will do it unto his household. If they have persecuted the Master, it makes sense they will persecute His ministry and His church. If they have called Jesus, Beelzebub, then how much more will they call us the "children of Beelzebub?'

"There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known." The Lord knows all things. He brings to light the hidden things and exposes the evil deeds of men. He gives understanding and knowledge to his people and withholds understanding to their persecutors. When people do evil, they also attempt to cover it up. Yet God brings it to light and exposes it. Adam and Eve tried to hide amongst the trees of the Garden, yet their efforts were in vain, because God knows all things.

"What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." Sometimes in the very darkness of night, God reveals to us an understanding of a portion of his word. Sometimes in the very darkness of our soul the Lord reveals things to us that enlighten us as to his precious truths. Those things that God has revealed to us in darkness we are to preach in light. When God has given us understanding, we are not to withhold that understanding when we preach to God's people in the fullness of the Spirit of God. While I have never been on a literal housetop to preach, yet sometimes I feel to be lifted up to preach the word of the Lord in Spirit and in truth.

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." The most that men may do to us in persecution is to kill the body. The spirit and the soul of God's children goes immediately into the presence of God at the death of the body. The body sleeps in the dust and awaits the great resurrection morning, when the body will be conformed to the image of Christ and will be reunited with the soul and spirit.

The bodies of the non-elect also go back to the dust to await the resurrection and to be cast into the lake of fire of God's judgment. The soul of the non-elect goes immediately into hell at death to suffer an eternal judgment for sin.

Based on the above, it makes sense that we should fear God and not man.

Matt. 10:29-31

Matt. 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

One of the least valued birds is the sparrow. In the United States, they are probably the most numerous of birds. They are not good for food. They are not a pretty bird to look at. They are not useful for insect control. That two are sold for a farthing shows how little valued they are at any time. Even though men place such a small value upon the lowly sparrow, yet God takes notice of them and one of them does not fall upon the ground without our heavenly Father taking notice. This is not about the value of the sparrow, but about God's great knowledge of his people.

God notices the sparrow when he falls to the ground. How much more does he notice the condition and circumstances of His people?

There are but very few people, if any, that have lived on earth, which knew how many hairs were on his head at any time. Yet God knows the exact number of the hairs on every ones head at any time. Again, this is not about the number of hairs on a persons head, but about God's great notice of things and especially about God's taking notice of the condition and circumstances of His people. When his people are suffering persecutions, it is easy for them to think no one notices. They even wonder at times if God takes notice of their circumstances. We need not fear for God does take notice and he does care for us. He values us for more than he values the sparrow.