Matthew 10

 

The Twelve Apostles

10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[a] 4 Simon the Zealot,[b] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’[c] 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,[d] cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics[e] or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Persecution Will Come

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[f] above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign[g] those of his household.

Have No Fear

26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[h] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[i] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

Matthew 10

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Rewards

40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

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And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’[c] 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,[d] cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

God---thank You that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Thank You---that You have sent out people with gifts of healing.  Thank You for the doctors and nurses who are doing Your work every time they put their own health and safety at risk in order to care for others.  Thank You for people who speak healing words of love and compassion----who chase out demons of doubt and fear when they open their mouths and their hearts and let Your Spirit come flowing out.  God---thank You for Tasha---specifically---and thank You for men and women like her.  God, you have given everything---You've given everything to me---to others---You gave everything when You gave Yourself.  This, I have received without paying----give me the ability and the opportunity and the courage to give without expecting anything in return.  Let me be more like You, every day.  

so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Please teach me what this means, God.  I cannot be innocent except when I am covered by the blood of Christ.  And I feel as if I have no wisdom.  What do you say later is the beginning of wisdom---the fear of the Lord?  Let me walk then in holy fear of the Lord---that I might have wisdom---and innocence only as it is given to me through the sacrificial love of Christ. 

do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 

I am often anxious about what I am supposed to say---or not say.  I feel like if I am not careful with my words---the wrong ones always find their way out.  Maybe I should be more cautious of my thoughts and my heart----because You say in other places that what is in our hearts finds its way out of our mouths.....God---give me a heart that loves You and loves others.  And if my heart is rightly oriented---then perhaps I can follow the words of this scripture---and not worry about what I say or how I say it.  Keep me right with You---so that You can speak through me.  Because when my heart is full of anger or bitterness or fear----what comes out of my mouth is not from You.  God---where there is anger or bitterness or fear----bring Healing---as I know only You can do.  I know I am not the only one to struggle with these feelings that are not from You---so whatever I pray for myself---I pray for everyone.  

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

God, I have a lot of fear.  I'm sorry.  I know that's not from You.  And where there is fear---there is also anger.  I don't think that's from You either.  I'm sorry.  Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  This is frightening for me too---because there are parts of myself that I would rather stay hidden---and unknown.  God---I ask that You heal and cleanse me----so that my weaknesses could just point more clearly to You and Your strength and Your unconditional love.   Give me a heart that doesn't fear this verse.  Give me a heart that isn't the one of Adam and Eve in the garden---hiding from the sound of Your steps.  Give me a heart that rejoices in Your presence----and in communion with You---that is possible only through what You have done through Christ.  I have a hard heart sometimes----it's so hard.  Even to You.  I don't know how it's possible to look at everything You have done and still remain as cold as stone---but I know I can be that way sometimes.  Change my heart.  I am praying and asking for something Good when I ask this---so I know that You will.  I will wait on You.  "What I tell you in the dark---say in the light---and what you hear whispered---proclaim on the housetops."  Still small voice, right God?  The one that talks to me in the dark sometimes---the one that tells me I'm loved---and made to love.  I keep these treasures to myself sometimes----hole up with them---feeling safe and tucked away from the rest of the world.  But you never call me in without sending me out.  Right now---I sometimes feel like the door between You and me is shut.  And I am fighting to open it.  I wonder if too many times You've called me in---and tried to send me out---and I've been disobedient.  God---give me an obedient heart---because I think if I were obedient to You---if I were truly walking in Your will---this door would not be shut the way it seems to be shut right now.  Or maybe You are teaching me something in this season of spiritual dryness and lamentation.  God---there are lessons maybe that I don't want to learn.  Again---change my heart---mold my will to Yours.  Too often--I try to twist it the other way around.  And give me the courage to proclaim what I hear whispered in the dark.  Don't let me love the darkness because it hides.  But let me walk in the light---that's what You made me for.....God---teach me who I am in You.  I think I've forgotten.  Whatever I pray for myself---I pray. for everyone.

In Jesus' name I pray

Amen.