Matthew 10:16-23
Opposition to the
King’s Companions
Read
Matt. 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Pray
Intro
√ Opposition to the King’s Companions
You’ll remember from our previous study that the Lord selected 12 men to help Him with the work of the Kingdom, they were…
Called
Commissioned
Counseled
The rest of chapter 10 is devoted to the counsel, or instruction, of the Lord to those He is sending out to do the work of the Kingdom.
But, as we just read in vs. 16 what Jesus tells His companions about the work to which He has called them is not real encouraging!
Sheep vs. wolves doesn’t sound like a fair fight ~ especially if you’re the sheep!
So, Jesus warns them that they will face opposition, persecution and hardship because He is sending them into a…
Hostile world
Hostile home
In view of that assignment He gives them (and us) instructions on how to conduct ourselves in a “wolfy” world.
Ap. We need wisdom to do His will
Everything about the world that Jesus has sent us to minister to is contrary to the Message of the King…
Their priorities
Their attitude toward life
Their conduct
Their values
So, reaching the lost is no picnic because we live in a world that is hostile to the Kingdom message…
…therefore we must put into practice the counsel of the King.
√ Timing
Jesus’ comments in this section can be a bit confusing as to the timing of the opposition that His companions will face.
Some comments seem to indicate that Jesus is speaking about the present time, other verses seem to indicate a future time.
For example…
Matt. 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Sounds like the present.
Matt. 10:17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
Matt. 10:18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
There’s no indication in any of the Gospels that the disciples faced any opposition, were ever arrested, dragged before kings, etc., until after Pentecost.
Sounds like a future time.
Matt. 10:23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Sounds very much like the future time of the Great Tribulation described in Matthew 24.
So, it’s probably best to understand Jesus’ instructions as applying to all of His servants, for all time, until the work of the Kingdom is done.
Therefore, don’t get too hung up on the period of time described…
…focus on His instructions on how to handle opposition when it does come.
Hostile world (vs. 16-20)
Matt. 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Matt. 10:17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
Matt. 10:18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
Matt. 10:19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
Matt. 10:20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
√ Hostile world
Jesus begins by describing the environment into which He is sending them to share His Message…
“I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves”
vs. 16
That is, He is sending them into a hostile environment! Not an exciting prospect!
Sheep ~ are gentle, helpless, simple and eat grass
Wolves ~ are aggressive, powerful, cunning and eat sheep!
The spiritual metaphor pictures the companions of the King (the apostles and us) operating in enemy territory (the world and people of the world who are under the sway of the Devil).
Note vs. 17…
“But beware of men”
The reason is that the people of the world have a “wolf-like” mentality that is characterized by self-preservation.
While the servants of the King have a new nature, sheep like, as the Spirit of God works to rewire us to have the mind of Christ…
…others-centered.
Jesus then gives us specific examples of how the people of the world will oppose and persecute the companions of the King.
Knowing that the world is a dangerous place…
…it is therefore imperative that we operate with caution!
How? Jesus tells us
“Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
Vs. 16
Another metaphor!
1) Be wise as a serpent
That is, when operating in the enemies domain…
…avoid danger!
Ex. Snakes (or “vipers” here in Arkansas!)
They don’t want a confrontation with people! So, they…
Keep a low profile
Move quickly & quietly
Try not to draw attention to themselves
Because they know that if they expose themselves to the “enemy” they’re going to end up dead!
Ap. Be wise when, where, and how you share the Message!
If you’re called to minister to Muslims in Saudi Arabia you don’t set up a megaphone at Mecca and announce…
“Mohamed is a false prophet!”
…because you’ll end up dead and won’t win any converts!
Instead you go to work for the Saudi airlines as a mechanic and hold Bible studies at the American Embassy as a “cultural” event.
Remember, there’s no honor in suffering for stupidity!
So, Jesus tells us to first of all try and avoid putting ourselves into unnecessary danger.
2) Be peaceful as a dove
Jesus said that we’re to be as “harmless” as a dove, which literally means to be…
“Pure, innocent, simple, harmless”
The Lord’s point is that His Kingdom and His Message is to advance without force, threats, or intimidation.
Contrary to the methods used by the Men of the world (like the Romans and Zealots) who sought to establish their kingdoms by force.
Unfortunately the Church hasn’t always followed the King’s instructions!
Ex. Holy Roman Empire
The Spanish armies killed tens of thousands of Native Americans under the banner of the Cross, but very few actually converted to the Christian faith.
We are never to treat those who oppose us with force, or caustic words, or threats.
We’re called to be like a dove, not a vulture, and to win those who oppose us with God’s Grace not God’s Wrath (Romans 12:21).
3) Be Spirit led
Look at verses 17-20 again…
Matt. 10:17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
Matt. 10:18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
Matt. 10:19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
Matt. 10:20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Jesus reveals that some of His servants will face persecution in spite of the fact that they tried to exercise caution.
Some will be persecuted by the Jews ~ vs. 17
(councils ~ the Sanhedrin & synagogues)
Others will be persecuted by the Gentiles ~ vs. 18
(governors ~ the Romans; kings ~ the Herodians)
In that case Jesus tells the apostles that they are not to worry about what to say…
…rather, they’re to trust the Holy Spirit to give them the right words to speak to defeat the wisdom of Man.
Ex. Book of Acts
Many examples…
Peter and John before the Sanhedrin ~ Acts 4
Stephen before the Sanhedrin ~ Acts 7
Paul before Festus & Agrippa ~ Acts 25-26
In each example we find that the enemies of the King cannot stand against the wisdom of God as spoken by His servants!
Ap. Spirit led
Don’t take this as a proof text for being Biblically lazy! (ref. 2 Tim. 2:15)…
…rather, as an encouragement that the Lord will give you what you need when confronted by people hostile to the work of the Kingdom.
Hostile home (vs. 21-23)
Matt. 10:21 “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.
Matt. 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
Matt. 10:23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
√ Hostile Home
The second environment that Jesus warned the apostles would be hostile probably came as a bit of a surprise!
That is, the home!
Jesus tells them that a time will come when even their own family members would reject them, and turn them over to persecution and death because of His Name.
While there is great latitude in Judaism to practice one’s faith, liberal, conservative, Hasidic, Orthodox, even Cabalists…
…those who follow Jesus are viewed as heretics!
Jews who trust in Jesus as Messiah are no longer considered part of the covenant and in some cases even treated as dead!
Ex. Written out of the inheritance, some even have mock burials
So, how does Jesus advise the apostles to respond?
1) Be enduring
Note vs. 22…
“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
While this verse may have specific application to the Great Tribulation, the counsel of Jesus is appropriate for all who follow Him…
…be enduring!
That is, don’t give up or quit!
Just keep on doing what the King has sent you to do and trust that ultimately the Lord will deliver you.
That was certainly the example of Jesus.
His own family didn’t believe in Him, in fact they thought He was crazy (ref. John 7:5 & Mark 3:21)
Ap. A hostile home
Not every person in your family may be excited that you’ve become a Christian!
They may find your new perspective on life and morality to be in direct conflict with their worldview.
While they may not kick you out (though some will), if you ever hope to win them to Christ you must be willing to endure some difficult trials.
2) Be quick
In vs. 23 Jesus advises the boys to run from persecution!
That is, if the apostles met with opposition and persecution they were supposed to move on to another city.
Furthermore, Jesus tells them that they won’t get through all the cities before He returns.
Probably should be understood in the context of the ministry of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists in the Great Tribulation ~ note “to the end” in vs. 22.
Regardless of the time frame that’s an important truth to comprehend because sometimes we wrongly think it’s more spiritual to stay and get beat up (or killed)…
…than to get out while the getting is good!
Simply isn’t true! There’s no glory in dying when the city down the road is open to the Message of the King.
Ex. Even the lion-hearted Paul didn’t stick around to get murdered ~ Acts 9 escapes from Damascus, Acts 24 escapes from Jerusalem.
Ap. To run or stay?
So, from a practical standpoint I’d suggest that if there’s a way of escape…
…take it.
If there’s not, then stand for the Lord and trust that you’ll bring Him greater glory through suffering than life.
Ex. Susan
Close
√ Opposition to the King’s Companions
Jesus teaches us that we’re to conduct ourselves with wisdom as we seek to carry out the mission to which He has called us because we’re operating in a hostile environment.
Be…
Wise
Harmless
Spirit led
Enduring
Quick
Remember, we live in a hostile environment ~ we’re at war with the kingdom of darkness.