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Matthew Chapter Ten

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

Apostles of the King

I. Apostles are called and sent by the king (v.1-4).

II. The area and missions of apostles’ service (v.5-8).

III. The objects and attitude of life of apostles’ service (v.9-15).

IV. The hardships and the ways to deal with hardships in apostles’ service (v.16-33).

V. The sacrifice and reward in apostles’ service (v.34-42).

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Matt. 10:1 “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him He gave them power over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

   YLT: “And having called to him his twelve disciples he gave to them power over unclean spirits so as to be casting them out and to be healing every sickness and every malady.”

   Literal Meaning: “disciples”: those who followed the Lord and were strictly trained and instructed by Him.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) One becomes the Lord’s worker because of the Lord’s calling instead of his own volition. Only the disciples who have been strictly trained and instructed by the Lord are worthy to be called to be His workers.

2) If the Lord “have called them” He will “give them power”. This shows that the Lord is responsible to given power to them who have been called. The Lord’s calling and commission won’t surpass His grace.

3) Power is given to do the Lord’s work. Only those who are willing to receive the Lord’s sending are worthy to be given power.

4) Spiritual power in service is due to the Lord’s commission. If one has not been entrusted by the Lord he won’t have spiritual power and consequently it will not be of any spiritual effect. 

5) Spiritual power has two uses in the assembly: one is to cope with Satan God’s enemy and its ministers; the other is to help men’s spiritual life to grow up and be perfected.

6) The Lord Jesus came into the world not to gain the so-called works of Christianity but to gain a group of people. He gives His life to them at first and then through them He is manifested among the crowd.

7) “Twelve”: a number means forever and perfectness. The Lord will make the twelve disciples into a full testimony and example and treat them as the fountains of God’s building in the eternal age (see Rev. 21:14).

        

Matt. 10:2 “Now 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;

   YLT: “And of the twelve apostles the names are these: first Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother; James of Zebedee and John his brother;”

   Meaning of Words: “apostles”: he that is sent; “Simon”: listen to; “Peter”: stone; “Andrew”: man mighty overcomer strong masculine; “Zebedee”: God’s portion; “James”: usurper to seize; “John”: God’s gift.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The twelve apostles were separated into six groups and there were two in each group. One should not work for the Lord alone. It’s better for two to work together for the Lord because they could collocate communicate with each other and support each other and bear witness for each other.

2) A worker of the Lord has to “listen to” (the meaning of “Simon”) the Lord’s words surrender himself as the making to the Lord’s building ------stone (the meaning of “Peter” see 1Pet. 2:5) and be strong (the meaning of “Andrew”) to do the Lord’s work.

3) The Lord’s works are those who are able to seize (the meaning of “James”) God’s eternal portion (the meaning of “Zebedee”) and God’s gifts (the meaning of “John”).

4) Among the twelve apostles there are few records about their history in the Bible except the records of Peter’s history in Acts. This shows that the Lord values how the Holy Spirit works through them instead of their works.

 

Matt. 10:3 “Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus and Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus;

   YLT: “Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James of Alpheus and Lebbeus who was surnamed Thaddeus;”

   Meaning of Words: “Philip”: affectionate fond of horses; “Bartholomew”: son of Tholomew son of wars; “Thomas”: the twin; “Matthew”: God’s gift; “Alphaeus”: interchange; “Thaddaeus”: wisdom.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Bartholomew was known as Nathanael (John. 1:45). The Lord’s workers should deeply love (meaning of “Philip”) God’s gifts (meaning of “Nathanael”)

2) Since the Lord’s workers receive the doubling (the meaning of “Thomas”) gifts their gifts change (meaning of “Alphaeus”) into wisdom and ability (meaning of “Thaddaeus”) that they could grasp (meaning of “James”).

 

Matt. 10:4 “Simon the Cananite and Judas Iscariot who also betrayed Him.

   YLT: “Simon the Cananite and Judas Iscariot who did also deliver him up.”

   Meaning of Words: “Simon the Canaite”: listen to earnestly; “betrayed”: bring out; “Iscariot”: the one with purse who is good at trading in Aramaic; “Judas”: worship.

   Literal Meaning: “the Canaite” was a Jewish revolutionary organization. It resisted the rule of the Roman Government over Palestine by force.

  “Canaite” was a city of the tribe of Ephraim near to Samaria.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The behavior of “worship” (meaning of “Judas”) was superficial. Those who pretend to be workers of the Lord in appearance may betray the Lord. The most important thing is to earnestly listen to (meaning of “Simon the Cananite”) the Lord.

2) Judas who betrayed the Lord was unexpectedly listed in the twelve apostles. It indicates that the Lord cope with someone concerning the will of God regardless of His own advantages and disadvantages.

 

Matt. 10:5 “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them saying: Do not go into the way of the Gentiles and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.

   YLT: “These twelve did Jesus send forth having given command to them saying `To the way of the nations go not away and into a city of the Samaritans go not in ”

   Literal Meaning: “the way of the Gentiles”: there were many Greek cities in the Land of Galilee and people there lived a life that is totally different from that of the Jews.

  “A city of the Samaritans.” In about B.C. 700 the Northland Israel was perished by Ashur. Its people were carried away captive to Babylon and many Eastern gentiles moved to Samaritans (2Kings. 17:24). The gentiles there intermarried with the Israel who were left and the mixed race was Samaritans. Their cities and towns were located in the middle of Palestine near to Galilee in the north and close to Judah in the south. 

   Spiritual Meaning: “the way of the Gentiles” symbolizes the way of the world;

  “A city of the Samaritans” symbolizes the mixed group that half of it belongs to Christianity and the other half belongs to the world.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Workers of the Lord could not use ways of the world (“the way of the Gentiles”) to work for the Lord; neither should they partake in the mixed groups or organizations (“a city of the Samaritans”).

2) Those who have received the Lord’s sending have to choose the Lord’s way instead of his own way. For the heavens are higher than the earth so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts (Is. 55:9).

3) Our works should not be beyond spiritual realm (“the way of the Gentiles”). Our works should not be both of heaven and of the earth or be both of spirit and of flesh (“a city of the Samaritans”).

4) The most important thing to follow the Lord is not gifts eloquence or knowledge but one’s absoluteness and faithfulness towards the Lord.

5) We have to walk in the Lord’s way absolutely. Let our yes be yes and no be no. Our walking and words should not be ambiguous and equivocal and we should not leave any room or leeway.

6) The order is that glad tidings are to the Jews first and to Greek (Rom. 1:16).

 

Matt. 10:6 “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

   YLT: “and be going rather unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

   Literal Meaning: “the house of Israel” They are God’s elect.

  “The lost sheep” The sheep have the lord. Israel originally was of God and they like sheep had gone astray and they had turned every one to his own way (Is. 53:6).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The targets we work for are those who have been predestinated by God. They originally were of God and are lost in the world and sins. 

2) “The house of Israel” is the house of those who “honor God as king and let God reign over them” i.e. the house of those who are willing to receive God.

 

Matt. 10:7 “And as you go preach saying "The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

   YLT: “`And going on proclaim saying that the reign of the heavens hath come nigh;”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “As you go preach.” The true service should not be restricted by fixed scopes or forms. The true service should be urgent in season out of season (2Tim. 4:2) and provide for the needs in every circumstance that is arranged by the Lord. 

2) Workers’ life should accord with their messengers. Their “go” should improve their “preaching”------they should bear witness to and improve the words they preach by their life.

3) John the Baptist preached the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 3:2) the Lord Jesus Himself preached the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 4:17) and the Lord sent apostles to preach the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is the eternal and persistent will of God.

4) The aim to work for the Lord is to bring men into the authority of heaven.

 

Matt. 10:8 “Heal the sick cleanse the lepers raise the dead cast out demons. Freely you have received freely give.

   YLT: “infirm ones be healing lepers be cleansing dead be raising demons be casting out freely ye did receive freely give.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God has given strength and might unto His people (Ps. 68:35) and therefore wherever we go we should manifest God’s strength and might.

2) Workers of the Lord should have heavenly might and make men have a foretaste of the reality of the kingdom of heaven ------ forgiving men’s sins (“cleansing the lepers”) delivering men out of the authority of darkness (“casting out demons”) restoring spiritual life (“raising the dead”) and removing all the abnormal states (“healing the sick”).

3) The Lord had paid high price to give us grace freely (“freely you have received”) and therefore we should pay price to let others receive grace freely (“freely give”).

4) Spiritual power of the glad tidings is not for making money. Serving the Lord is not for one’s own profits.

5) The Lord’s way is a way of “receiving” and “giving”. If one only receives and does not give there is no hope for him to receive. The more one gives the more he will receive.

 

Matt. 10:9 “Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts

   YLT: “`Provide not gold nor silver nor brass in your girdles ”

   Literal Meaning: “money belts”: the pleats in the robe that are used as pockets to keep belongings in this time.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Workers of the Lord should have faith towards God and should not trust on the uncertainty of riches but in the God who affords us all things richly for enjoyment (1Tim. 6:17).

2) Those who serve the Lord should not be distracted by material enjoyment on earth. Having sustenance and covering we will be content with these (1Tim. 6:8).

 

Matt. 10:10 “nor bag for your journey nor two tunics nor sandals nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

   YLT: “nor scrip for the way nor two coats nor sandals nor staff for the workman is worthy of his nourishment.”

   Meaning of Words: “provide” means to acquire purposely or to gain; “bag”: it is used to keep foods.

   Literal Meaning: the Lord has ordained to those that announce to the glad tidings to live of the glad tidings (1Cor. 9:14). Therefore workers of the Lord being sent out by the Lord to work among God’s people should not prepare superfluously for the daily necessities. However the Lord’s workers should gain nothing from unbelievers (3John. 7).

Controversial Clarification: this regulation about not providing gold or daily necessities had been cancelled before the Lord was taken (see Luke. 22:35-38). Therefore when we read this verse we should understand it in spirit and should not literally follow it. The principle of the life of a worker of the Lord is not to prepare for himself and not to plan for himself and in him it is proved that God is able to feed us and He is responsible for us.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) No matter how week we are we are still God’s children. We represent God in the world and therefore we should not live a random life.

2) The life of the Lord’s workers should be the life of faith. If the Lord has not done anything we should not prepare anything by ourselves to find a way out.

3) “A worker is worthy of his food.” If we truly are the Lord’s workers He is responsible for this promise. If we do our works we have to prepare for our own needs.

4) If believers work for the Lord they will receive both material and spiritual food.

 

Matt. 10:11Now whatever city or town you enter inquire who in it is worthy and stay there till you go out.

   YLT: “`And into whatever city or village ye may enter inquire ye who in it is worthy and there abide till ye may go forth.”

   Literal Meaning: “inquire who in it is worthy” “who is worthy” are those who have the God-seeking hearts fear God and seek the kingdom of God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Lord’s workers should have spiritual sensibility and discernment to know who truly desires a good work.

2) Our relations with men should be established on our respective relations with the Lord.

3) Those who wholeheartedly fear God will assuredly respect and receive those who have been sent by God.

4) When preaching the glad tidings we should carefully watch men’s reactions and find out who is the ripe harvest and is ready to receive the glad tidings.

 

Matt. 10:12 “And when you go into a household greet it.

   YLT: “And coming to the house salute it ”

   Spiritual Meaning: “greet it” means providing Christ to him because Christ Himself is peace.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Anyone who is willing to receive the Lord’s workers partakes in the Lord’s works and could be counted as a co-worker in the Lord.

2) Christ Himself is peace. There will be peace where there is the Lord’s presence (2Thess. 3:16). This peace is peace of Christ (Col. 3:15).

 

Matt. 10:13 “If the household is worthy let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy let your peace return to you.

   YLT: “and if indeed the house be worthy let your peace come upon it; and if it be not worthy let your peace turn back to you.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Being sent by the Lord is an important thing because those who have been sent are representatives of the Lord. The moment they are sent by the Lord they have the Lord’s authority presence and peace. Therefore wherever they go the workers sent by the Lord have the Lord’s authority presence and peace with them just as the flow of water.

2) Anyone that receives those who have been sent by the Lord receives the Lord’s presence and peace. Anyone that rejects those who have been sent by the Lord rejects the Lord’s presence and peace.

3) Any circumstance could not affect the peace in the workers of the Lord and the peace in the workers of the Lord is able to change the circumstances.

4) Before the devil makes us fail it will make us lose our peace at first. If we hold fast the peace in our hearts the devil will do nothing to us.

5) Whether someone is worthy of the Lord’s blessing and peace is determined by the Lord. While someone else act positively we should hold an active attitude towards him and we should not doubt his intention or motive.

 

Matt. 10:14 “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words when you depart from that house or city shake off the dust from your feet.

   YLT: “`And whoever may not receive you nor hear your words coming forth from that house or city shake off the dust of your feet ”

   The Background: “shake off the dust from your feet.” When the Pharisees depart from a gentile place they would do this symbolic action indicating that they have nothing with the uncleanness of the Gentiles.

   Spiritual Meaning: “shake off the dust from your feet” shows that the men or place that have rejected Christ should suffer their own actions and their endings in future have nothing with us (Acts. 13:50-51).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Our relations with the world should be established on the ground that whether they receive the Lord. To those who do not receive the Lord we should not maintain earthly intimate relations with them.

2) The disguised social services should not replace Christ’s gospel. What the Lord cares about is whether men receive the glad tidings. The Lord does not care about that whether we have improved men’s living standard.

 

Matt. 10:15 “Assuredly I say to you it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

   YLT: “verily I say to you It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”

   The Background: the land of Sodom and Gomorrah were ruined by fire by God because their sin was very grievous (Gen. 18:20 19:24-25).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) In the time of grace those who have heard the gospel of salvation and still obstinately reject the gospel probably will suffer more in future than ignorant sinners.

2) Today men receive more truth than the former time. If they still reject and do not listen to the truth their sins are inexcusable and their sins are greater because to every one to whom much has been given much shall be required from him (Luke. 12:48).

3) Why do we preach glad tidings? Because there will be the day of judgment. If men do not receive glad tidings they will suffer more in the day of judgment.

4) The greatest sin is rejecting the Lord. All men’s sins come from rejecting the Lord.

 

Matt. 10:16Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

   YLT: “`Lo I do send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves be ye therefore wise as the serpents and simple as the doves.”

   Meaning of Words: “wise”: clever sagacious with discretions; “harmless”: simple unmixed and innocent.

   Literal Meaning: “as sheep in the midst of wolves” Sheep’s natural disposition is meekness and wolves are brutal. Sheep is in danger if it is in the midst of wolves.

  “Be wise as serpents.” Wisdom is the feature of serpents when they keep watchful to defend themselves. We should know how to avoid danger as serpents.

  “Harmless as doves” Holding oneself aloof from the world as doves.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Since we are sent out by the Lord He will assuredly take responsibility for our safety. Otherwise if we haven’t been sent out by the Lord we should not take risks by ourselves.

2) Sheep is very dangerous in the midst of wolves. Christians profit nothing among the unbelievers and may even be harmed by them.

3) Men’s natural life is like wolves and they like to obey the law of the jungle. However the life of the Lord is the life of Lamb------standing aloof from the world and being willing to suffer losses.

4) Among unbelievers believers should on one hand “be wise as serpents” and do not offend their cruelty and on the other “be harmless as doves” and do not harm others.

5) Believers should be “wise” to that which is good and simple (“harmless”) to evil (Rom. 16:19). Believers should be wise enough to have spiritual sensibility and should be simple enough to never gain their own rights and interests.

6) When dealing with unbelievers believers should know all the devices that of Satan (2Cor. 2:11). Silly losses are of no spiritual value. However if it is the will of God believers should not avoid the loss though they know that it is a trap.

7) Believers should not suffer meaningless losses or be harmed by others. Believers should not let others suffer losses or harm others.

8) The appearance of the world pretends to be honest and “harmless” and their hearts are full of schemes and wiliness. However Christians’ outside attitude should be “harmless” and our inner reality should be “wise”.

9) “Wise” and “harmless” are closely interrelated to each other. Careless ones could not keep simple and brutal ones would assuredly lose wisdom.

 

Matt. 10:17 But beware of men for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.

   YLT: “And take ye heed of men for they will give you up to sanhedrims and in their synagogues they will scourge you ”

   Literal Meaning: “councils” were the supreme meeting of the Jews. It was composed of seventy members and it had the right to judge common civil and religious matters. To those who had been sentenced of sins by the councils it is lawful to whip them and it is not lawful to put them to death (John. 18:31).

  “Synagogues” were the places for the Jews to gather together to study the Bible and to worship God.

   Spiritual Meaning: “councils” symbolizes the authority of religion;

  “Synagogues” symbolizes the circumstances of religion.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) A true worker will be hated rejected and persecuted by religionists. Therefore workers have to be aware of them.

2) The system of God’s elect contrarily turned out to be the organization to persecute those who are truly of God. Today some groups in Christianity are willing to help the evil political power to persecute true Christians.

 

Matt. 10:18 “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

   YLT: “and before governors and kings ye shall be brought for my sake for a testimony to them and to the nations.”

   Meaning of Words: “governors”: rulers (Pontius politarchs and etc)

   Spiritual Meaning: “governors and kings” symbolize power and influence of the government;

  “The Gentiles” symbolizes the world.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Because we are not of the world the world hates us. Since the world had persecuted the Lord they will also persecute us (John. 15:19-20).

2) The assembly does not lack preachers but lacks those who are willing to stand for the Lord and bear witness to the Lord.

3) The Lord gives us difficult circumstances because He loves us. Without the press of circumstances we won’t learn to closely look upon the Lord and rely on Him.

 

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;

   YLT: “`And whenever they may deliver you up be not anxious how or what ye may speak for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak;”

   Literal Meaning: “how you should speak” indicates the way to speak;

  “What you should speak” indicates the contents to speak.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) When we are confronted with persecution and opposition we should not speak by ourselves.

2) If believers are persecuted or opposed we should not deal with the difficulty by ourselves. We should commit ourselves to the Lord through faith. He that believes on the Lord shall not be ashamed (Rom. 9:33).

 

Matt. 10:20 “for it is not you who speak but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

   YLT: “for ye are not the speakers but the Spirit of your Father that is speaking in you.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We should learn to return into the spirit and look on the guidance of the Holy Spirit instead of facing the persecution by ourselves because God’s Spirit dwells in our spirits (Rom. 8:9).

2) The Spirit of your Father is our hold and comfort when we are persecuted for serving the Lord.

3) If men rush to the fore to speak the Holy Spirit will have no status to speak. If men do not speak for themselves the Holy Spirit will manifest his words.

4) Many times men could speak what they are unable to speak and what they are unexpected because it is not men who speak but the Spirit of their Father who speaks in them.

 

Matt. 10:21Now 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.

   YLT: “`And brother shall deliver up brother to death and father child and children shall rise up against parents and shall put them to death ”

   Literal Meaning: the situation described in this verse had happened in history. In the country where there was no freedom of faith many similar situations happened. 

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The greatest cross for believers is to be opposed and persecuted by their close family members because it is extremely painful.

2) The world relies on relations of flesh and believers pay attention to relations of spiritual life.

 

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.

   YLT: “and ye shall be hated by all because of my name but he who hath endured to the end he shall be saved.”

   Meaning of Words: “endures”: could not be overwhelmed

   Literal Meaning: “to the end will be saved” Here it doesn’t mean the avoidance of perdition. It means to be delivered from evil men. It also means to avoid being punished by the Lord in Christ’s second coming.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Many people are hated by men. How many of them are hated by men for the sake of the name of the Lord? It is of spiritual value if we are hated by men only when we are fervently preaching the Lord’s name and standing firmly for the Lord’s name.

2) If believers do not associate with evil ones and come out to disclose sins unavoidably they will be hated and even killed by men.

3) “Endurance” is the best principle to deal with the situation that one is hated by men. Only entering into the endurance of Christ could we be delivered from bad and evil men (2Thess. 3:2-5).

4) The life believers receive is the life that is able to inherit everything and still stand after overcoming everything. There isn’t any difficulty that is too difficult for this life to bear. Therefore we can endure to the end.

5) By ourselves nobody is able to “endure to the end”. However since we are persecuted for His name our persecution is His persecution and we are able to endure because He has borne the persecution.

 

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.

   YLT: “`And whenever they may persecute you in this city flee to the other for verily I say to you ye may not have completed the cities of Israel till the Son of Man may come.”

   Literal Meaning: “when they persecute you in this city flee…” “Flee”: concede not resist.

  “You will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes” This is a promise of the Lord: He would never disregard us and let us exhaust ourselves in fleeing 

   Spiritual Meaning: this verse could be applied to God’s people in The Tribulation (see Matt. 24:9 13-14).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Fleeing”------ concede and do not argue with others------is the principle for believers to deal with persecution.

2) It is not shameful for Christians to flee. They obey the Lord’s order.

3) God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able but will with the temptation make the issue also so that should be able to bear (1Cor. 10:13).

4) “The Spirit of your Father” (v.20) and “steps of the Son of Man” (“the Son of Man comes”) is our hold and comfort when we are persecuted for serving the Lord.

 

Matt. 10:24A disciple is not above his teacher nor a servant above his master.

   YLT: “`A disciple is not above the teacher nor a servant above his lord;”

   Meaning of Words: “servant”: bondman slave

   Literal Meaning: this verse specially refers to suffering: the degree of pain we suffer will never exceed the persecution the Lord had suffered.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We are pupils of the Lord and we should learn from Him. We are slaves of the Lord and we should obey Him in every thing.

2) The Lord’s steps are the example for those who serve the Lord to follow. It is inevitable for those who serve the Lord to walk in the way of cross.

 

Matt. 10:25 “It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub how much more will they call those of his household!

   YLT: “sufficient to the disciple that he may be as his teacher and the servant as his lord; if the master of the house they did call Beelzeboul how much more those of his household?”

   Literal Meaning: “Beelzebub” is the Baal-zebub the god of Ekron (2Kings. 1:2). The Jews changed the voice to call “Beelzebub” and it means “the king of dunghill”. It also means “the king of house” because the devil possesses men treats men as houses and occupies men’s body to be the king of house.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) No matter how greatly a Christian suffers the most is the same with the Lord. This comforts us because the Lord knows our tribulations on earth.

2) Since men abuse and blaspheme our Lord we should not hope that others may treat us kindly. Every time we are misunderstood persecuted or despised by others we should remember how the Lord was treated by men.

3) It is impossible that our Lord here received cross but we receive crowns. We should not hope to have different destinies and future with the Lord. Anyone who seeks men’s glory is unable to be the Lord’s servants.

4) If we are treated by the world differently from our Lord probably something is wrong with us ------there are some problems in our relations with the Lord.

 

Matt. 10:26 “Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known.

  YLT: “`Ye may not therefore fear them for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and hid that shall not be known;”

   Literal Meaning: according to the context “covered” is equivalent to “whatever I tell you in the dark” (v.27) and “hidden” is equivalent to “what you hear in the ear” (v.27).

  This verse has several aspects of meanings:

1) The mysteries and revelations that the apostles have received from the Lord today will be known to the world in future.

2) It exhorts that we should not be hidden Christians for fearing to be persecuted because once we truly believe in the Lord we will be known by others sooner or later. 

3) Even we are misunderstood as Beelzebub by others for the things that we keep for the Lord secretly God will clear it up some day. 

4) Men’s persecutions hidden jealousies deceitfulness and sins towards Christians will be revealed some day.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The greatest difficulty for men is anxiety and fear besides sins.

2) A fearful person is of no great use in God’s hand.

3) Since things that are covered and hidden will be revealed sooner or later it would be better for us to muster up our courage to speak what we should speak and to do what we should do.

 

Matt. 10:27Whatever I tell you in the dark speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear preach on the housetops.

   YLT: “that which I tell you in the darkness speak in the light and that which you hear at the ear proclaim on the house-tops.”

   Literal Meaning: the Lord here encouraged us to be bold in it as we ought to speak (Eph. 6:20). Moreover what we say must be heard from the Lord.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The enemy always threatens us in order to close our mouth. However the Lord always asks us to “speak in the light” and “preach on the housetops”.

2) If the Lord has not told us in the dark we could not speak in the light. If we have not heard “in the ear” we could not “preach”. If men preach the Lord’s words they must preach what the Lord has spoken.

3) Those who speak for the Lord must speak according to the words heard from the Lord and must receive fresh words from the Lord continually.

4) Nobody could be a Christian in the dark. Any true Christian has to bear witness to the Lord.

 

Matt. 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

   YLT: “`And be not afraid of those killing the body and are not able to kill the soul but fear rather Him who is able both soul and body to destroy in gehenna.”

   Literal Meaning: the devil and its ministers (including the world) could kill the body at most and they cannot kill the soul. However if we dare not to bear witness to the Lord fearing that our bodies may be killed probably our souls may be punished by the Lord one day and this is what should be afraid of. 

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Believers should not fear those who make us suffer losses temporarily and should fear those who make us suffer losses forever.

2) Men’s difficulty is that they do not fear what they are supposed to fear and fear what they are not supposed to fear. What men should fear is to fear God. Fearing God is the foundation of our victory.

 

Matt. 10:29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.

   YLT: “`Are not two sparrows sold for an assar? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father;”

   Literal Meaning: “a copper coin” it is of little value.

  This verse indicates that we are more precious than two sparrows in the eyes of the Father of heaven. If the Father of heaven does not let a sparrow die casually should not rather we?

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We should learn to trust and rely on God’s care and arrangements.

2) Men and devils are unable to harm us apart from Father in heaven. All our circumstances are permitted by our Father and He knows what is profitable for us (Heb. 12:10).

 

Matt. 10:30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

   YLT: “and of you even the hairs of the head are all numbered;”

   Literal Meaning: this verse indicates that every hair of us has been numbered by God. God managers this little thing and he will assuredly regard us when we are encountered with difficulties because of His works.

   Enlightenment in the Word:                                   

1) Every thing believers have encountered is arranged by God. God arranges our circumstances carefully just as He has numbered our hairs.

2) God’s infinite meticulosity is just like His infinite greatness. Upon us nothing is too detailed for God to arrange.

 

Matt. 10:31 “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

   YLT: “be not therefore afraid than many sparrows ye are better.”

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) “Many” is very precious. No matter how many sparrows there are you are of more value.

2) God loves us as the apple of His eye (Deut. 32:10 Zech. 2:8).

3) The reason why men may fear is that they do not trust in God’s arrangements. Everything is arranged by God. If you trust in God’s arrangements you won’t fear and you will praise Him.

4) Obedience works joy and faith works rest. One will not fear when he is full of rest and joy.

 

Matt. 10:32Therefore whoever confesses Me before men him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

   YLT: “`Every one therefore who shall confess in me before men I also will confess in him before my Father who is in the heavens;”

   Meaning of Words: “confess”: acknowledge.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1) If we bear witness to the Lord the Lord will bear witness to us.

2) If we respect the Lord before men the Lord will respect us before God.

 

Matt. 10:33 “But whoever denies Me before men him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

   YLT: “and whoever shall deny me before men I also will deny him before my Father who is in the heavens.”

   Literal Meaning: whether we confess the Lord before men is closely connected with whether the Lord confesses us before God. If we dare not to confess the Lord before men because we are afraid of men we will suffer the consequence of our fear. Should we fear God? Or should we fear men? It is a fearful thing to fall into hands of living God (Heb. 10:31).

   Enlightenment in the Word:                           

1) Today it is wrong for believers that the more others oppose them the less they dare to bear witness to the Lord. Actually lamp is lightened in the dark. The more men reject the Lord the more we should preach.

2) Many believers hold that they do not need to preach the glad tidings with mouth and they want to express the glad tidings with deeds. Our deeds should be worthy of the glad tidings (Pill. 1:27) however deeds could not replace utterance.

 

Matt. 10:34Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.

   YLT: “`Ye may not suppose that I came to put peace on the earth; I did not come to put peace but a sword;”

   Meaning of Words: “peace”: reconciliation.

   Literal Meaning: “I cam to…but a sword” The Lord came to the world to make those of Him to suffer the pain of “a sword” i.e. a sword shall go through our own souls (Luke. 2:35). Our natural feelings and favors will be dealt with and we are instructed not to live by our natural life.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Christ’s coming certainly breaks off the earthly and interpersonal relations. If the relation has not been broken off it proves that work of the Lord’s grace is not enough.

2) The reason why men are unable to live in peace with each other because God and men are unable to live in peace with each other. If men have not been reconciled with God men are unable to be reconciled with men.

3) The Lord came into the world to cut off men’s natural life.

 

Matt. 10:35 “For I have come to set a man against his father a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law';

   YLT: “for I came to set a man at variance against his father and a daughter against her mother and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law ”

   Literal Meaning: the Lord here did not mean that believers should not love their parents and family members. He meant that the Lord is among us our parents and family members if the relation between one part and the Lord is wrong there will be problem among them. However if the whole family magnifies the Lord the family life of believers is much happier than that of the world.

  The verse means that who mostly hinder one from loving the Lord whole-heartedly is usually the one in his house. 

   Spiritual Meaning: parents are the root of children’s natural life and therefore setting a man “against” his parents is cutting off the root of men’s natural life.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) When living in the world it is impossible for one to live in peace with one who opposes the Lord otherwise there will be something wrong between him and the Lord.

2) Those who follow the Lord firmly will not be understood by his own household. Because the power of darkness behind unbelievers is against the heavenly king and it makes that earthly men hate heavenly men.

3) The Lord came to gain men’s highest place in their hearts. Originally men’s highest place in their hearts is their parents and mother-in-law. But the Lord came and men have to give the highest place to Him. In order to serve the Lord the interpersonal relations should be regarded as secondary.

 

Matt. 10:36 “and a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'

   YLT: “and the enemies of a man are those of his household.”

   Literal Meaning: this verse means what mostly hinder men from fully loving the Lord is always his own household.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Men could not love both the Lord and his family members. If believers love the Lord their family members who are unbelievers will be jealousy and jealous makes hatred. Family members hate the Lord first and then they treat us as enemies. 

2) Those who truly serve the Lord will assuredly be despised by men with who they have intimate relations------“his own household”.

 

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

   YLT: “`He who is loving father or mother above me is not worthy of me and he who is loving son or daughter above me is not worthy of me ”

   Literal Meaning: the Lord here did not mean that we should not love our parents or daughter. What He meant is that the order of our love should be adjusted------we should let Him have the first place in all things (Col. 1:18). For example: when parents who are unbelievers use the renunciation of parenthood to threaten us to give up faith if we give way in this we do love father or mother  more than the Lord.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Those who leave all things and only love the Lord are worthy of the Lord.

2) Those who give the priority to their parents and then the Lord are not worthy of the Lord.

3) Only those who love the Lord more than “these” are worthy to work for the Lord to feed His lambs (John. 21:15).  

4) The Lord asks us to give everything to Him. The Lord asks us to love Him completely instead of partially.

5) When someone loves the Lord so much that even hurts himself he will receive the true joy. If someone has not received the joy he has not hurt himself for loving the Lord.

6) Men are so close to each other that they could not feel the preciousness of drawing near to God. Too much satisfaction from men may eclipse the preciousness of the Lord.

7) The Lord is qualified to be loved and served by men completely and unconditionally. If we think that He is unworthy of this He will assuredly hold that we are unworthy of Him because we were unworthy to receive the salvation.

8) Earthly feelings should be dealt with and then one could have normal relation with the Lord.

 

Matt. 10:38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

   YLT: “and whoever doth not receive his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”

   Literal Meaning: the cross is the peak of the unreasonable treatments and pain added by the world to the Lord. Therefore to believers taking his cross and following the Lord symbolize various kinds of tribulations humiliations and sacrifice suffered for the Lord.

  When believers adjust their relations with their family members according to the principle in v.37 our natural feelings will be uncomfortable and our souls (self) will be hurt. It is taking one’s cross. Taking one’s cross means denying oneself (Matt. 16:24). A disciple of the Lord has to take his cross and follow after Him.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) In order to love the Lord more than parents and children one has to deny himself (v.37). However if one wants to deny himself he has to take up his cross.

2) Those who are unwilling to take up their own crosses are not willing to deny themselves and want to save their lives firmly. This kind of people are not worthy of the Lord.

3) When He was in Gethsemane the Lord was determined to make the will of Father be done and He went out to take up His cross. Therefore taking one’s cross is to be determined to make the will of Father be done (Matt. 26:39 42).

4) Those who put themselves aside only obey God’s will and love Him at any price are worthy of the Lord.

 

Matt. 10:39 “He who finds his life will lose it and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

   YLT: “`He who found his life shall lose it and he who lost his life for my sake shall find it.”

   Literal Meaning: “he who finds his life will lose it.” It means that if one walks according to his won will and let his soul have enjoyments in this age he will lose the enjoyment of soul in the coming age.

  “He who loses his life for My sake will find it.” It means that if one prefers to let his soul suffer loses in this life for the Lord’s sake he will obtain soul’s enjoyment in the coming age.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The significance of cross is that it makes men’s souls------thoughts feelings and wills suffer losses. Anything that does not hurt one’s soul could not be accounted as the experience of the cross.

2) Though the cross let us loss soul’s enjoyment today it will make us enjoy the joy and fullness in the eternal age.

3) If there is no tribulation there will not be joy. Nothing in the world except tribulation could work joy.

4) Anyone who is willing to be dealt with by the cross and do not seek for his own satisfaction will receive heavenly abundance because his heart is full of the Lord Himself.

 

Matt. 10:40He who receives you receives Me and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

   YLT: “`He who is receiving you doth receive me and he who is receiving me doth receive Him who sent me ”

   Literal Meaning: when believers truly take their cross and deny themselves the Lord will have place in them and they will truly be united to the Lord. Under this condition the Lord holds that if someone receives them is to receive Him.

   Spiritual Meaning: men’s “receiving” someone means to be united to him or communicate with him.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) One has to take his cross at first (v.38) and then he will be received by men. Many people put the incidental before the fundamental and. They haven’t taken their cross and want to be received as the Lord by men.

2) When we stand on the position of taking one’s cross the Lord will hold that he who receives us receives Him.

3) The reward for those who follow the Lord is also for those who receive the Lord’s followers.

 

Matt. 10:41 “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

   YLT: “he who is receiving a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward and he who is receiving a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward ”

   Literal Meaning: “a prophet’s reward.” “A prophet” is the one who speaks for God. Therefore his reward is God’s words and he is full of God’s words.

  “A righteous man’s reward” “A righteous” is the one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness and therefore his reward is the obtainment of “God’s righteousness”.

   Spiritual Meaning: “receives a prophet” is to receive the words of a prophet and to be united to the words.

  “Receives a righteous” is to receive the righteousness of a righteous and to be united to the righteousness.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Do not forget to treat others well and those who treat others well will be treated well by others.

2) Those who receive the Lord’s workers will gain reward with them together in future. Therefore we should learn to honor and receive them.

3) Only when we thirst for God’s words and righteousness from our hearts could we receive the prophets and righteous men willingly and then obtain their reward.

 

Matt. 10:42 “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple assuredly I say to you he shall by no means lose his reward.’”

   YLT: “and whoever may give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple verily I say to you he may not lose his reward.`”

   Literal Meaning: even a little good treatment to the Lord’s workers will be remembered by the Lord. On one hand it shows the unification of the Lord and His workers. On the other it shows that as long as we set everything for the Lord we will be rewarded. 

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God is not unrighteous and He won’t forget the work we have done. God is righteous and He has to punish sinners for their evil and reward saints for their righteousness.

2) What the Lord values is not the greatness or the quantity of men’s workers. As long as a man works in the name of a disciple (the one who is related to the Lord) he partakes in the heavenly rewards.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

Establishment of King’s Workers

I. The need of workers (Matt. 9:36-38)

II. The calling of workers (v.1)

III. The nature of workers (v.2-4)

 

Rules of King’s Workers

I. Workers’ way (v.5-8)

II. Workers’ attitude (v.8-15)

 

Life Manner and Deeds of King’s Workers

I. They are peaceful and calm (v.12-13)

II. They do not fear men (v.26-28)

III. They endure to the end (v.22)

IV. They abandon everything (v.39)

V. They bear witness to the Lord with their lives (v.18 39)

 

Spirit of King’s Workers

I. The spirit of wisdom (v.16)

II. The spirit of dependence (v.17-20)

III. The spirit of endurance (v.21-23)

IV. The spirit of braveness (v.24-33)

V. The spirit of sacrifice (v.34-39)

 

Difficult Positions of King’s Workers

I. As sheep in the midst of wolves (v.16a)

II. Be delivered up to the power of religion and politics (v.17-18)

III. Be hated by the masses and even by family members (v.21-22a)

 

The Way to Deal with Difficult Positions of King’s Workers

I. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (v.16b)

II. Speak by the Spirit (v.19-20)

III. Endure to the end (v.22b)

IV. Flee (v.23)

V. Do not fear men speak in the light and preach on the housetops (v.26-27)

 

The Reasons Why King’s Workers are not Afraid of being Persecuted

I. The Lord Himself was persecuted (v.24-25)

II. If they hide themselves because of fear others will still know sooner or later (v.26)

III. The persecutor at most kills the body but cannot kill the soul (v.28)

IV. Everything is under the hand of our Lord who treasures us (v.29-31)

V. They will be praised by the Lord in future (v.32)

VI. If they deny the Lord because of fear they will be denied by the Lord in future (v.33)

 

The Relation between Workers and the Lord on Earth

I. The relation between workers and the Lord surpasses the relation between workers and their family members (v.34-39).

II. Workers represent the Lord Himself on earth (v.40-42).

 

The Lord’s prophesies and teachings about three periods of times

I. Apostles’ works started from the day they were set up to the day He was crucified on the cross (v.5-15).

II. Tribulations apostles may suffer were from the day the Lord was crucified on the cross to the time the city of Jerusalem was occupied and ruined in A.D.70 (v.16-23).

III. The tribulations of God’s children will suffer are from A.D. 70 to the day of His second coming (v.24-42).

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren