Salvation Is Jesus

Matthew 10 - Part b

Today we’ll finish looking at Matthew chapter 10. We left off in verse 23 as Jesus was telling his disciples that they could expect much hardship for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ (the Gospel).

Verses 26-42 are full of good stuff including:

• Instructions on sharing Jesus’ entire message.
• Comfort in knowing that our eternal security is based on Christ, not man, giving us encouragement to spread the Gospel even in persecution.
• An Old Testament prophecy (Micah 7:6) concerning the personal conflicts that the Gospel of Christ would produce.
• And the importance of following and loving Christ more than all else.

Verses 26-42 (color coded to match the topics above):

So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn
‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw—
man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.

These verses are all so straight forward and clear. Here’s my summary: Do not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, but preach the entire message of truth. We may face much persecution, but in the end, we should be more afraid of God than men. We are warned of the hardship, but guaranteed salvation from hell and on top of that, eternal rewards for following Christ.