79 – A Hard Road Before Them; Matthew 10:16-23
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so [a]be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20 For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and [b]cause them to be put to death. 22 You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
23 “But whenever they persecute you in [c]one city, flee to [d]the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
Footnotes
a. Matthew 10:16 Or show yourselves to be
b. Matthew 10:21 Lit put them to death
c. Matthew 10:23 Lit this
d. Matthew 10:23 Lit the other
Commentary
This is a relatively short passage but one that has plenty to uncover, starting with the imagery to explore in the first verse. Regarding sheep being sent out among wolves, I love this thought by Charles Spurgeon: “After all, the mission of sheep to wolves is a hopeful one, since we see in the natural world that the sheep, though so feeble, by far outnumber the wolves who are so fierce.” However hopeful, it is still clear that Jesus means to warn the disciples that they are to be sent out, innocent and unarmed, into the company of those who would seek to do them harm. After the sheep and wolves reference, we see another comparison, this time to serpents and doves. During this time, serpents were generally considered the wisest animals. Jesus tells His disciples that they will need to use wisdom if they are to deal effectively with the opposition they will face (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary, pg. 1194). This wisdom will also help to keep them from getting into any unnecessary trouble. The innocence of doves will keep them from retaliating when they do find themselves unduly persecuted.
Jesus then illuminates some of His symbolic admonitions and prepares them for the fact that they will be hated by government, religious groups, and their own families, but that their boldness in the name of Jesus will be a testimony, not only to the Jews (to whom they were specifically being sent), but also to the Gentiles (who likely represented the majority of the government and who would be the subject of later missions).
Jesus not only warns them that this intimate betrayal will happen, but that they must endure it if they are true followers. The Nelson KJV Bible Commentary suggests that the statement about endurance in verse 22 does not imply that salvation is contingent on endurance or perseverance, but rather that those who are truly saved will demonstrate endurance until the end. “Why, if every man would be saved who began to follow Christ, who would be damned? In such a country as this, the most of men have at least one religious spasm in their lives.” To rephrase Spurgeon’s comments, I liken it to the seed that took root on rocky soil, grew up quickly, and withered under the heat of the sun. It was not ultimately successful seed, even though it started out looking good.
While Jesus warned the disciples that some would die for the sake of the gospel, they were to escape harm if at all possible by leaving the city or using their serpent-like shrewdness (to which He had referred in verse 16). However, the words that the Spirit would give them in response to judicial questions would not necessarily be the words that could save their lives, but the words to clarify the true testimony of Christ. In many cases, these men may have been more afraid of misrepresenting Christ through their ineloquence than of experiencing personal pain and death.
Verses 21 and 22 recall Old Testament scriptures, and this attests to the fact that Jesus and His ministry represented a fulfillment of prophecy. Remember that Jesus’s audience for this speech was composed of Jews who would have been well-versed in Old Testament scripture and would have immediately called to mind long passages when Jesus delivered short quotes from those prophecies. Verse 22 has allusions to Isaiah 19:2 and Micah 7:6, both pasted here and in the references for convenience.
Isaiah 19:2 “So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
In Isaiah, the prophet was talking about a civil war that would come to Egypt and would weaken the empire to the point that it would be able to be conquered by other kingdoms. God’s people had to rely on other aggressors to vanquish their oppressors.
Micah 7:6 For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
In Micah, the prophet is talking about man’s inability to trust any human, even one he considers a friend or close relation. The deterioration of interpersonal relationships would lead to chaos and would result in a return to the days of the judges, when each man did what was right in his own eyes. However, the next verses go on to say that God still remains faithful and that He alone is trustworthy. “The prophet is functioning as a spokesman for all those who are godly. In spite of the dark outlook around them, they resolutely look unto Jehovah and patiently wait for his salvation” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1056).
Isaiah 66:5 You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”
Verse 22 contains an allusion to Isaiah 66:5, where God promises to deliver those who repent and fear the Lord. Isaiah 66:6 goes on to talk about the Lord being glorified when he appears (or “comes near”). “the Hebrew root word is similar to that of a bird of prey dropping down from the heavens. It refers to the second coming of the Lord” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 864). This is relevant to Jesus’s mention of His return in verse 23. Apparently, some people interpret the end of verse 23 to mean that Jesus is foreshadowing the coming of the true Messiah, but, given His self-identification throughout the rest of the gospel accounts, it seems clear that in this verse He is referring to His own second coming.
The second half of verse 23 was difficult for me to understand, as are some of the other statements where Jesus makes reference to specific people standing in His presence who will not taste death until His return. Obviously, Jesus has not yet returned, and everyone who had been in His presence for this speech is now deceased. Here is what one resource has to say about the apparent discrepancy. “This is one of the hardest-to-understand statements of Jesus in Matthew. Could Jesus really mean that He would return to this earth before the disciples would make it through all the cities of Israel? If so, this would make Jesus plainly wrong in this prediction. Instead, it is better to see His “coming” in this passage as His coming in judgment upon Judea in AD 70 which did happen before the gospel came to every city in Israel. This is the fulfillment of the day of judgment warned of in Matthew 10:15. [‘Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.’] In many ways, the judgment poured out by God upon Judea through the Roman armies in AD 70 was worse than the judgment that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah” (https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/matthew-10/#:~:text=Enduring%20Word%20Bible%20Commentary%20Matthew%20Chapter%2010%20Matthew,the%20Twelve%20A.%20Twelve%20disciples%20chosen%20and%20commissioned).
I do still believe there is judgment coming when Jesus returns, so this argument falls short in explaining why there would be two judgments. However, the impending defeat by the Roman army definitely would explain the reason behind Jesus’s urgency to send the gospel message to the Jews first. He needs them to have a chance to hear it and repent before AD 70, whereas he can send the later missions to the gentile population, who, through their ignorance of God, may be shown some more mercy and given extra time. Confusing aspects aside, my key takeaways from this passage were: allow the Spirit to guide you in your testimony, and persistently evangelize in the face of persecution, enduring to the end.
References
Matthew 10:16
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'”
Jeremiah 40:16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”
Hosea 7:11 So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove–calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.
Matthew 24:25 See, I have told you in advance.
Matthew 24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time?
Matthew 25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.
Matthew 10:17
Matthew 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’
Matthew 23:34 Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town.
Matthew 24:9 Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
Mark 13:9 So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
Luke 12:11 When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
Acts 5:40 At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
Matthew 25:4 But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
Matthew 10:18
Psalm 119:46 I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.
Matthew 10:19
Exodus 4:12 Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Mark 13:11 But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:11 When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
Luke 12:12 For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”
Luke 21:12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.
Matthew 10:20
Exodus 4:12 Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”
Luke 12:12 For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas
2 Corinthians 13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God–the word which is now at work in you who believe.
Matthew 10:21
Psalm 50:20 You sit and malign your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
Isaiah 19:2 “So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
Micah 7:6 For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
Matthew 10:35 For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Matthew 10:36 A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
Mark 13:12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
Luke 12:53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Matthew 10:22
Proverbs 29:27 An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.
Isaiah 66:5 You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”
Matthew 24:9 Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
Matthew 24:13 But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Mark 13:13 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Luke 21:17 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.
Luke 21:19 By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.
Matthew 10:23
Jeremiah 26:21 King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt.
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
Matthew 16:28 Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Matthew 23:34 Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town.
Matthew 23:36 Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Matthew 24:34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.
On The Path 