83 – Disciples Return and Then Withdraw With Jesus; Matthew 14:13-14, Mark 6:30-34, Luke 9:10-11, John 6:1-3 

Matthew 14:13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 

Mark 6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 

32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 

Luke 9:10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 

John 6:1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples 

Commentary 

Jesus’s response to the people here is a gut check to those of us who let our circumstances dictate our attitudes. Jesus was grieving the loss of His cousin and a great man of God, He was eager to remove Himself from both Herod’s potentially dangerous intentions toward Him and the public’s fanaticism about Him, and He had clearly intended to unplug for a while to rest. He also recognized that the disciples would be tired after their evangelical tour, and He invited them to come along for a respite, as well. When the people so persistently pursued Him, He could have been very annoyed and might have felt justified in turning them away. However, He instead felt compassion for them, and He put aside His own pain and exhaustion in order to heal and teach them. Mark says Jesus saw the people as sheep without a shepherd, and, since I do not personally identify with the shepherd metaphor, I liken this to the perspective of a parent who hasn’t had any sleep and is desperate for rest, but the children are sick and need care. They can’t be held accountable for their role in the parent’s exhaustion, and they can’t be left to fend for themselves. So the parent does what he or she must, and foregoes sleep yet again. 

I’d like to explore each of the possible motives for Jesus’s retreat. First, He was grieving. It is unlikely that Jesus and John were well-acquainted when they were growing up, but Mary probably told Jesus the story of John jumping in Elizabeth’s womb. The two of them met as adults when Jesus went to be baptized, and Jesus was very vocal about the importance of John’s role in preceding Him. He also admired John’s resolute commitment to the lifestyle and message which were the calling on his life. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, 
who will prepare your way before you’” (Luke 7:24-27). This message was delivered to the crowd immediately after John sent his question from prison about Jesus’s authenticity, and Jesus did not rebuke him, but patiently responded. Not only did Jesus acknowledge John’s contribution to the work of the kingdom, but He allowed John’s question, as it was John’s honest desire to affirm that he had been properly attending the voice of God and that his work was complete. All this to say Jesus would have been moved by the death of His cousin for many reasons. Being fully God, He knew the cost of the gospel and the beautiful redemption it would bring, but being fully man, He grieved the tragedy of John’s unjust and painful end. 

As I mentioned Jesus may also have been searching for a safe haven in the wake of John’s death. “When Jesus heard of it,… Of the death of John, and of the cruel usage he had met with; and particularly, that his fame had reached the court of Herod, and that he was talked of there, and said by Herod himself to be John the Baptist, that was risen from the dead; he departed thence by ship, into a desert place apart; to avoid Herod, though not through fear of death; but because his time was not yet come: which may teach us, that it is lawful to shun dangers, when there is an opportunity; which may be done, without betraying truth, or sacrificing a good conscience” (Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible). “He never threw himself unnecessarily into danger. It was proper that he should secure his life until the appointed time had come for him to die… He went to the country east of the sea, into a place little inhabited. Luke says (Luke 9:10) he went to a place called Bethsaida… “A desert place” means a place little cultivated, where there were few or no inhabitants. On the east of the Sea of Galilee there was a large tract of country of this description rough, uncultivated, and chiefly used to pasture flocks” (Barnes’ Notes on the Bible). Jesus specifically chose a place where it was unlikely He would encounter anyone, as this solitude would facilitate both His safety and His repose. 

Of Jesus’s need for rest, the gospel writers gave several accounts throughout His ministry. Generally, He withdrew to spend time with the Father, either on the heels or on the cusp of a big event that sapped (or would sap) His strength. In this case, He had just finished a period of intense ministry when He and the disciples had gone separately to evangelize in the surrounding area. Their work generated a lot of fame and frenzy, and while the disciples were eager to tell Jesus everything that had happened to each of them, the people were still pressing on the group so urgently that none of them had time to eat. Jesus recognized that all the men needed to attend to their physical and spiritual needs by retiring to someplace lonely for a while. Even those who are doing good work need rest. However, they had to find their second wind as the crowds discovered their plan and preceded them to their destination. Knowing that the disciples had not eaten and that the place Jesus had chosen was intentionally remote, we have set the stage for the next event the gospel writers recorded: the feeding of the five thousand. 

References 

Matthew 14:13 

Matthew 14:12 Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus. 

Matthew 15:32 Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.” 

Mark 1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray. 

Luke 4:42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving. 

Matthew 14:14 

Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 

Matthew 9:36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Matthew 14:15 When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 

Mark 6:30 

Matthew 10:2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 

Mark 3:14 He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, 

Mark 6:29 When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb. 

Luke 6:13 When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles: 

Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 

Luke 22:14 When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles. 

Mark 6:31 

Mark 3:20 Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat. 

Mark 6:32 

Mark 3:9 Jesus asked His disciples to have a boat ready for Him so that the crowd would not crush Him. 

Mark 4:36 After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him. 

Mark 6:45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. 

Mark 6:51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. And the disciples were utterly astounded, 

Mark 8:2 “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 

Mark 6:34 

Numbers 27:17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 

1 Kings 22:17 So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.'” 

2 Chronicles 18:16 So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.'” 

Isaiah 13:14 Like a hunted gazelle, like a sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land. 

Ezekiel 34:5 They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. 

Zechariah 10:2 For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd. 

Matthew 9:36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Luke 9:10 

Matthew 11:21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 

Luke 9:11 

Matthew 12:15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Large crowds followed Him, and He healed them all, 

Luke 9:12 As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here.” 

John 6:1 

Matthew 4:18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 

Luke 5:1 On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God, 

John 6:23 However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 

John 7:1 After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him. 

John 9:10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 

John 6:2 

Mark 1:45 But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter. 

John 2:11 Jesus performed this, the first of His signs, at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. 

John 2:23 While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the signs He was doing and believed in His name. 

John 3:2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.” 

John 6:14 When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 

John 6:22 The next day, the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with His disciples, but they had gone away alone. 

John 6:26 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 

John 6:3 

Matthew 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him, 

Mark 3:13 Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him. 

Luke 6:12 In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God. 

Luke 9:28 About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray. 

John 6:15 Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself. 

82 – Execution of John the Baptist; Matthew 14:3-12, Mark 6:17-29 

Matthew 14:3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet. 

6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 

Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled[a]; yet he liked to listen to him. 

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of[b] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” 

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. 

25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. 

Footnotes 

a. Mark 6:20 Some early manuscripts he did many things 

b. Mark 6:22 Some early manuscripts When his daughter 

Commentary 

The story of John the Baptist’s death is the only major event in Mark’s gospel account that doesn’t revolve around Jesus. Both Matthew and Mark flash back to this episode after discussing Herod’s fear and misidentification of Jesus earlier in the chapter. Because of the chronology, I am focusing on John the Baptist first, and then we will look at the previous verses in a later study. Previously, we learned that John had been imprisoned, and some scholars believe that he could have been in prison up to two years before his execution. Meanwhile, the gospels covered Jesus’s activity, but now they pick back up on John’s story. 

The monarch referred to in this passage is Herod Antipas, second son of Herod the Great. We did a study of the Herods previously, and this is a worthwhile distinction to understand. It is not the same Herod who was in power when Jesus was born (King Herod died shortly after the Magi visited Jesus). We are introduced to this Herod (the tetrarch) in Luke chapter 3, at the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” Previously, we extensively explored Herod’s sinful family situation, but as a review, here is what the Nelson KJV Bible Commentary reminds us. “Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, a half-brother of Antipas. She had been married to her [other] uncle, Herod Philip, and had borne him a daughter, Salome. However, she divorced her husband and married Antipas, who was already married himself” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary, pg. 1202). Antipas divorced his previous wife to marry his niece Herodias, who was not only the daughter of one of his half-brothers, but the wife of his other half-brother. Furthermore, his lust extended his sin further as he watched his great-niece/stepdaughter dance. The author of the Nelson KJV Bible Commentary suggests that Herodias orchestrated her daughter’s performance for the king, coaching Salome into a tantalizing and provocative dance that she knew would entice Antipas if it were performed at the right time of the evening, when he was suitably intoxicated. There is an even more in-depth explanation of the Herodian family here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmFZmk0QAro. I highly recommend watching it because it not only details the family relationships, but further exposes the many sins all converging in this one situation (such as the fact that Salome was probably a pre-teen girl when she was basically trafficked by her mother and ogled by a large group of grown men). 

If you read the references for the verses in Mark, you will see several verses with references to Esther. The Old Testament tells us that king Xerxes/Ahasuerus also held a banquet, like Herod, and that he also offered Esther anything she wanted, up to half his kingdom. Xerxes, on the one hand, was a king and had the power to offer whatever portion of his kingdom he chose, but Antipas was a tetrarch, and, as such, only managed a territory for the Roman empire; he didn’t actually have the authority to offer Salome any part of the property he stewarded. According to Jewish law (see Leviticus 5:4-6 in the references), Herod’s promise constituted a careless oath, regardless of whether or not he had the authority to do so. The ironic difference between the two outcomes is that Esther asked for the king to save her people’s lives, which the king could not command because he was bound by a previous decree (it was a creative subsequent decree, designed by Esther’s uncle, which saved the Jews), whereas Herodias (through Salome) asked for the tetrarch to take a life, and Antipas, who had the power to decline, fulfilled her wish out of weakness. Both royal women (Esther and Herodias) used their wiles to circumvent the system and achieve their desired ends, but one aimed to use the king’s power for good and the other abused the ruler’s power for the sake of vengeance. 

Herod, having been caught in Herodias’s trap, finally committed the sin that he had been putting off for the entirety of John’s imprisonment, and this foreshadowed Herod’s fate. “The secular world during the New Testament era was filled with mysticism and superstition. Thus, even though Herod did not understand his message, he feared John. Recognizing his dedicated life-style, Herod was reluctant to harm John lest God be vengeful” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary, pg. 1246). He may not have been wrong to think so. Antipas’s army was defeated by an attack in AD 36 (approximately 4-5 years after the death of John), and after the defeat, Antipas was politically banished by emperor Caligula (The Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol 3 pg. 142). “Years later, Josephus could still write that many people in his day held to the theory that Herod suffered defeat because of his treatment of John, and this proves how deep a loyalty and impression John created in the minds of the men of his generation” (The Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol 3 pg. 647). 

References 

Matthew 14:3 

Matthew 4:12 When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee. 

Matthew 11:2 Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples 

Matthew 14:4 

Leviticus 18:16 You must not have sexual relations with your brother’s wife; that would shame your brother. 

Leviticus 20:21 If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity. He has uncovered the nakedness of his brother; they shall be childless. 

Proverbs 28:4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them. 

Matthew 14:5 

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 11:9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 

Matthew 14:6 

Genesis 40:20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. 

Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 

Mark 8:15 “Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.” 

Matthew 14:8 

Numbers 7:13 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 

Matthew 14:9 

Jeremiah 44:25 This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands your words: ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Go ahead, then, do what you have promised! Keep your vows! 

Matthew 14:12 

Matthew 14:13 When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns. 

Mark 6:17 

Matthew 11:2 Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples 

Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!” 

Luke 3:19 But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done, 

John 3:24 (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.) 

Mark 6:18 

Matthew 27:30 Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. 

Mark 6:20 

Ezekiel 33:32 Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice. 

Matthew 21:26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.” 

Acts 2:12 Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 

Acts 5:24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening. 

Mark 6:21 

Esther 1:3 In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces. 

Esther 2:18 Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty. 

Luke 3:1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 

Acts 25:23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium, along with the commanders and leading men of the city. And Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. 

Mark 6:22 

Matthew 11:17 We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 

Mark 6:23 

Esther 5:3 “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.” 

Esther 5:6 And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.” 

Esther 7:2 and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.” 

Mark 6:24 

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 

Mark 6:25 

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 

Mark 6:26 

Daniel 6:14 As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him. 

Mark 6:29 

Mark 6:30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught. 

Commentary 

Leviticus 5:4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. 6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin. 

81 – Workers Sent Out; Matthew 11:1, Mark 6:12-13, Luke 9:6 

Matthew 11:1 When Jesus had finished [a]giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and [b]preach in their cities. 

Mark 6:12 They went out and [a]preached that men should repent. 13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them. 

Luke 9:6 Departing, they began going [a]throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. 

Footnotes (Matthew) 

a. Matthew 11:1 Or commanding

b. Matthew 11:1 Or proclaim 

Footnotes (Mark) 

a. Mark 6:12 Or proclaimed as a herald 

Footnotes (Luke) 

a. Luke 9:6 Or from village to village 

Commentary 

This study covers very short passages, but, as they represent distinct action, separate from the verses that follow in each of the accounts, I wanted to focus on them before moving on.  

The variance between the account in Matthew 11:1 and the other two gospels demonstrates that the entire group dispersed after Jesus’s instructions, to carry out their responsibilities (including Jesus, who went on preaching in the surrounding area while the disciples were testing their wings teaching and healing in various villages and towns). Ellicott’s Commentary confirms that they were separated, when it discusses the place where John the Baptist’s disciples found Jesus in Matthew 11:2. “Matthew 9:36 makes it probable that [Jesus’s teaching] was not in Capernaum nor any other city, but from some spot in the open country where He had rested with them. Their return is narrated, or at least implied, in Matthew 11:25, and hence we must infer that the messengers of the Baptist arrived while He was carrying on His work without them” (https://biblehub.com/matthew/11-1.htm). Their return from being apart is also indicated in Mark 6:30; “Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught.” 

Mark’s account gives us some specific insight into what the disciples were teaching. The disciples told people to repent, which the Pictorial Encyclopedia defines as turning about, with a connotation of regret. The work of the disciples here is an interesting continuation of the work of John the Baptist and Jesus, especially on the cusp of John’s question to Jesus about whether He is the Messiah (Matt 11:2-6). “the same message had been preached by John the Baptist and by our Lord himself, and now it was preached by the apostles. The message was confirmed by genuine miracles” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1245). “Indeed, repentance became the main theme of John the Baptist and in his preaching the emphasis changed from national repentance, which Ezra and Daniel called upon the people to render, to individual repentance. He insisted that repentance be accompanied by the fruits of repentance in a changed life” (Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol 5 pg. 63). The disciples, while they carried on with the message of the nearness of the kingdom of God, the need for repentance, and the outward display of baptism, they did not yet begin to proclaim the Messiahship of Jesus, as the head of the kingdom. Again, at this time, they were following the examples of John the Baptist and Jesus, who made limited references to Jesus as the Christ, but primarily taught repentance as a means to entry in the coming kingdom. 

The disciples also anointed the sick with oil, and The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible refers to Mark 6:13 as one example of the fact that oil was used as a remedy for wounds. The Pulpit Commentary has some further explanation. Paraphrased, it states that James 5:14 contains a reference to using oil when healing the sick (see the reference verses below), and the significance of the oil is both due to its supposed healing properties (Josephus recorded that Herod experienced improvement in a particular ailment when he immersed himself in a bath of oil) and the symbolism that it carried from Old Testament writings (“the oil of gladness”). The use of oil in healing was/is referred to as unction, but “neither this passage nor that in St. James can properly be adduced to support the ceremony of “extreme unction;” for in both these cases the result was that the sick were restored to health. The so-called sacrament of” extreme unction “is administered immediately before death, when the sick person is in articulo morris” (https://biblehub.com/mark/6-13.htm). 

The point is that their power to heal the sick did not come from the oil itself. If they chose to use oil, it had more to do with cultural traditions than the oil’s healing properties. Their prayer and communion with God were the Key factors that separated them from others and made their healing effective. Also, healing wasn’t the main point of their work. The ability to heal proved that they were doing God’s work, and the people therefore opened their ears to the messages of the gospel and repentance. They were always careful to get back to the real business at hand. Saving souls is much more important than saving bodies. 

References 

Matthew 11:1 

Matthew 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, 

Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness. 

Luke 23:5 But they kept insisting, “He stirs up the people all over Judea with His teaching. He began in Galilee and has come all the way here.” 

Mark 6:13 

Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed–and He healed them. 

James 5:14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 

Luke 9:6 

Luke 8:1 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, 

Commentary 

Matthew 11:2 Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” 

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants.” 

80 – The Meaning of Discipleship, Matthew 10:24-42 

Matthew 10:24 “A [a]disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house [b]Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! 

26 “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. 28 Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in [c]hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a [d]cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. 

32 “Therefore everyone who [e]confesses Me before men, I will also confess [f]him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever [g]denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. 

34 “Do not think that I came to [h]bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came 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 man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 

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. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who has found his [i]life will lose it, and he who has lost his [j]life for My sake will find it. 

40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 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. 42 And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these [k]little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” 

Footnotes 

a. Matthew 10:24 Or student 

b. Matthew 10:25 Or Beezebul: ruler of demons 

c. Matthew 10:28 Gr Gehenna 

d. Matthew 10:29 Gr assarion, the smallest copper coin 

e, Matthew 10:32 Lit will confess in Me 

f. Matthew 10:32 Lit in him 

g. Matthew 10:33 Lit will deny 

h. Matthew 10:34 Lit cast 

i. Matthew 10:39 Or soul 

j. Matthew 10:39 Or soul 

k. Matthew 10:42 I.e. humble 

Commentary 

This passage, while often invoked as a threat in chain email or viral social media posts (“if you don’t forward this, it’s because you’re denying Jesus”), was delivered by Jesus as an encouragement to His disciples. The literal translation of the word for disciple is listed in the footnotes as “student”. These are people who are learning from Jesus and preparing for action as apostles. Jesus told the disciples that they should not expect to be above Him, but that they could expect to be like Him. At first, the idea of being “like” Jesus seemed to me to be about thought processes, wisdom, and closeness with God. As I was reading the Word in Life Study Bible, the authors of the supplemental materials had a completely different take on what it meant to be like Jesus, and their editorial comments focused almost exclusively on Jesus’s actions, such as serving others, acknowledging personal vulnerability, and openly evangelizing. “In reality, secret discipleship is a practical impossibility. Jesus constantly called for an open confession of Himself by His followers. We must be willing to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour, with all that those terms imply” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1195). These behaviors are probably a natural outflow of the change of heart a disciple experiences, but it is definitely helpful to consider specific actions you could emulate if you run dry on inspiration. Then again, the Holy Spirit is a never-ending source of inspiration, so it may not be necessary to index all of Jesus’s specific actions if we rely on the prompting of the Holy Spirit. 

Other scholars have stayed a little closer to the text when interpreting what it means to be like Jesus. If Jesus’s first and second sentence foreshadow His third sentence, we can read it like this: “If I am persecuted for this teaching, do not think that you will escape the same treatment (you are not above Me). In fact, it is your privilege to share in these trials and thereby become more like Me” (paraphrase mine). “Persecution follows naturally when we expose evil—challenge power—demand change—undermine the status quo. If we are faithful, there is a good chance that we will face opposition. When that happens, we share Christ’s cross—and are like our master” (https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary/new-testament-matthew-1024-39/). 

In this case, Jesus uses the specific example of name-calling as a type of opposition He was facing, but not just run-of-the-mill playground bullying. The word Beelzebub comes from the rabbinic words for “dung” and “lord,” so it is literally translated as “lord of dung or filth.” Some translations use Beelzebub in this passage, and some use Beelzebul (the root word “zebul” means temple). Beelzebub may be derived from Baalzebub (a word which can be found in the Old Testament), which means “Lord of the flies.” We don’t see the word Beelzebub until the New Testament, and it is first used by Jesus (here in this passage). But it is obviously a reference to something the Pharisees have been calling Him previously. The Greek term for “lord of the house” (Matthew 10:25) would have been very close to the same spelling as Beelzebub when translated into Hebrew, so “possibly here a play on words was intended by Jesus. Jesus then contrasts His true identity with this degrading epithet hurled at Him by His enemies. He is ”Lord of the house,” but they have called him “Lord of the dung heaps” (The Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol 1, pg. 505). Based on its use throughout the New Testament, scholars are unclear if the terms Beelzebub and Beelzebul were meant to refer to Satan himself or some lesser prince, but regardless of the specific evil spirit to which the name referred, Jesus offered logic in Matthew 12:24-32, which proved that He not only was NOT affiliated with this character, but that to purport that He was would be blasphemous (see reference verses below). 

Because we can rely on the future judgment, both to vindicate committed disciples and condemn the blasphemous, we can proclaim Jesus’s message without fear. In fact, Jesus encourages His disciples, whether practically or metaphorically, to get up on top of the flat rooftops of the day, where they can be seen and heard by all. Jesus charges the disciples to live with only eternity in mind. Earthly powers can only steal our earthly life – not our everlasting communion with God in eternity. It is therefore more important to do what God (the eternal judge) calls us to do, rather than what earthly judges command us to do. “It should be noted that God is the One who has authority to cast men into hell, and not Satan, who will himself be ultimately cast into everlasting fire” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1195). For an interesting note about the reference Jesus made in footnote C, to Gehenna, see this commentary https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary/new-testament-matthew-1024-39/.  

Jesus then juxtaposes the Father’s judgment with the Father’s love. While God is capable of casting souls into Hell, He also cares so much for all His creation that He is aware of the life and death of each small sparrow and counts each hair on our heads. His love is another reason we can execute His will without fear from earthly powers. Not only does He have the power to see justice done, but He loves us enough to do it, as long as we are justified by Jesus’s testimony of us. Because of this, Jesus warns the disciples against denying Him, and it is important to distinguish that, while Peter denied Christ before the crucifixion, he was still a key disciple and a leader of the church afterward. The type of denial Jesus warns against is an ongoing refusal to acknowledge the Messiahship and saving power of Christ (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1195). 

Jesus then switches gears to talk about why He came, and it may seem at first that Jesus purposely came to stir up trouble. However, as we learned in the opening verses, trouble will naturally arise when the truth is brought to light, and Jesus came to bring the truth. Additionally, as we studied in the last post, there were many who were already suffering the loss of close family relationships because of their faith in Christ, so they identified with Jesus’s proclamation that relationships would be severed. Furthermore, the disciples discover that they must even lose their own lives by taking up their crosses. The reference to the cross in verse 38 is “the first mention of the cross in the New Testament … It was the custom for the condemned man to carry his cross on the way to his own execution … These words come as the climax of His warning to the apostles that their mission would involve arrest and persecution, potentially culminating in condemnation to death” (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1195). As Jesus foreshadows the manner of His own execution, it not only speaks to His physical audience at the time, but to all Christians throughout the ages. In fact, the idea of identifying with the cross is one of Paul’s primary focuses in some of his epistles to the churches. However, Jesus reassures His audience that those losses are not for naught. By submitting to all these trials in the name of Jesus, they will save their souls.  

The saving of souls has lost its gravity in our modern Christian-ese, so I want to explore that a little more. The word “life” in verse 39 is literally translated in the footnotes as “soul”. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who has found his [i]life will lose it, and he who has lost his [j]life for My sake will find it. The distinction of life and soul is important to me because when I read this, I thought, “Jesus gave His life so I wouldn’t have to – why would He then say I couldn’t be part of the kingdom unless I die also?” I understand that “dying to self” is different from eternal death and damnation, but the statement in verse 39 still confused me. When the word is interpreted as soul, it makes much more sense. Whether you live or die in the commission of evangelism, the important thing is that you have forfeited your soul to the keeping and the will of God. 

Also, while submitting themselves to trials of all kinds (up to, and including, physical death), they are also told to go out of their way to care for other followers of Christ. When Jesus encourages others to do good in the name of the disciples or prophets, it reminds us that we do not have to be prophets ourselves in order to support the ministries of those who are serving the Lord as a vocation. Even those for whom it is not a vocation (the littlest ones) need support (financial or otherwise) and encouragement from their fellow believers, and those who offer that support will be rewarded by the Lord (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1195). The word “little” in verse 42 is analogous to “humble,” according to footnote k. This phrase appears throughout the gospel accounts, and the first image that always comes to mind when I read “little” is some kind of orphan or waif. It is helpful to describe the recipient of water in this illustration as “humble” in order to better understand the scope of humanity to which Jesus referred. The verses in the references for Matt 10:42 are also interesting because they demonstrate that “the least of these” were/are especially those who claim the name of Jesus, not necessarily just any lowly or humble person. 

This was an especially long commentary, so rather than try to append a conclusion, I will just close by saying, “God sees the heart.” These instructions from Jesus are specific and intimidating, but if you make the heart your primary focus, God will work however He needs to. 

References 

Matthew 10:24 

Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. 

John 13:16 Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 

John 15:20 Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. 

Matthew 10:25 

2 Kings 1:2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers and instructed them: “Go inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury.” 

Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.” 

Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.” 

Matthew 12:27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 

Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.” 

Luke 11:15 but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.” 

Matthew 10:26 

Proverbs 10:9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. 

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil. 

Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light. 

Luke 8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light. 

Luke 12:2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. 

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 

Luke 11:18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 

Matthew 10:27 

Isaiah 22:1 This is the burden against the Valley of Vision: What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the rooftops, 

Matthew 24:17 Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. 

Luke 12:3 What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops. 

Acts 5:20 “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.” 

Matthew 10:28 

Job 37:24 Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.” 

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!’ will be subject to the fire of hell. 

Luke 12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! 

Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 

James 4:12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? 

Matthew 10:29 

Matthew 5:26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. 

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns–and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 

Mark 12:42 Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. 

Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 

Matthew 10:30 

1 Samuel 14:45 But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die–he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die. 

2 Samuel 14:11 “Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.” 

1 Kings 1:52 And Solomon replied, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, he will die.” 

Luke 12:7 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 

Luke 21:18 Yet not even a hair of your head will perish. 

Acts 27:34 So for your own preservation, I urge you to eat something, because not a single hair of your head will be lost.” 

Matthew 10:31 

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns–and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 

Matthew 12:12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 

Matthew 10:32 

Luke 12:8 I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God. 

Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” 

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

Revelation 3:5 Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels. 

Matthew 10:33 

Isaiah 59:13 rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart. 

Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.” 

Luke 9:26 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 

Luke 12:9 But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 

2 Timothy 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; 

Matthew 10:34 

Luke 12:51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. 

Revelation 6:4 Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword. 

Matthew 10:35 

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 10:21 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 10:36 

1 Samuel 17:28 Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart–you have come down to see the battle!” 

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 10:21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 

Matthew 10:37 

Deuteronomy 33:9 He said of his father and mother, ‘I do not consider them.’ He disregarded his brothers and did not know his own sons, for he kept Your word and maintained Your covenant. 

1 Samuel 2:29 Why then do you kick at My sacrifice and offering that I have prescribed for My dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than Me by fattening yourselves with the best of all the offerings of My people Israel.’ 

Zechariah 13:3 And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not remain alive, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will pierce him through. 

Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be My disciple. 

Matthew 10:38 

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 

Mark 8:34 Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 

Luke 9:23 Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 

Luke 14:27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. 

Matthew 10:39 

Matthew 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 

Mark 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. 

Luke 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 

Luke 17:33 Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. 

John 12:25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 

Matthew 10:40 

1 Kings 18:4 for when Jezebel had slaughtered the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty men per cave, providing them with food and water.) 

Matthew 18:5 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me. 

Mark 9:37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.” 

Luke 9:48 And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.” 

Luke 10:16 Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.” 

John 12:44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me. 

John 13:20 Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.” 

Matthew 10:41 

2 Kings 4:10 Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.” 

Matthew 7:8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 

Matthew 25:44 And they too will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 

Matthew 25:45 Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ 

Matthew 10:42 

2 Kings 4:10 Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.” 

Proverbs 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. 

Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. 

Matthew 25:40 And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ 

Mark 9:41 Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward. 

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so. 

Commentary 

Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.” 25 And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.