FIELDWORK INSTRUCTIONS (IV)

Passage: Matthew 10:34-42

Key verse: 38

NIV

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 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(A)—
36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[a](B)

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.(C) 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.(D) 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.(E)

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,(F) and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.(G) 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”(H)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 10:36 Micah 7:6
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Not Peace, but a Sword

34 (A)“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. (B)I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 (C)For I have come (D)to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 (E)And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 (F)Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And (G)whoever does not take his cross and (H)follow me is not worthy of me. 39 (I)Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Rewards

40 (J)“Whoever receives you receives me, and (K)whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 (L)The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 42 And (M)whoever gives one of (N)these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Love Jesus, take up your cross (32-39)

People thought the Messiah would bring peace. He did in a spiritual sense (11:28), but humanly faith in Jesus often causes division, even in a family. If we love a parent or child more than Jesus we are not worthy of him. To be worthy of Jesus, we must take up our cross (die to ourself) and follow Jesus. Those who try to find (or save) their life in this world will lose it. But those who lose their life for Jesus' sake will find (save) it. This is the way of true blessing.

2. The reward of welcoming Jesus (4

-42)

Whoever welcomes Jesus welcomes God and will be blessed, because Jesus is more than a prophet and righteous man. Whoever welcomes a disciple of Jesus, will be rewarded as well.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I not try to save my life, but die to my self and follow you, for you are the way to true life.

One Word: Take up my cross and follow Jesus; that's the way to true life!