THE SPIRIT OF GOD WILL GUIDE YOU

Passage: Matthew 10:16-25

Key verse: 19-20

NIV

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.(A) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.(B) 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils(C) and be flogged in the synagogues.(D) 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings(E) as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.(F) At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father(G) speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents(H) and have them put to death.(I) 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me,(J) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.(K) 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.(L)

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.(M) 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul,(N) how much more the members of his household!

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Persecution Will Come

16 (A)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be (B)wise as serpents and (C)innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for (D)they will deliver you over to courts and flog you (E)in their synagogues, 18 (F)and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, (G)to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 (H)When (I)they deliver you over, (J)do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for (K)what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 (L)For it is not you who speak, but (M)the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 (N)Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 (O)and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. (P)But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they (Q)persecute you in one town, (R)flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel (S)before the Son of Man comes.

24 (T)“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[a] above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. (U)If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign[b] those of his household.

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 10:24 Or bondservant; also verse 25
  2. Matthew 10:25 Greek lacks will they malign
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus gave the disciples further warnings of the persecution and hardship they would face as apostles sent out to deliver the gospel. They were like sheep among wolves, doves facing snakes (16). While they kept their innocence as children of God, they were to be equipped with knowledge of the fallen world and understand the brutal shrewdness of their enemy.

However, they were not to be intimidated, even if they stood before the powerful in court (19). The Holy Spirit, who would equip them now to heal the sick and chase away evil spirits, also would give them the words to speak. Jesus’ words were fulfilled after his ascension, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. (e.g., Acts 4:8-12) The disciples would grow to become great apostles who would work the Lord’s world salvation plan. Even if they face great hardship as gospel workers, they would also have the assurance that Jesus, as their teacher and master, had walked the road ahead of them (24,25). The time was too short for them to waste in fear with the field ready for harvest. Would you take your heart and participate as a kingdom worker today, bringing good news to those who need salvation?

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus’ example as a brave shepherd for your flock. Please help me overcome my fear and bring your words to your sheep today.

One Word: Follow Jesus’ footsteps