Bible Reading: Matthew 10
Matthew 10:24-25 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Jesus spoke these words in the midst of a training session with his disciples where he was preparing them for persecution. As followers of Jesus we must understand that we will not be above our Lord. This means we will not be above him in authority or in treatment. We will be like him. Some will believe the gospel that we proclaim and some will hate us for it. Even in Jesus’ day, there were many that called him Beelzebub. This is a name for the devil.
Isn’t it interesting that some people looked upon Jesus and fell at his feet to worship him and others hated him and wanted to put him to death? We will experience similar treatment. We will be called devils for believing what we believe. What should our response be when we are treated in this way? Three times in the next few verses, Jesus tells his disciples, “Fear not!” Even knowing that many will not receive the message, we are not to fear men. We are to preach the message of the gospel boldly.
Matthew 10:26-27 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
We are to fear God more than men.
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
We are to know that God values us highly.
Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Men are lost without Jesus and the fear we have of them being cast into hell must be great. We should fear for their eternal lives more than we fear for our earthly life.
The eternal destiny of the child of God is secure and our earthly life is in his hands. This should make us bold as we follow Jesus and proclaim the gospel trying to save as many as we can.
In Christ,
Rody
