Verse of the Day 10-27-22

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:16-20

Before we get into today’s passage a little bit of background is necessary so that you are not confused by or misunderstand what is going on in this pivotal passage in Matthew’s gospel.

Matthew 10 is Jesus’ second lengthy discourse, with the first being the sermon on the mount. This second lengthy discourse focuses on the mission of the Twelve to Israel (vv. 5-15), preparation for a worldwide mission among the Gentiles (vv. 16-23) and characteristics that Jesus’ disciples will need to embody as they carry out the mission (vv. 24-42). Jesus initially prohibits the 12 disciples from going to the Gentiles or Samaritans, restricting their mission to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus’ coming as the Messiah fulfills the promises given to Israel and fulfills God’s plan of salvation, which includes the Gentiles (all those who are not Jewish).

Now that we have the background information we can move into discussing today’s passage. Jesus’ commissioning begins to change: now the disciples are like sheep among wolves. Jesus switches from present tense to future tense, and he warns the disciples of the persecution that they as missionaries will endure as they witness to Gentiles. This change indicates that Jesus is giving instruction for both the short-term mission to Israel during Jesus’ earthly ministry (vv. 5-15) and the long-term mission to both Jews and Gentiles throughout this age. Jesus promises that the Spirit, who empowers Jesus’ own life, will speak through his disciples in the moment of their most difficult opposition.

Now let’s explore in a little more depth what Jesus is saying here. And in order to do that we are going to move from the NIV to the NASB. Here is how the NASB translates this passage: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you.”

First of all let’s deal with verse 16, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves” (NASB). We are told that we are being sent out as sheep in the midst, the middle or among wolves. And we know that just as wolves are going to stalk and destroy so the world is going to attempt to hunt and destroy Jesus’ disciples. Next we are told to “be as wary as serpents.” Another word for “wary” is cautious. When we are told to be as “wary” or as cautious as a snake Jesus is using an example from nature that his disciples would probably have seen on a daily basis. Jesus’ disciples would have known that a snake’s first instinct when faced with danger to flee from that danger and to only make a stand and fight when necessary. So when Jesus tells us to be cautious or “wary” like snakes he is telling us that we need to be prepared to take strategic action when persecution threatens us. And lastly we are told to be “as innocent as doves.” Which means we are not to use violent means to answer persecution. Instead we are to use something that Civil Rights movement in America made famous and that is civil disobedience, because when we choose to not react violently to the persecution we face then we are truly being Christ’s witnesses.

Secondly we are going to look at verse 17-18, “But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.” The reference here to “synagogues” shows that Jews sponsored the first anti-Christian persecution. The Jewish persecutors appealed to “governors and kings” because it was only the Roman officials who had the authority to order executions. However, the persecutions that these first disciples would face by the highest levels of government gave them the opportunity to “bear witness…to the Gentiles” (v. 18 CSB), just as the persecutions we will face will give us the opportunity to “bear witness” or give “a testimony” to those who are persecuting us.

And lastly Jesus finishes up this passage with these powerful words, “But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you.” The reason we will be able to “bear witness” during these most trying times is not because of our own strength, but because of the strength we will be given by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. So that when we face persecution and we stand before those who are looking to destroy us we can boldly proclaim our faith confident in the knowledge that they can only destroy your body but they cannot destroy your soul.

As we go out and face the world boldly proclaiming the message that Jesus has given us let’s remember these words that Jesus spoke later in this same chapter: “So do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of 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 hell” (Matthew 10:26-28 NASB).

Today’s Bible Readings:

Jeremiah 51:1-53, Titus 2, Psalm 99:1-9 and Proverbs 26:17