From Matthew 10:16-24 – An Apostolic Primer Part 2

It is interesting to see where Jesus moves in His instructions to the Disciples here. In fact, none of these would happen on their present tour, nor when He sent out the seventy later. These words are looking forward to the time after He is gone. It is in this context then that we understand verse 23. It is a simple announcement that neither they nor their descendents will be able to exhaust their mission before He returns. There is never a time when the Church can say: “We’ve gathered in all that are ever to come, we can stop evangelizing now.”

But, Jesus says, they must be aware that this will not always be the case – i.e. the way you will be received now. It won’t last. These persecutions WILL come in time. You will heal and bless them now and their first response will be to rejoice. Later, they will turn. Know this ahead of time so that you aren’t shocked or dismayed when it happens.

Note then vss.16 & 17 this warning not to step into trouble unnecessarily. We are to be bold, but not pugnacious. Unflinching in proclaiming the truth, but not argumentative and obstreperous. Sometimes that is a hard line to maintain. We’re not adept at turning the other cheek. It is as if He is saying – don’t stick your chin out and dare them to slug you. Walk discreetly. Let the offense be the Gospel itself, not your behavior. Give them no cause to persecute on your own account – but only because of the Gospel itself.

We can easily forget that the freedom Christianity has enjoyed in America these past years is an historical anomaly, and that we have some sort of right to such freedom and lack of persecution. It has not been so for most of our brothers and sisters the past 2 millennia and in their various contexts. So we can begin to think we are owed what we’ve enjoyed in some way, when Jesus’ words indicate exactly the opposite. And if we feel we deserve favored or at least unbothered treatment, we must be prepared to reject that notion and look for the honor which comes from being persecuted for His name’s sake.

Note also His counsel to flee from town to town when persecuted. There is no need to dig in our heels and stand on principle on every little thing. We are not required to invite persecution if we can reasonably avoid it. And again, we will not have harvested or gathered in all there are to be gathered in before the time. We cannot exhaust your mission. So if we have to shift fields of labor, we are not to worry about it. He have many people in many places to be brought in.

Lastly, note in vs. 25 how unseemly it is then for Christians to cry and complain of ill words from the world in our day. Why should we be above our Master? Why should expect respect and acceptance He never had? Is it not enough of an honor for us to be named with Him? Why do we imagine we deserve better that Him, when we are granted the high privilege to suffer in and for His name? How worldly our opinions have become. How other-worldly it is to live like the Peter and John in Acts 5 who after facing an angry Sanhedrin we read: “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” Where is that Spirit among us today when we weep and moan that Hollywood never seems to paint a sympathetic or favorable picture of a Christian? Why do we not count it higher to be linked with Him in His shame than it is to be thought well of in the eyes of the World?

He did not count it shame to be linked with us in our sin – let us count it the highest honor to be linked with Him in redeeming glory.