Matthew - Week 29

A Sword 

READ 

Matthew 10:34-36 

34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’” 

Some people believe Jesus came only to bring peace. That is not what He said. He refers to Micah 7:6 as He mentioned divisions within families. Many families are ripped apart over different beliefs about Jesus. This also relates to what the Bible says about Him and His teaching. In some countries today, it is illegal to claim Jesus as Savior and some families disown a member who trusts in Jesus.  

REFLECT 

How is it in your family when the topic of Jesus comes up? What do you do and say then? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about ways to handle family differences about spiritual issues. When differences arise, be sure to ask, “Where does the Bible say that?” If the Bible is not the source of authority, everything else is just the opinion of fallible humans.  

Take Up Your Cross 

READ 

Matthew 10:37-39 

37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” 

The Hebrews thought in large contrasts. The love you have for your parents should seem like hatred in comparison to the love you have for God. Jesus is not saying one should not love father and mother, but love for God should be far greater. In His day, the cross was a reference to death, and not a symbol of Christianity. Those who live only for self will someday find they have nothing. Those who live for Jesus will someday have rich rewards. 

REFLECT 

Does this contrast of emotions help you to better understand how you are to love your parents but not nearly as much as you love God? 

RESPOND 

For the Hebrew contrast of emotions, read Malachi 1:2-3. Some translations say God hated Esau. God loved Esau but not to the extent that He loved Jacob. 

Receiving Strangers 

READ 

Matthew 10:40-42 

40 “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. 41 If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. 42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” 

Jesus was sending the disciples out to the nation of Israel as His representatives. They were to look for a place to be welcomed into a home. To receive these representatives of Jesus was equal to receiving Him into their homes. If they received Him, Jesus said it was the same as receiving His heavenly Father. Those who would even give a cold drink to His representatives would be rewarded. 

REFLECT 

Think about welcoming other followers of Jesus as welcoming Jesus Himself.  

RESPOND 

Talk with a fellow believer about what can be done to show other Christ-followers the same welcoming spirit Jesus referred to.  

Teaching and Preaching 

READ 

Matthew 11:1 

1 When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. 

Having finished giving instructions to the 12 disciples, Jesus Himself went out to teach and preach. If you’ve ever wondered about the chapter and verse divisions in our modern Bibles, the chapter divisions were set by Stephen Langton in the 13th century A.D. and were included in the King James Version of 1611. The verse divisions of Robert Estienne in 1551 were also incorporated. Sometimes it is good to read right through the chapter divisions to see the continuation of the previous chapter. This is one of those times. 

REFLECT 

Have you tried reading the Bible by disregarding the chapter and verse divisions? That is the way it was originally written. 

RESPOND 

Read the Bible with a friend and try omitting the chapter and verse divisions as you read. Read the end of Matthew 10 and then go right into chapter 11.  

Are You the Messiah? 

READ 

Matthew 11:2-3 

2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” 

Understandably, John the Baptist had some doubts when he was in prison. He had declared Jesus was the Christ (Messiah) as revealed to him at the baptism of Jesus. Now he was languishing in prison, which made him wonder. John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to ask this question of Jesus. 

REFLECT 

Do you understand how John the Baptist might have doubts? Do you sometimes have doubts about what you believe? 

RESPOND 

John the Baptist had to rely on word of mouth to verify the truth about Jesus. Today, copies of the Bible are available to assure us what is true about Jesus and salvation of all who trust in Him. For any doubts about Jesus, see John 1:1-5, 14. For doubts about salvation, see 1 John 5:11-13. Believe what is written in the only book God has inspired.