CHAPTER 10
    
  
A. The Twelve Disciples Are Commissioned Apostles:
B. The King Selects His Apostles: Verses 2-4.
"Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called
(Note: Details at Matthew 10:2)
Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip,
and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Mphaeus, and
Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who
also betrayed him." (Matt. 10:2-4 KJB).
1. Scholars (?) who are everlastingly trying to find errors in the Bible have a field
day with the names of the Apostles.
Mark 3:13-19 gives one list while
Luke 6:13-16 gives another. They cannot reconcile the difference in names and therefore think they find errors. It is beyond the scope of this study to give a detailed analysis, but you will have no trouble reconciling the difference in names.
2. Some helps: People in all ages have had a number of names.
a. My name is Robert Blair Craig. I have been called Bob, Robert, Bobby, Bobbie, Blair, Preacher Bob, slim, Mr. Craig, Mr Robert Craig and some names I won't place here.
b. Common sense will tell you that both men and women in the Bible have several different names also. Using one name in one place and another name elsewhere is not an error " same person, different name.
c. Another argument so called, "Scholars", make while trying to attack the Holy
scripture: In there the method of WRONGLY dividing the Word of Truth, they point back
to the first 5 books of the Bible, the Pentateuch and hold forth the proposition that
Moses did not write these books ascribed to him. But, as well as (a) above, look at
the Names used to indicate man's understanding of God. See Note Page 2 about God's
name. Things different are sometimes the same. When brought to task for my firm
belief in the ability God had to INSPIRE the communication God gave to man I was
posed with this question: "Why is it that there are 4 or 5 distinct differences in
the attitude/form/use of language obvious & apparent in the first 5 books of the
Bible"" In giving my answer I used myself as an example. Over the years I have
written many pamphlets, Gospel tracts, books and sermons. Indeed, right now I
write these items and a Bible Study on the Book of Matthew. Do you suppose you
could compar. my writings in 1978 and that of today and say that the same person
wrote both" Absolutely not! Things have changed. My life has went through changes
over the years. My education has been upgraded over the years, and my circumstances
have changed over the years. It is not likely that I write with the enthusiasm
today that I did when first entering the ministry. I can listen to tapes of my
preaching style over a 20 or so year span. One could listen to a sermon I
preached in 1975 and then one given in 1995 and conclude that two different
people preached those two sermons -- even if the sermon was on exactly the
same text. Why is it that man cannot accept that the God who created man is
quite able to place/inspire ideas and words that the God of Heaven and Earth
wishes to have presented to those he created? Why is it that unbelievers
ascend to high perches of learning and deny God? Why are they there if they
don't believe? I have never figured this out. Some of these atheist are
rather intelligent and could do well teaching math, history or science.
Why do they plant themselves in places that are posed to prepare men to go
into an unbelieving world with preach to Gospel of Christ? I have never
figured this out. They certainly do not believe there is a God -- belief
alone in the 1st verse in the Bible would seem to be enough to evict them
from our Seminaries or places of leadership.
One more thought concerning these "teachers & professors:" One of the harshest prophecies concerning these false teachers is recorded in God's Word.
(2 Timothy 4:3)
d. See Note Page 2 , The Pentateuch
e. Four words one must believe to have confidence in Gods Word as given to man:
Note Page 3, Genesis 1:1-14. You find these 4 words: _________ ___ __________ _____!
3. I have several neighbors named Bill and two named Mike. Scholars might have trouble with that, but all of our neighbors can identify each other.
4. There are four different men in the New Testament named James:
5 . There are six women named Mary in the New Testament -- See Note Page 994. Miriam is the sister of Moses in the Old Testament When her Hebrew name is translated into English it comes out Mary.
6. Luke 6:12 tells us that the King spent all night in prayer to the Father before He selected His twelve Apostles. "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." (Luke 6:12 KJB).
7. This assures us that the King selected all the right men including Judas Iscariot.
8. Many are perplexed as to why the King selected Judas to be an Apostle when the King knew Judas would betray Him. Not only that, the King tells us that He selected Judas knowing at the time he was a devil.
(John 6:70-71).
9. A Craig conjecture:
a. We are not given clear cut evidence in the Bible as to why the King chose Judas. Note the following:
b. Satan has access to the very presence of God. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them."
(Job 1:6 KJB);
See Bible Study, --Job & Prophecy - Old and New"
c. These sons of God would have been fallen angels who became the devils and the gods of the ancient world.
d. One of the most mysterious verses in the Bible is found in
Job 2:3,
"And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none
like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and
escheweth evil" and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou (Satan)
movedst me (God) against him (Job), to destroy him (Job) without cause."
e. From these verses we know the following:
1 . Satan has access to God.
2. Satan can bargain with God.
3. God can be moved by Satan to act. (I can not explain this. God said this is the way it is).
10. This could be Part of the answer:
a. Satan got permission from God to tempt the King -- Satan failed, Matthew 4:1-11.
b. The Messiah, King and Savior
must be perfect no sin innocent blood (God's blood -- Acts 20:28)
c. Satan bargained with God to have Satan's own personal devil (Judas Iscariot)
present with the King 24 hours a day, for 3 - years. Purpose: to see if the God-Man,
Christ Jesus would ever sin.
d. As with Job, God the Father agreed with the bargain proposed by Satan.
e. Conclusion: at the end of the 3 ' year trial period, Satan's devil, Judas Iscariot
made the following report for the ages: "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he
saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of
silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed
the innocent blood. .." (Matthew 27:3-4).
f. Satan lost his bargain with God when Satan's devil, who had shadowed the Messiah
for 3 ", made this embarrassing confession. (Matthew 27:3-4).
11. "Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil"
He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him,
being one of the twelve."
(John 6:70-71 KJB).
12. This is all the help I can give on the subject as to why the King deliberately
selected Judas Iscariot, Satan's devil, to be in the select band of chosen Apostles.
C. The King Instructs His Apostles Concerning The Kingdom Of Heaven Message:
Verses 5-7,
Note Page 1008
"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." ( Matthew 10:5-7 KJB ).
1 . Note the King's commands.
2. Do not go and preach to any Gentile: verse 5
a. The Kingdom of Heaven message was to Israel only.
b. This is what the King has been teaching from the very beginning.
c. We have seen no plan of salvation for any Gentile, as yet, in the Book of Matthew.
d. The plan of salvation for the Church Age Jew or Gentile is found in
1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
e. It should be obvious by now that the teacher who tries to jam the Book of Matthew into the Church Age is hopelessly confused and will confuse his listeners.
3. Do not go and preach to any Samaritans: verse 5
a. Samaritans were half breed Jews dating back to the Assyrian invasion and capture of the ten Northern Tribes of Israel. Following the Northern Kingdom's fall to Assyria (722 B. C. ), exiles from many nations settled in Samaria.
b. The name "Samaritans" originally was identified with the Israelites of the Northern
Kingdom
(2 Kings 17:29).
When the Assyrians conquered Israel a "remnant of Israel" remained in the land.
Assyrian captives from distant places also settled there
(2 Kings 17:24).
This led to the intermarriage of Jews with Gentiles and to widespread worship of
foreign gods. By the time the Jews returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and
the walls of Jerusalem, Ezra and Nehemiah refused to let the Samaritans share in
the experience
(Ezra 4:1-3; Nehemiah 4:7).
The old antagonism between Israel to the north and Judah to the south intensified the quarrel.
4. The Apostles were commanded by their King to go the lost sheep of the house of Israel exclusively:
verse 6
5. The Message to the house of Israel: verse 7
a. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand: v. 7
b. Because the King is at hand: v. 7
D. The King Gives Commands To His New Apostles: Verses 8-10.
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat."
(Matthew 10:8-10 KJB).
1. Note the four thing the King commanded His Apostles to do in this verse: Heal the
sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils. Verse 8. Modern day
"apostles" and "prophets" pretend to do two out of the four. You never hear of modern
healers going to Molokai, Island of Hawaii, site of the famous leper colony at
Kalaupapa, and healing the lepers there. Nor have you seen or heard of any healer
raising someone from the dead at a cemetery. The Apostles of the King could do all
four of these miracles without smoke or mirrors. They had the power given to them by
the King. The modern fakes are neither apostles nor do they have these powers.
2. Note: the Apostles of the King received these powers from the King freely.
Verse 8. They were to perform all of these miracles freely. Contrast the modern "healers" who spend much of their time gettmg a big offering and using psychological tricks to raise money from their sufferers under the pretense they can heal them of their infirmities. Things that are different are not the same.
3. Note: the Apostles of the King were to trust not in gold, silver, brass or scrip.
Verse 9. Like Paul, who labored with his own hands to provide his needs so that
people would nOld Testament accuse him of using his powers for the sake of wealth.
(Acts 20:23-24;
1 Corinthians 4:11-12). Contrast the next 100 healers you meet or see on TV Things different are not the same.
4. Note: the Apostles of the King were not to take an extra coat nor extra shoes nor
extra staves. Verse 10. Contrast this with the next 500 healers you meet or see on TV.
The modern healer probably has more expensive clothes than anyone in his audience.
Things different are not the same.
5. The principle was that the Apostle was worthy of having his needs supplied by the
people to whom he is ministering.
6. Note again: Meat does not necessarily mean flesh in the Bible but any food that is
eatable. Verse 10.
7. Note: The Twelve Apostles had a specific ministry to Israel. Their job was to prove
that they were given power by their King to represent Him. The miracles they were to
perform were not so much to heal people, but to establish their authority to represent
the King.
8. The results of their powers to heal, etc., gave benefits to the sick, but this was not the primary purpose, but the "spin off" from obedience to their King. Remember, everyone in Israel was not a beneficiary of healing from sickness, raising the dead, etc. This cannot be over emphasized.
E. The King Expects Israel To Honor His Apostles: Verses 11-13, See
Note Page 1009
"And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you."
( Matthew 10:11-13 KJB ).
1. Note: The Apostles are to travel though out the land of Israel going to every city or
town with the message that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand:
(verse 7, & verse 11).
2. In each town, they are to stay in the home of one who is worthy: v. 11.
a. The word, "worthy" is found 68 times in the Bible. It speaks of someone who is not
worthy or one who is worthy. The word "deserving" is usually the meaning in either
Testament.
b. "And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
(Acts 5:40-41 KJB)
c. In Matthew 10:10, "....the workman is worthy of his meat."
d. From a study of the 68 verses where the word is found, we conclude that the Apostles were to stay in the home of the person who was "deserving" of the honor of entertaining the King's Chosen Apostles.
e. Such a person would gladly receive the King's Ambassadors because they believed in the King and His message.
3. When the Apostles found such a house in each city, they were to salute the house:
verse 12
a. The common Jewish salutation peace (Shalom) was and still is in 2005.
If the person accepts your salutation, he answers, peace be unto you (Shalom Meichem).
b. "And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house."
(Luke 10:5 KJB).
4. Two descriptions of houses: verse 13, Note Page 1009
a. A worthy house: verse 13
1. One whose occupants accept the King, His message, and His Apostles.
2. Let your peace be upon that house and stay with the occupants.
b. An unworthy house: verse 13
1. One whose occupants refuse to hear the King's message through His Apostles.
2. Your peace will not rest upon this house nor its occupants because they refuse to hear the King's message through the King's Apostles.
5. An example of a worthy house in the Old Testament would be that of Rahab the harlot.
6. "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace." Hebrews 11:31, KJB (See Joshua chapter two).
F. The King's Prescribed Punishment For An Unworthy House:
Verses 14-15 .
"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomonha in the day of judgment, than for that city."
Matthew 10:15 KJB.
1. The unworthy household: verse 14
a. The members of the household will not receive you as one of the King's Apostles.
b. They refuse to accept the King and the message that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand
(verse 7 & verse 14)
c. The Apostles were not to waste time with that person "...because the king's business required haste." (1 Samuel 21:8 KJB).
d. The Apostles had many cities to visit. They had no time to waste on rebels against the King's message.
2. The action against an unworthy house or city: verse 14
a. Abandon that house or city after the first try.
b. There is a hint here that in some towns or cities the Apostles will not be able to
find one worthy house: verse 14.
c. When the Apostles leave that unworthy house or city, they are to shake the dust off
their feet: v. 14
d. This is a Hebrew sign of distain or disgust.
e. Note: This is how Paul reacted against his own people when he was on his first missionary journey.
f.
"But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. " (Acts 13:50-51 KJB).
g. There are four official rejections of the Gospel message by the Jews in the early days of the church:
h. Note: this is not how we treat unbelievers in the Age of Grace. Everyone reading this should thank God that He gave you more than one chance to hear the Gospel and believe it. Once agam, things difference are not the same.
3. The judgment of that unworthy house or city: verse 15
a. The "queers" in Sodom and Gomorrha will be better off than that house
or city that refused to hear the King's message as proclaimed by the King's Apostles:
v. 15.
b. This emphasized the seriousness of the Apostle's Message.
c. Note as pointed out before: this verse teaches that there are degrees of punishment just as there are degrees of rewards.
4. Degrees of Punishment:
a. Hell has positions: Some will be punished in the lowest Hell: Deuteronomy 32:22.
b. Some will be punished with a greater damnation: Matthew 23:14.
c. All rebels against God will be judged according to their works: Revelation 20:13-15
d. It will be more tolerable for those who had less of an opportunity than those who
had great opportunity: Matthew 11:22-23 .
5. Degrees of Rewards:
G. The King Promises The Apostles Will Have Persecution:
Verses 16-18;
See Note Page 1009_1
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be yetherefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles." Matthew 10:16-18 KJB.
1. The comparisons of the atmosphere in which the Apostles were to work is interesting:
a. They were likened to sheep in the midst of wolves.
b. They were to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
c. Obviously, the King is warning the Apostles that they would be working in a hostile environment.
d. They were cautioned to use wisdom, but they were to have the character of doves.
2. The Apostles as sheep in the midst of wolves: verse 16.
a. When the Lord commissioned 70 other men to help the Apostles in their work, they received a similar warning:
"Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves."
(Luke 10:3 KJB).
b. History and tradition, which are unreliable tell us that all of the Apostles, with the exception of John, died violent deaths.
c. We know that the Apostle James, the brother of John, was killed by a sword under
the rule of Herod, (Acts 12:1-2).
d. The Apostle Paul was killed twice: once by stoning at Lystra.
(Acts 14:19-21; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4).
He was resurrected and came back from Heaven to continue his earthly ministry.
The historical report that Paul was beheaded at Rome following his second imprisonment
by Emperor Nero seems reliable.
( See 2 Timothy 4:6-8).
e. The legend that the Apostle Peter was crucified upside down in Rome on a cross in the shape of an X may be fanciful. Peter' sministry was in Babylon, not Rome as some would have you believe. Peter wrote from his church at Babylon:
"The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son."
(1 Peter 5:13 KJB).
f. It is believed the Apostle John died on the Isle of Patmos where he was forced to work in the salt mines as an old man. He may have died a natural death. (Revelation 1:9).
g. The other Apostles may have died violent deaths according to the various legends, but since they can not be verified, we shall let the record stand as it is.
3. We need not doubt that the Apostles lived and died as sheep among wolves in the process of dispensing the message given to them by their King, Messiah, Savior and Lord. See Paul's suffering,
2 Corinthians 11:23-33.
4. The Apostles were to act wisely and be harmless: verse 16.
The Apostles Paul demonstrated this wisdom that prolonged his life. When on trial,
Paul noticed that both Sadducees and Pharisees were his accusers. Paul cleverly
introduced a religious argument that cause the two groups to get into a
"shouting match" and forget about Paul. Read Acts 23:6-11 for the amusing story.
5. The King used this ploy, plus others over and over again as did the Apostles. Watch for them as you read the Scriptures.
6. The King warned His Apostles that they beware of men: verse 17.
a. Men, especially the religious ones, would stop at nothing in their mad race to the destroy the Lord's work and His workers. Nothing has changed up until 2002.
b. The King promised them they would be brought before the councils (be arrested) and scourged (beaten) to stop their message.
c. See the Apostle Peter and the Apostle John's experiences with councils:
Acts 4:5-21; Acts 12:1-19.
d. See the Apostle Paul's experiences: Acts 16:19-24.
7. The King warned the Apostles would be brought before governors and kings, but the
Apostles were to testify against them: verse 18. Paul was a good example of this.
He appeared before governors, kings and the Roman emperor.
Acts 20:24; & Acts 25:10; Acts 25:26.
8. We can see that there is a future application in the Tribulation Period when God's
144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses will be preaching the Tribulation message to the world.
They, too, will suffer intense persecution for being obedience to the coming King.
Revelation 7:1-8; Revelation 14:1-5.
All true Jehovah's Witnesses will have Jehovah's
Name in their foreheads. (JilVil).
Called the Tetragrammaton.
The Devil's converts will have the Name, Number or Mark of the Beast. (Revelation 13:17).
H. The King Gives Added Instructions: Verses 19-20.
"But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." Matthew 10:19-20 KJB.
1. In the previous verses, the King promised His Apostles that they would be arrested,
brought before the councils, governors and kings. Verses 16-18.
2. When this happened:
a. They were not to be concerned about what to answer: v. 19
b. The answers will be given to them miraculously: v. 19.
1. Compare the experience of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego" Daniel 3:8-18.
2. Lazy preachers who do not study brag that the Lord tells them what to say when they stand up to preach.
3. A wiser preacher reminded them that all God promised to do was fill their mouths with "hot air. "
c. The Apostles were promised that the Spirit of their Father will speak through them:
verse 20
3. Note: the King does not promise them here that the Holy Spirit would speak through
them, but the Spirit of their Father: verse 20
4. Note: Israel had a special relationship with the Father. He is referred to as their
Husband and Israelis the Father's wife. Israel's prayer was, "Our Father. ..."
Matthew. 6:8-9.
5. Review the life of Hosea the prophet who was to take a whore for his wife. The purpose being so that Hosea would be used by God to show Israel that they were in an adulterous relationship with their "Husband," the Father.
Hosea 1:2-11.
"Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, 0 house of Israel, saith the LORD."
(Jeremiah 3:20 KJB).
6. The Church is the Bride, later to be the wife, of the Lord Jesus Christ. See
2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-33.
7. The expression, "The Spirit of your Father," is in keeping with the special
relationship Israel had with the Father as the "wife of the Father,"
verse 20. In like manner, the Church Age Saints will be the "wife of the Lord Jesus Christ."
8. Things different are not the same.
I. The King Promises Difficult Days Ahead: Verses 21-23 , Cf. Note Page 1009_1.
"And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come."
Matthew 10:21-23 KJB.
1. Although there is no reason to doubt that the Apostlesexperiences these hardships before their work was finished.However, we must look at these verses closely for additional truth.
2. A principle of Bible study is to learn that God, who is the Author of the Bible, used many ways to get the truth across to the readers. Through study, we learn to compare Scripture with Scripture. Not only that, but God uses certain words and phrases to link Bible passages together for the one who will study.
3. "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
(to understand by scrutinizing and investigating). 1 Corinthians 2:13-14 KJB.
4. Please turn to Matthew 24:3-35 and compare wording with Matthew 10:21-23.
In Matthew 24, the King is telling the Apostles what things will occur before the
King returns again: verse 3. Great tribulation precedes the next coming of the King
to bring in the Millennium.
5. Please note Matthew 24:8, 9,10, 11,12, for similar words to our passage under consideration.
6. Please note Matthew 24:13,
"But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. "The universally accepted use of this passage is to teach that if we don't fall into sin before we die then perhaps we may go to Heaven.
7. The "enduring unto the end" is the term used to describe people, especially Jews, who make it through the Tribulation Period. They will get to see the coming of the King and go bodily into the Kingdom of Heaven (Millennial reign of the King. ) The term has nothing to do with salvation in the Church Age. It is never used in that manner.
8.
"And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. "
(Cf. Joel 2:32with Acts 2:31
Note: dealing with soul salvation, but life being spared.
9. Note, Peter preached this message on the day of Pentecost. It was not fulfilled then, but is to be fulfilled before the return of the King. For your own benefit, Please see
Acts 2:16-21 compared to the passage in
Joel 2:28-32. Things different are not the same.
10. I trust that a study of these references will show you howbefuddled people can get in the Scriptures when they take versesout of their setting and jam them into their own ideas and corrupt theologies.
11. Conclusion: In Matthew 10:21-23 , the King is not only telling His Apostles what some of them will face before they die in the first century, but is corroborating His teaching concerning what will happen to those who are living in the Tribulation Period, prior to the Second Coming of the King to set up His Kingdom of Heaven.
12. Note: Matthew 10:23,
"But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come."
13. Obviously, this truth was not flilfilled in the days of the Apostles.
14. What is the answer?:
a. The King was giving a legitimate offer of the Kingdom of Heaven to Israel.
b. At the same time, the King knew He and the Kingdom of Heaven would be rejected.
c. Remember, the King said that John the Baptist was Elijah.
"For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias (Elijah), which was for to come."
( Matthew 13-14 KJB ). See also: Matthew 17:10-13; Malachi 4:5.
d. John the Baptist was not Elijah. Luke 1:17 gives us the answer to this seeming contradiction:
"And he (John the Baptist) shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
e. John the Baptist was sent in the spirit and power of Elijah making it possible for the King to give a legitimate offer of Himself as the King.
f. The King is rejected and John is beheaded. When the King comes the next time, the real Elijah will come to earth to announce the King and the coming Kingdom of Heaven.
See Revelation 11:3-12. The two witnesses are Moses and Elijah.
15. Conclusion: It is in this same spirit that the King said they would not have preached in all the cities of Israel until the Son of Man should return. If Israel had accepted their King, the statement would have been fulfilled. Since they rejected the King, this verse will not be fulfilled until the Tribulation Period. The 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses will carry out the program of the 12 Apostles,together with the angel who will preach the Everlasting Gospel in the Tribulation Period
(Revelation 14:6-7). These will fulfill the promise made to the 12 Apostles in
Matthew 10:23.
The Son of Man will then return with power and great glory to set up His Kingdom of Heaven with Jerusalem as capital of the world.
Revelation 19:11-20:6.
J. The King Is Blasphemed By Religious Leaders:
Verses 24-25
1. Before the King tells the Apostles what more they will be facing, He gives them a reminder. He enforces on the minds the truth of the relationship of the disciple to his master and the relationship of the servant to his lord.
2. In other words, the 12 Apostles need not expect they will get any better treatment from the religious leaders than the King has received,
verse 24.
3. Review Luke 9:57-62.
4. The King was called Beelzebub by the religious leaders: v. 25.
5. Beelzebub: deity's name meaning, "lord of the flies" or "lord of dung." In
2 Kings 1:2, Baal-zebub (Hebrew spelling), a Philistine deity from which the Israelite King Ahaziah sought help after injuring himself in a fall. The King's opponents applied the name to the King in a mocking fashion, saying He was prince of the devils and used Satanic powers to cast out devils (Matthew 12:24). The King showed the contradictory nature of such a claim and turned the charge back on the Pharisees. He showed His power to cast out devils indicated God was at work, bringing in the Kingdom of Heaven. See Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15-20.
K. The King Helps The Apostles With Fear:
Verses 26-28 .
"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. 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." (Matthew 10:26-28 KJB).
1. The King is not telling the Twelve Apostles not to fear. Rather they are to be selective in the things they fear.
2. One of our former presidents said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself" That statement is ridiculous.
3. Who you need not fear: verse 28
a. People, religious leaders, critics and liars.
b. Gangsters, criminals and murderers.
c. They may hurt you bodily, but they cannot touch your soul.
4. Who you need to fear: verse 28
5. Tell me what you fear and what you love and I will tell you what you are.
a. If you love sin, you don't fear God and are a fool.
b. If you fear God, you will not love sin.
6. God's prescription for Godly living includes fear:
"Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him."
(Deuteronomy 13:4 KJB).
7. The word "fear" is found 400 times in the Bible. Sadly, Bible expositors for years have come up the idea that fear does not mean fear in the Bible. If you would have your Bible only to read, you would understand that fear means: to crush; be afraid; be terrorized; broken; dread and dismay.
8. The author has checked out all 400 times the word is used.
Conclusion: Fear means to be so terrorized that your kneesknock to gather and your hair stands up on end.
9. Examples of fear in the Bible:
a.
"Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:"
(Job 4:15 KJB).
b.
"Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God."
Leviticus 25:17 KJB.
c.
"Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him."
Deuteronomy 8:6 KJB.
d.
"But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?"
Luke 23:40 KJB.
e.
"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."
1 Timothy 5:20 KJB.
f.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 1:7 KJB.
10. Note four things the believer is to do:
"Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."
1 Peter 2:17 KJB.
11. The greatest sin in America is that men no longer fear God.
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
(Romans 3:18 KJB).
a. Every sin in America can be traced to the fact that men no longer fear God.
b. Rampant sin, loose living, lack of conviction, and refusal to put God first among so called "christians" is attributed to the fact that very few Christians in America fear God. (I've coined a phrase, "Unsaved christians!")
c. This is why Bible teachers have given the unfaithful Christian an excuse to continue as he is by teaching him that fear in the Bible is reverential trust or some other fool thing.
d. Thirty Five years ago in Portsmouth, the city was tightened up like a drum on Sunday. You couldn't buy a quart of milk on Sunday. One time when Glenda and I visited her folk, having traveled all the way from Pennsylvania, we ran out of mild for Roger, then about a year old. I went down to the local Be-Low store and was amaized that they were frefusing me opportunity to buy a quart of milk! I shall never forget that. I laid the $1.00 on the counter, picked up the milk and said something like, "call the cops! My boy is going to have his milk! All stores were under the enforcement of the "Blue Laws." Stores closed; gas stations were closed. Taverns were closed. I remember the days when movie house were closed. Places of amusement were closed. Sports were not played on Sunday. People went tochurch because they were afraid not too. You heard no lawn mowers running on Sunday and farmers were afraid to plow their fields on Sunday. In that short period of time, people went from fearing God to thumbing their noses at Him. The Lord's Day is now like any other day when going to church to worship God is done only if it is convenient and there is nothing else to do. I would submit to you that churches have leaned more and more to becoming an amusement park. People only attend if they are fleeced and amused -- made to feel good.
12. Note in verse 26, God makes the statement that nothing can be concealed from God. All will be revealed by Him. Every hidden sin will eventually be disclosed by the light.
13. In verse 27, the Apostles were told that what the King told them in the privacy of darkness they were to speak it in light.
14. In verse 28 the Apostles were told how to deal with fear:
a. Don't fear those who can kill the body.
b. Don't fear those who can not kill the soul.
c. They were to fear their Creator Who can put both body and soul in hell.
15. We must deal with the doctrinal truth of the soul: We will quote from the author's book, "Bible Answers For Bible Believers" page 46.
16. What is a soul?
a. Man is a triune being composed of body, soul and spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 informs us,
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Genesis 2:7,
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground (body), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit); and man became a living soul."
See also Hebrews 4:12.
b. The soul is the inner, invisible replica of the body. Although identical to the body in every way, the soul is far superior to the body. NO.T. only that, but the soul is infinitely more capable in ways compared to the body.
c. The soul can talk, pray and wear clothes
(Revelation 6:9-11) when separated from the body. The soul has memory, can feel pain, can sin, can reject the word of God, be interested in Old Testament her souls and can be recognized by Old Testament her souls when absent from the body.
(Luke 16:19-31).
d. The soul can on special occasions be seen by those on earth who are still in their bodies. We read of Samuel coming up from Paradise in his soul.
1 Samuel 28:14-15 informs us,
"And he said unto her (witch of En-dor), What form is he of" And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. And Samuel said to Saul, "Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up"? Samuel, who appeared as a soul, spoke to Saul.
e. Attempts to do "soul-winning" by those who are ill informed concerning the word of God are pathetic.
Rather than dealing with the soul of man, they spend their time trying to get the body "saved" by doing good works or religious rituals. They evidently do not know how to deal with a soul and therefore substitute a program of body salvation. This is unfortunate because the body cannot be redeemed even in the life of a saved person until the Rapture. Romans 8:23 informs us, "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstftuits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
f. Notice also in Luke 12:19-20, the rich farmer's body is talking to his soul, "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, thisnight thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"
g. Remember, we are souls who possess bodies and spirits. The soul is the real person.
The body is given so the soul can express itself to Old Testament her souls on earth. The spirit
is our means of fellowship with God since God is a Spirit. The body dies, but the soul
never dies once it has been created by God. When the Bible speaks of soul death, it
means that the soul is separated from God. This is called the first death. If that
soul is not saved before the body dies, the soul will be judged by God, sent to the
Lake of Fire which is the Second Death of the soul in Bible language. See
Revelation 20:11-15. & Note Pages 1351_1, and 1351_2.
L. The King's Next Comparisons Of Fear: Verses 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 arc all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
(Matthew 10:29-31 KJB).
1. Bible rejecting fools are constantly searching the Bible to find mistakes and contradictions. In over 50 years of Bible study, your author has never found a supposed mistake or contradiction in the Bible. The reason is, I always take God's side in every word in the Bible I read. God is always right and men are always wrong when they pretend to find mistakes or contradictions in the Bible. If the Bible says black one place and orange in another, I consider they are both right. That settles it for me. The Bible is always innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. No court in the land has found a mistake in the living words of the living God.
2. The Supposed Contradiction:
a. Matthew 10:29 says that two sparrows are sold for one farthing.
b. Luke 12:6 says Five sparrows are sold for two farthings.
c. Any American should be able to figure out that Luke is giving the sale price of sparrows. You know: one for a nickel and three for a dime.
d. Solomon told us how to deal with triflers:
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. " Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."
Proverbs 26:4-5 KJB.
3. The King is giving the twelve Apostles more comfort when they might face times of fear of poverty, starvation or need:
verse 29
4. Not only are the sparrows not forgotten before God
(Luke 12:6), but all the hairs of their heads were counted:
verse 30
5. Conclusions: verse 31
a. God does not forget the sparrows.
b. God has the hairs of your head numbered.
c. You are worth more than sparrows or hairs.
d. Therefore, when you serve the King, be assured that the King will care for you.
M. The King Continues To Challenge His Apostles:
Verses 32-34
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:32-34 KJB).
1. The remaining verses in this chapter deal with faithfulness in the face of adversity. Not only will the test come from your enemies, but from your loved ones. The tendency will be to "tone down" or "water down" your message in the face of possible rejection and persecution. They will be preaching an unpopular message in a hostile environment.
2. Examples of what they will be facing:
a. "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."
John 12:42-43 KJB.
b. "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."
(2 John 1:7 KJB).
3. The King is bracing His Apostles for the coming challenges.
a. They are to confess the King before men. If they do, the King will confess them before their Father:
verse 32
b. If they are tempted to deny the King, as did Peter (Matthew 26:69-75), the King will deny them before their Father:
verse 33.
4. The King briefs His Apostles about peace and war: verse 34
a. Since the King is offering the Kingdom of Heaven to Israel, the Apostles must know that this offer means war.
b. If the King and His Kingdom would have been accepted by Israel, the King would have engaged in a war to subdue the entire world. He would have taken the nations of the world by force before bringing peace to the world.
c. Since the King was rejected, the world wide war called Armageddon was postponed until the King returns the second time.
5. The world is facing three more world wars beyond 2005
a. The first battle of Gog and Magog: Ezekiel 38 & 39. Will occur near the Rapture.
b. The battle of Armageddon: Revelation 19:11-21 World wide war led by the King when He returns. This will introduce 1,000 years of world wide peace.
c. The second battle of Gog and Magog:
Rev. 20:7-10. Battle headed up by Satan following the 1,000 years of peace. This will be the war to end all wars when Satan is put into the Lake of Fire.
Revelation 10:10.
6. You might just as well face the truth. This world will never have peace until the Prince of Peace comes. At both comings He promised there would be war before there could be any peace.
7. At the King's first coming, He plainly said He did not come to bring peace but a sword,
(Matthew 10:34).
The stubborn human heart must be subdued by force if it will not willingly bow before the King. The Church Age was introduced to give the people of the world an opportunity to bow before the Savior and serve Him willingly.
8. With the rejection of the Prince of Peace at His first coming, the war will now rage in human hearts that will break out in fire fights, war among nations, wars in the homes, cities, countries and anywhere men live for 2,000 years before the King's second return.
9. To talk about peace in the world being brought in by the United Nations, the peace-niks or any human nation is to talk like an idiot.
10. The King's program was first war then peace. The rebellious human heart tries to bring in peace and ends up with hundreds of wars and still no peace.
N. The King Tells Of Endless Wars Ahead:
Verses 35-39.
?For I amcome to set a man at vaflance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son ordaughter more than me is nOld Testament worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
Matthew 10:35-39 KJB.
1. In light of His coming rejection, the King forecasts the terrible internal wars in
homes, verses 35-36.
2. These wars will continue until the King returns. They are caused by rebellious, unsurrendered hearts to the Lord.
These verses need no additional explanation other than to remind you that when you try to live for the King, Lord, and Savior, your enemies will be loved ones as listed in
verses 35-36.
3. The King's stern instructions concerning loved ones: verse 37
a. Remember, the King is instructing His Apostles.
b. Evidently, they had to decide between the King and love for parents and family.
c. Remember, James and John left their father's fishing boat to follow the King with no recorded words of explanation or a week's notice. I imagine their father was not too happy with them:
Matthew 4:21-22
d. Matthew walked away from his job as a tax collector with no week's notice to follow the King,
Matt. 9:9.
4. To love father, mother, son or daughter ahead of our love and obedience to the Lord makes us unworthy of Him:
verse 37.
5. These were stern commands for the Apostles to obey. There is an application to believers in 2005, however, that we must consider. No one must come ahead of the Lord in our lives. If we put loved ones ahead of the Lord, we insult Him and are not worthy of Him.
6. The commands continue to sting: verse 38 :
a. Take up your cross and follow the King.
b. The Apostles did, even though it meant bloody torture and death, they followed their King to the end.
c. Remember, a cross represents a curse:
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"
(Galatians 3:13 KJB).
d. The Apostles probably did not understand the full implication of their King's command, but they most certainly did later.
e. To avoid the cross is to be unworthy of the King: verse 38
f. The cross meant giving up their lives for the King.
7. The King requires giving up your life for Him: verse 39.
a. The Apostles were willing to give up their lives for their King.
b. In doing so, they gained a life.
c. This was in contrast to those who find their lives on this earth. (Reach their goals, good job, money, home, and the conveniences of this life it called the "good life."
d. In doing so, they really lose their lives.
8. A Bible example:
a. Moses furnished us with a classic example of a man losing his life that he might find it.
b. Moses had everything a man could desire in life when he was in Egypt. He could look forward to being the next Pharaoh of the land with all of its glory, wealth and fame. Instead, he gave this all up that he might do God's will.
c.
"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward."
Hebrews 11:24-26 KJB.
d. This is taking up your cross and following the Lord. This is also losing your life that you might find it.
0. The King And His Rewards:
Verses 40-42 :
"He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shallreceive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a flghteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."
(Matthew 10:40-42 KJB)
1. These verses are self explanatory and need very little comment.
2. The Apostles promise from the King: verse 40
a. Receiving the Apostles and their message is equated with receiving the King.
b. The opposite would be true also. Rejecting the message of the Apostles would be equated with rejecting the King.
3. The King explains the basis for rewards relating to prophets: verse 41.
a. The man who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward.
b. The receiving relates to both receiving the prophet by showing him hospitality and receiving the message of the prophet.
c. Classic Old Testament Examples: Please read 2 Kings 4:1-7.
1. A lady's husband, who was a prophet, died.
2. Her husband left debts that she must pay. She had no money.
3. Elisha, the prophet, performed a miracle by filling empty vessels with oil. Elisha instructed her to sell the oil and pay her husband's debts.
4. She would have so much money left over after the debts were paid that she could have enough to live and rear her children.
2 Kings 4:7
5. By helping a prophet, her husband, she received a prophet's reward.
d. A second example: Please read 2 Kings 4:8-37.
1. "A great woman" from Shunem had a "prophet's chamber" built for the prophet Elisha to use when he passed through her area,
verse 8-11.
2. Through her receiving the prophet Elisha by showing him hospitality, she too received a prophet's reward.
3. Please read these exciting stories that illustrate what the King is talking about in
Matthew 10:41.
4. The King promises rewards for receiving a righteous man: verse 41.
a. The same principles apply that were given for receiving a prophet.
b. Please read Matthew 25:31-46 to see how this principle will work in the Tribulation Period. Gentiles will find favor with the King for risking their lives by helping righteous Jews.
c.
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
Matthew 25:40 KJB.
d. Their reward for helping a righteous man:
"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"
Matthew 25:34 KJB.
5. The King's reward for giving a cup of cold water: verse 42
a. The principle is the same for receiving a prophet and receiving a righteous man.
b. A cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple will assure the giver that he will in no wise lose his reward.
c. This principle was verbalized by King David from the military standpoint.
d.
"For who will hearken unto you in this matter" but as his Part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike."
1 Samuel 30:24 KJB.
e. The men who stayed with the supplies and never saw combat shared alike the spoils of war with those soldiers who actually fought the battle.
f. This is a great missionary truth. Those on the home-front who support the missionary with his prayers and financial giving will share in the rewards of the missionary who is on the "battle front" for the Lord.
2_Pent THE PENTATEUCH.
The five books ascribed to Moses have a peculiar place in the structure of the
Bible, and an order which is undeniably the order of the experience of the people
of God in all ages.
Genesis is the book of origins"of the beginning of life, and
of ruin through sin.
Its first word,
- "In the beginning God," is in striking contrast with the end,
- "In a coffin in Egypt."
Exodus is the book of redemption, the first
need of a ruined race.
Leviticus is the book of worship and communion, the proper
exercise of the redeemed.
Numbers speaks of the experiences of a pilgrim people,
the redeemed passing through a hostile scene to a promised inheritance.
Deuteronomy, retrospective and prospective, is a book of instruction for the redeemed
about to enter that inheritance.
Inspiration
That Babylonian and Assyrian monuments contain records bearing a grotesque
resemblance to the majestic account of the creation and of the Flood is true, as
also that these antedate Moses. But this confirms rather than invalidates the
inspiration of the Mosaic account. Some tradition of creation and the Flood would
inevitably be handed down in the ancient cradle of the race. Such a tradition,
following the order of all tradition, would take on grotesque and mythological
features, and these abound in the Babylonian records. Of necessity, therefore, the
first task of inspiration would be to supplant the often absurd and childish
tradition with a revelation of the true history, and such a history we find in words
of matchless grandeur, and in an order which, rightly understood, is absolutely
scientific.
In the Pentateuch, therefore, we have a true and logical introduction to the
entire Bible; and, in type, an epitome of the divine revelation.
While involved in study it has become apparent that the Book of Matthew and The Revelation of John draws together nearly every other book in the Bible. You will find references linking these books all throughout this page and others of the studies we have endeavored to draw together. Please allow some attitude for spelling errors and if you are so minded to do so, please send a Email pointing out the page, number or other identification so it can be corrected.
Regards,
bob craig (bc)
3_l; Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God created
Elohim
Elohim, sometimes El or Elah.
English form "God," the first of the three primary names of Deity, is a uni-plural
noun formed from El = strength, or the strong , and Alah , to swear, to bind
oneself by an oath, so implying faithfulness. This uni-plurality implied in the name is
directly asserted in Gen. 1:26 (plurality), Genesis 1:27 (Unity);
See also:
Gen. 3:22. Therefore the Trinity is latent in Elohim. As meaning primarily the
Strong One it is fitly used in the first chapter of Genesis. Used in the
Old Testament about 2500 times.
See also Gen. 2:4, note;
Gen. 2:7;
Gen. 14:18, note; Gen. 15:2, note; Gen. 17:l, note;
Gen. 21:33, note;
1 Samuel 1:3, (See: 1 Sam. 1:3, note).
CONTINUE CHAPTER 11-->
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