Bible Reading
Matthew 10:1–42 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
[03:54]These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.”
[04:23]“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
[05:24]“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
[06:22]“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
[22:44]“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
[23:58]Mark 1:14–15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
[10:52]Acts 5:40–42 And when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
[17:01]Romans 8:29–30 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
[21:59]Observation questions
- What authority does Jesus give the twelve in Matthew 10:1, and what kinds of kingdom work does he send them out to do in verses 7–8? [08:00]
- What instructions in Matthew 10:9–15 would have made the disciples depend on God and on the hospitality of others rather than on their own resources? [13:03]
- In Matthew 10:16–25, what specific kinds of opposition does Jesus tell his disciples to expect, and what help does he promise them in the middle of it?
- What contrasts does Jesus make in Matthew 10:26–31 between fearing people and fearing God, and what details does he give to show the Father’s care? [22:44]
Interpretation questions
- Jesus tells the disciples to proclaim first that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” and then to show mercy through healing and freedom. Why does the message of repentance and faith need to remain central when Christians serve people’s practical needs? [11:45]
- Jesus sends his disciples as sheep among wolves, yet he tells them to be wise and innocent. What might wisdom without compromise and innocence without naïveté look like in difficult conversations today?
- Matthew 10:22 says that the one who endures to the end will be saved, while Romans 8:29–30 describes God’s work from calling through glorifying his people. How do these passages together give assurance without making obedience seem unimportant? [19:29]
- Jesus says he brings a sword before final peace, even dividing households when loyalty to him is rejected. Why is this not permission for Christians to be harsh or argumentative toward family members and others who disagree? [30:52]
Application questions
- Jesus does not wait for his disciples to have perfectly organized lives before sending them to obey him. Is there an area where you have been delaying obedience until you feel more prepared, more secure, or more mature? What would a faithful next step look like? [02:27]
- Jesus is after total allegiance, not partial obedience. What most often competes for first place in your heart right now—comfort, money, approval, family expectations, relationships, schedule, or something else? How is that competition showing up in your choices? [13:26]
- Jesus calls his people to trust him with provision, protection, and the outcome. Which of those is hardest for you to trust him with right now, and what situation makes that difficult? [14:02]
- Following Jesus may cost a person reputation, friendships, a promotion, or acceptance in a relationship. Where do you feel pressure to hide your faith, soften biblical conviction, or go along with something you know is wrong? [28:17]
- The Father knows even the number of hairs on his children’s heads, and they are valuable to him. How could that truth reshape one fear or anxious thought you have carried this week? [23:04]
- Jesus says that losing one’s life for his sake is the way to find it. What is one lesser love or desired outcome you may need to place under Jesus’ rule this week? What practical change could show that he has your loyalty? [23:44]
