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b) The Risks of Preaching (Matthew 10:16-25)
MATTHEW 10:16
16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Mark 13:9-13; Luke 10:3; 21:12-17; Romans 16:19; Ephesians 5:15)
What if Christ’s parable about sending sheep in the midst of ravenous wolves came true? What would happen? And how long would the sheep remain alive? The wolves would devour them in a moment and leave nothing that is worth mentioning of them.
It looked unkind of Christ to expose His servants to so much danger, who had left everything to follow Him. But he knew that the glory reserved for His sheep in the great day would be recompense sufficient for sufferings as well as service. But Christ sends them forth, and that is comforting. For He who sends them forth will protect them and care for them until they have finished their task. But that they might know the worst, He tells them exactly what they must expect.
Thus, Christ sends us out into the world of our day. But if we live or die, Christ remains responsible for us. We are not alone, He is with us, His name is over us, and His power surrounds us. When you obey Jesus and preach in your neighborhood, He will protect you, take notice of your service and care for you with His divine wisdom. The danger exists, but the Lord exists too, and in Him we trust. In order not to leave them alone, Christ gives valuable advice to His followers in the midst of this desolate world, which is filled with wolves.
Christ asks His disciples to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But it is rather to be taken as a precept, recommending to us that the wisdom of the prudent, which is to understand His way, is useful at all times, but especially in times of distress, tribulation and suffering. Therefore because you are exposed to dangers as sheep in the midst of wolves, “Be wise as serpents.” Not wise as foxes whose cunning is to deceive others, but as serpents, whose policy is only to defend themselves and to look out for their own safety.
In the cause of Christ, we must hold on to life and all its comforts lightly, but must not be wasteful of them. It is the wisdom of the serpent to secure his head, that it may not be broken. Let us be wise, not to pull troubles upon ourselves and upon others and let us keep silence in an evil time and not give offence, if we can help it.
In return, Christ asks His followers to be harmless as doves. Be mild and meek and dispassionate, not only do nobody any hurt, but bear nobody any ill will. Be without gall, as doves are. This must always go along with the former. They were sent out in the midst of wolves, therefore must be as wise as serpents.
The serpent symbolizes Satan, but a dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Therefore a Christian should be wiser and more careful than the devils, but in the holiness of the Holy Spirit, without wickedness or blame. This remark needs prayer and faith that we will not become clever as Satan and devour ourselves in his spirit. But on the contrary, let the Holy Spirit sanctify us to the uttermost so that we follow Jesus closely.
MATTHEW 10:17-18
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. 18 Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations. (Acts 5:40; 25:23; 27:24; 2 Corinthians 11:24)
Jesus warned His disciples not to preach with superficial enthusiasm, for the greatest danger in the world comes not from spiders and tigers, but from man himself. Jesus sent us in His merciful love to the lost. He was not cheated by humanistic thought for He knew that in every man there is a beast waiting for an opportunity. This requires from us excessive wisdom and spiritual awareness that we may not be a reason for its rousing and attacking us.
The apostles experienced the accomplishment of Jesus prophecies, as we read in the book about the Acts of the Apostles. In every small town, there was a council followed by a judicial tribunal composed of twenty-three persons who condemned every adultery, breach of fasting and non fulfillment of the law. They had the right to sentence the violators to scourging. The persons who were sentenced to scourging were whipped forty stripes minus one with a scourge, which consisted of four leather cords on their chest and naked back. Saul, himself, forced the Christians to deny Christ when he used this way with them, but he, after becoming a believer, was scourged in this way on his naked body too. Your testimony brings to your listeners either justification and life, or judgment and destruction. Do not speak of your own ideas and fancies, but ask by prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit at all times.
Some apostles appeared before Roman rulers and local kings to be witnesses for the name of Jesus Christ. They offered salvation to them, which if they rejected they would be witnesses against them in the Day of Judgment.
MATTHEW 10:19-20
19 But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. (Exodus 4:12; Luke 12:11-12; Acts 4:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4)
Do you fear the enemies of Christ? Yes, they are filled with deception, pushed by the father of liar, the killer from the beginning. But Christ, the Lord of life stands up for you. He supports you and grants you the Spirit of Truth who will definitely overcome your fear, comfort you in temptation, confirm faith to you and glorify the name of Jesus through you. You do not have to defend yourself. Listen to the voice of your Lord in your heart. Do not be angry against your judges or adversaries; then the Spirit of your heavenly Father will guide you to wisely answer them.
You are an appointed witness of the Father and the Son by the Holy Spirit. The Father regenerated you, the Son saved you, and the Holy Spirit in you is the eternal power. Trust the Almighty with all your heart. Do not trust your own mind. It is your Father who protects you and inspires you in critical hours.
Christ confirmed to His followers that they would not be left to themselves upon such a dangerous occasion, but God would send His Spirit of wisdom to speak in them, as His providence has promised them. Our Father in heaven gives them the ability, not only to speak to the point clearly, but also to speak with holy zeal. The same Spirit that assisted them in the pulpit assisted them at the bar. They cannot but come off well, who have such an advocate, as he said to Moses, “go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” (Exodus 4:12).
PRAYER: We glorify You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the One and only God, for You have called us to a clear testimony. Please forgive us our hastiness in speaking and our incomplete wisdom. Open our minds to Your inspiration that we may glorify You by listening to the voice of Your Holy Spirit and speak of what He tells us. Purify us from the result of our sins and fill us with the spirit of humility and meekness so that your redemption sanctifies us in our lives. Overcome the fear in us and fill us with Your loving kindness.
QUESTION:
- Who are our enemies, and what promise did Jesus give us concerning them?