Lesson 14

I.       Observation

A.     Outline

Setting (9:35-38)

Commission (10:1-15)

Calling the twelve (1-4)

Extent and content of ministry (5-8)

Providence and reception (9-10)

Counsel (10:16-11:1)

Being on guard and trusting in the Spirit (16-20)

Endurance (21-23)

Do not fear (24-33)

Supreme loyalty (34-39)

Receiving the one sent by God (40-42)

Conclusion of discourse and continuation of Jesus’ ministry (11:1)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

Good news of the kingdom, sheep, compassion, harvest, send, authority, judgment, do not be afraid, love, cross, follow, receive, reward.

II.    General Analysis

1a. 10:15, 23, 32, 33, 39, 41, 42

1b. God’s judgment and the reward of discipleship are not immediate. But knowing what will happen in due time helps us carry out our mission faithfully and stand firm to the end.

2. The Holy Spirit will teach them what to say (10:19-20). Suffering for the gospel will be nothing new (10:24,25). Fear God rather than man because they cannot do anything without the Father’s permission (10:28-31). Christ will acknowledge those who acknowledge Him (10:32,33).

3. Compassion (9:36), prudence and innocence (10:16), readiness to suffer, boldness (10:26-31), undivided love for Christ (10:37-39).

III. Segment Analysis

1. Teaching, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing.

2. Jesus tirelessly preached the gospel and was concerned about the ministry because He had compassion on the people. We need to have a compassionate heart to serve as a driving force behind our ministry.

3. If the harvest was plentiful in Jesus’ days, how much more so is today’s harvest! Not only so, there is an urgent need of workers in the Lord’s ministry. Note that it was to the disciples, who were sent out by the Lord, that the Lord commanded them to pray for more workers. In other words, we should not simply ask the Lord to send other people to work for Him. We ought to constantly pray to the Lord to send us out by giving us the authority and power of the Holy Spirit (See Isa 6:8).

4. The Lord was not teaching exclusion of the Samaritans from God’s kingdom because He Himself said that the gospel was to reach all nations (24:14; 28:16-20). But it was God’s intention that salvation began with the Israelites and eventually encompass the Gentiles (Rom 1:16; Acts 1:8). So the disciple’s primary mission at the beginning was to preach to the Jews.

5a. “Freely you have received, freely give” (10:8).

5b. We should not expect anything in return for our preaching and works of service, since we have received God’s grace without charge.

6. We should not let the accumulation of belongings weigh us down and hamper the ministry (2Tim 2:4). The Lord will provide for His workers through the help of His people (1Cor 9:7-10). The Lord’s command trains God’s workers to lead simple lives and trust God with complete faith (e.g. 1Kgs 17:2-6).

7. Shaking off the dust from the feet was not a gesture of hatred, but a testimony that the people were not worthy of the gospel. Such action served as a warning and freed the preacher from his responsibility (Acts 13:51; 18:6).

8. The disciples would surely face persecutions. These instructions would apply in those situations.

9. They will surely happen and the disciples will suffer as a result (10:17). Such persecution will also be an opportunity to witness for Christ (10:18-20). Persecutions will be widespread, and may even come from the family (10:21-22). We must stand firm to the end (10:22).

10. Since the people the disciples minister to will be as ferocious wolves, the disciples are to be prudent and at the same time innocent. As the Lord teaches in verse 17, we are to be aware of evil doers’ schemes while be free from evil intent or retaliation (e.g. Neh 6:1-14).

11a. 24:4-14

11b. It is not clear whether the coming of the Son of Man was referring to the Lord’s return or something more immediate. But if it is referring to the last days, then Jesus’ prediction would apply to disciples of all ages.  In connection to the theme of persecution in the passage,  “the cities of Israel” may be symbolic of the house of Israel, which has always resisted the gospel. If this interpretation is correct, then it means that the church will not be able to thoroughly convert the Israelites before Christ’s return.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

12a. The disciples will certainly be persecuted in the same way that their master was persecuted. They should not expect anything less.

12b. Despite the persecution, the gospel will continue to be spread. The disciples will proclaim what the Lord had taught them to the public.

12c. We should fear no one except God alone. People can harm our bodies, but not our soul; even then, our bodies will not be harmed unless it is our Father’s will. So we should entrust ourselves to God because He will always watch over and provide for us.

12d. We must hold firmly to our confession of Christ as Lord even during severe persecution so that the Lord will also acknowledge and receive us when He comes.

13. In order to uphold their faith, believers of the Lord will be persecuted, even by close relatives (10:21).

14. Our love for the Lord must come before our love for all others. That is what discipleship demands and entails (cf. 8:22). Such dedication to Christ requires self-denial, which is what the cross refers to. But the Lord’s disciples, who give up their lives in this age, will inherit eternal life in the coming age (16:24-27; 19:28,29).

15. We must receive those who live by and preach the word of God. This reception is more than showing hospitality. It also includes welcoming and obeying the message that they bring (10:14; 1Thess 5:20). We should not despise God’s representatives, even if they seem to be insignificant, because they are sent by God.