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.
