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Matthew Chapter
Ten
I.
Content of the Chapter
Apostles of the King
I. Apostles are
called and sent by the king (v.1-4).
II. The area and
missions of apostles’ service (v.5-8).
III. The objects and
attitude of life of apostles’ service (v.9-15).
IV. The hardships
and the ways to deal with hardships in apostles’ service (v.16-33).
V. The sacrifice and
reward in apostles’ service (v.34-42).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Matt. 10:1 “And when He had called
His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast
them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.”
YLT: “And having called
to him his twelve disciples, he gave to them power over unclean spirits, so as
to be casting them out, and to be healing every sickness, and every malady.”
Literal Meaning: “disciples”: those
who followed the Lord and were strictly trained and instructed by Him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) One becomes the Lord’s worker because of the
Lord’s calling instead of his own volition. Only the disciples who have been
strictly trained and instructed by the Lord are worthy to be called to be His
workers.
2) If the Lord “have called them”, He will “give
them power”. This shows that the Lord is responsible to given power to them who
have been called. The Lord’s calling and commission won’t surpass His grace.
3) Power is given to do the Lord’s work. Only those
who are willing to receive the Lord’s sending are worthy to be given power.
4) Spiritual power in service is due to the Lord’s
commission. If one has not been entrusted by the Lord, he won’t have spiritual
power and consequently it will not be of any spiritual effect.
5) Spiritual power has two uses in the assembly:
one is to cope with Satan God’s enemy and its ministers; the other is to help
men’s spiritual life to grow up and be perfected.
6) The Lord Jesus came into the world not to gain
the so-called works of Christianity but to gain a group of people. He gives His
life to them at first and then through them He is manifested among the crowd.
7) “Twelve”: a number means forever and
perfectness. The Lord will make the twelve disciples into a full testimony and
example and treat them as the fountains of God’s building in the eternal age
(see Rev. 21:14).
Matt. 10:2 “Now 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;”
YLT: “And of the twelve
apostles the names are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his
brother; James of Zebedee, and John his brother;”
Meaning of Words: “apostles”: he that is sent; “Simon”: listen to;
“Peter”: stone; “Andrew”: man, mighty, overcomer, strong, masculine; “Zebedee”:
God’s portion; “James”: usurper, to seize; “John”: God’s gift.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The twelve apostles were separated into six
groups and there were two in each group. One should not work for the Lord
alone. It’s better for two to work together for the Lord because they could
collocate, communicate with each other and support each other and bear witness
for each other.
2) A worker of the Lord has to “listen to” (the
meaning of “Simon”) the Lord’s words, surrender himself as the making to the
Lord’s building ------stone (the meaning of “Peter”, see 1Pet. 2:5) and be
strong (the meaning of “Andrew”) to do the Lord’s work.
3) The Lord’s works are those who are able to seize
(the meaning of “James”) God’s eternal portion (the meaning of “Zebedee”) and
God’s gifts (the meaning of “John”).
4) Among the twelve apostles, there are few records
about their history in the Bible except the records of Peter’s history in Acts.
This shows that the Lord values how the Holy Spirit works through them instead
of their works.
Matt. 10:3 “Philip and Bartholomew;
Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus,
whose surname was Thaddaeus;”
YLT: “Philip, and
Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James of Alpheus, and
Lebbeus who was surnamed Thaddeus;”
Meaning of Words: “Philip”: affectionate, fond of horses;
“Bartholomew”: son of Tholomew, son of wars; “Thomas”: the twin; “Matthew”:
God’s gift; “Alphaeus”: interchange; “Thaddaeus”: wisdom.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Bartholomew was known as Nathanael (John. 1:45).
The Lord’s workers should deeply love (meaning of “Philip”) God’s gifts
(meaning of “Nathanael”)
2) Since the Lord’s workers receive the doubling
(the meaning of “Thomas”) gifts, their gifts change (meaning of “Alphaeus”)
into wisdom and ability (meaning of “Thaddaeus”) that they could grasp (meaning
of “James”).
Matt. 10:4 “Simon the Cananite, and
Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”
YLT: “Simon the Cananite,
and Judas Iscariot, who did also deliver him up.”
Meaning of Words: “Simon the Canaite”: listen to earnestly; “betrayed”:
bring out; “Iscariot”: the one with purse who is good at trading in Aramaic;
“Judas”: worship.
Literal Meaning: “the Canaite” was a
Jewish revolutionary organization. It resisted the rule of the Roman Government
over
“Canaite” was a city of the tribe of
Ephraim, near to
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The behavior of “worship” (meaning of “Judas”)
was superficial. Those who pretend to be workers of the Lord in appearance may
betray the Lord. The most important thing is to earnestly listen to (meaning of
“Simon the Cananite”) the Lord.
2) Judas who betrayed the Lord was unexpectedly
listed in the twelve apostles. It indicates that the Lord cope with someone
concerning the will of God regardless of His own advantages and disadvantages.
Matt. 10:5 “These twelve Jesus sent
out and commanded them, saying: ‘Do not go into the way of
the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.”
YLT: “These twelve did
Jesus send forth, having given command to them, saying, `To the way of the
nations go not away, and into a city of the Samaritans go not in,”
Literal Meaning: “the way of the
Gentiles”: there were many Greek cities in the
“A city of the Samaritans.” In about
B.C. 700, the Northland Israel was perished by Ashur. Its people were carried
away captive to
Spiritual Meaning: “the way of the
Gentiles” symbolizes the way of the world;
“A city of the Samaritans” symbolizes
the mixed group that half of it belongs to Christianity and the other half
belongs to the world.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Workers of the Lord could not use ways of the
world (“the way of the Gentiles”) to work for the Lord; neither should they
partake in the mixed groups or organizations (“a city of the Samaritans”).
2) Those who have received the Lord’s sending have
to choose the Lord’s way instead of his own way. For the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our
thoughts (Is. 55:9).
3) Our works should not be beyond spiritual realm
(“the way of the Gentiles”). Our works should not be both of heaven and of the
earth or be both of spirit and of flesh (“a city of the Samaritans”).
4) The most important thing to follow the Lord is
not gifts, eloquence, or knowledge, but one’s absoluteness and faithfulness
towards the Lord.
5) We have to walk in the Lord’s way absolutely.
Let our yes be yes, and no be no. Our walking and words should not be ambiguous
and equivocal and we should not leave any room or leeway.
6) The order is that glad tidings are to the Jews
first and to Greek (Rom. 1:16).
Matt. 10:6 “But go rather to the lost
sheep of the house of
YLT: “and be going rather
unto the lost sheep of the house of
Literal Meaning: “the house of
“The lost sheep” The sheep have the
lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The targets we work for are those who have been
predestinated by God. They originally were of God and are lost in the world and
sins.
2) “The house of
Matt. 10:7 “And as you go, preach,
saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'”
YLT: “`And, going on,
proclaim saying that, the reign of the heavens hath come nigh;”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “As you go, preach.” The true service should not
be restricted by fixed scopes or forms. The true service should be urgent in
season out of season (2Tim. 4:2) and provide for the needs in every circumstance
that is arranged by the Lord.
2) Workers’ life should accord with their
messengers. Their “go” should improve their “preaching”------they should bear
witness to and improve the words they preach by their life.
3) John the Baptist preached the kingdom of heaven
(Matt. 3:2), the Lord Jesus Himself preached the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 4:17)
and the Lord sent apostles to preach the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of
heaven is the eternal and persistent will of God.
4) The aim to work for the Lord is to bring men
into the authority of heaven.
Matt. 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse
the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely
give.”
YLT: “infirm ones be
healing, lepers be cleansing, dead be raising, demons be casting out freely ye
did receive, freely give.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God has given strength and might unto His people
(Ps. 68:35) and therefore wherever we go, we should manifest God’s strength and
might.
2) Workers of the Lord should have heavenly might
and make men have a foretaste of the reality of the kingdom of heaven ------
forgiving men’s sins (“cleansing the lepers”), delivering men out of the
authority of darkness (“casting out demons”), restoring spiritual life
(“raising the dead”) and removing all the abnormal states (“healing the sick”).
3) The Lord had paid high price to give us grace
freely (“freely you have received”) and therefore we should pay price to let
others receive grace freely (“freely give”).
4) Spiritual power of the glad tidings is not for
making money. Serving the Lord is not for one’s own profits.
5) The Lord’s way is a way of “receiving” and
“giving”. If one only receives and does not give, there is no hope for him to
receive. The more one gives, the more he will receive.
Matt. 10:9 “Provide neither gold nor
silver nor copper in your money belts,”
YLT: “`Provide not gold,
nor silver, nor brass in your girdles,”
Literal Meaning: “money belts”: the
pleats in the robe that are used as pockets to keep belongings in this time.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Workers of the Lord should have faith towards
God and should not trust on the uncertainty of riches, but in the God who
affords us all things richly for enjoyment (1Tim. 6:17).
2) Those who serve the Lord should not be distracted
by material enjoyment on earth. Having sustenance and covering, we will be
content with these (1Tim. 6:8).
Matt. 10:10 “nor bag for your journey,
nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.”
YLT: “nor scrip for the
way, nor two coats, nor sandals, nor staff for the workman is worthy of his
nourishment.”
Meaning of Words: “provide” means to acquire purposely or to gain;
“bag”: it is used to keep foods.
Literal Meaning: the Lord has
ordained to those that announce to the glad tidings to live of the glad tidings
(1Cor. 9:14). Therefore workers of the Lord, being sent out by the Lord to work
among God’s people, should not prepare superfluously for the daily necessities.
However, the Lord’s workers should gain nothing from unbelievers (3John. 7).
Controversial Clarification: this regulation about not providing gold or
daily necessities had been cancelled before the Lord was taken (see Luke.
22:35-38). Therefore when we read this verse, we should understand it in spirit
and should not literally follow it. The principle of the life of a worker of
the Lord is not to prepare for himself and not to plan for himself and in him
it is proved that God is able to feed us and He is responsible for us.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) No matter how week we are, we are still God’s
children. We represent God in the world and therefore we should not live a
random life.
2) The life of the Lord’s workers should be the
life of faith. If the Lord has not done anything, we should not prepare anything
by ourselves to find a way out.
3) “A worker is worthy of his food.” If we truly
are the Lord’s workers, He is responsible for this promise. If we do our works,
we have to prepare for our own needs.
4) If believers work for the Lord, they will receive
both material and spiritual food.
Matt. 10:11 “‘Now
whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there
till you go out.”
YLT: “`And into whatever
city or village ye may enter, inquire ye who in it is worthy, and there abide,
till ye may go forth.”
Literal Meaning: “inquire who in it
is worthy” “who is worthy” are those who have the God-seeking hearts, fear God
and seek the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord’s workers should have spiritual
sensibility and discernment to know who truly desires a good work.
2) Our relations with men should be established on
our respective relations with the Lord.
3) Those who wholeheartedly fear God will assuredly
respect and receive those who have been sent by God.
4) When preaching the glad tidings, we should
carefully watch men’s reactions and find out who is the ripe harvest and is
ready to receive the glad tidings.
Matt. 10:12 “And when you go into a
household, greet it.”
YLT: “And coming to the
house salute it,”
Spiritual Meaning: “greet it” means
providing Christ to him because Christ Himself is peace.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Anyone who is willing to receive the Lord’s
workers partakes in the Lord’s works and could be counted as a co-worker in the
Lord.
2) Christ Himself is peace. There will be peace
where there is the Lord’s presence (2Thess. 3:16). This peace is peace of
Christ (Col. 3:15).
Matt. 10:13 “If the household is
worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace
return to you.”
YLT: “and if indeed the
house be worthy, let your peace come upon it; and if it be not worthy, let your
peace turn back to you.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Being sent by the Lord is an important thing
because those who have been sent are representatives of the Lord. The moment
they are sent by the Lord, they have the Lord’s authority, presence and peace.
Therefore wherever they go, the workers sent by the Lord have the Lord’s
authority, presence and peace with them just as the flow of water.
2) Anyone that receives those who have been sent by
the Lord receives the Lord’s presence and peace. Anyone that rejects those who
have been sent by the Lord rejects the Lord’s presence and peace.
3) Any circumstance could not affect the peace in
the workers of the Lord and the peace in the workers of the Lord is able to
change the circumstances.
4) Before the devil makes us fail, it will make us
lose our peace at first. If we hold fast the peace in our hearts, the devil
will do nothing to us.
5) Whether someone is worthy of the Lord’s blessing
and peace is determined by the Lord. While someone else act positively, we
should hold an active attitude towards him and we should not doubt his
intention or motive.
Matt. 10:14 “And whoever will not
receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake
off the dust from your feet.”
YLT: “`And whoever may
not receive you nor hear your words, coming forth from that house or city,
shake off the dust of your feet,”
The
Background: “shake off the dust
from your feet.” When the Pharisees depart from a gentile place, they would do
this symbolic action, indicating that they have nothing with the uncleanness of
the Gentiles.
Spiritual Meaning: “shake off the dust
from your feet” shows that the men or place that have rejected Christ should
suffer their own actions and their endings in future have nothing with us
(Acts. 13:50-51).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Our relations with the world should be
established on the ground that whether they receive the Lord. To those who do
not receive the Lord, we should not maintain earthly intimate relations with
them.
2) The disguised social services should not replace
Christ’s gospel. What the Lord cares about is whether men receive the glad
tidings. The Lord does not care about that whether we have improved men’s
living standard.
Matt. 10:15 “Assuredly, I say to you,
it will be more tolerable for the
YLT: “verily I say to
you, It shall be more tolerable for the
The
Background: the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) In the time of grace, those who have heard the
gospel of salvation and still obstinately reject the gospel probably will
suffer more in future than ignorant sinners.
2) Today men receive more truth than the former
time. If they still reject and do not listen to the truth, their sins are
inexcusable and their sins are greater because to every one to whom much has
been given, much shall be required from him (Luke. 12:48).
3) Why do we preach glad tidings? Because there
will be the day of judgment. If men do not receive glad tidings, they will
suffer more in the day of judgment.
4) The greatest sin is rejecting the Lord. All
men’s sins come from rejecting the Lord.
Matt. 10:16 “‘Behold,
I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents
and harmless as doves.”
YLT: “`Lo, I do send you
forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye therefore wise as the serpents,
and simple as the doves.”
Meaning of Words: “wise”: clever, sagacious, with discretions;
“harmless”: simple, unmixed, and innocent.
Literal Meaning: “as sheep in the
midst of wolves” Sheep’s natural disposition is meekness and wolves are brutal.
Sheep is in danger if it is in the midst of wolves.
“Be wise as serpents.” Wisdom is the
feature of serpents when they keep watchful to defend themselves. We should
know how to avoid danger as serpents.
“Harmless as doves” Holding oneself
aloof from the world as doves.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Since we are sent out by the Lord, He will
assuredly take responsibility for our safety. Otherwise, if we haven’t been
sent out by the Lord, we should not take risks by ourselves.
2) Sheep is very dangerous in the midst of wolves.
Christians profit nothing among the unbelievers and may even be harmed by them.
3) Men’s natural life is like wolves and they like
to obey the law of the jungle. However the life of the Lord is the life of
Lamb------standing aloof from the world and being willing to suffer losses.
4) Among unbelievers, believers should on one hand
“be wise as serpents” and do not offend their cruelty and on the other “be
harmless as doves” and do not harm others.
5) Believers should be “wise” to that which is good
and simple (“harmless”) to evil (Rom. 16:19). Believers should be wise enough
to have spiritual sensibility and should be simple enough to never gain their
own rights and interests.
6) When dealing with unbelievers, believers should
know all the devices that of Satan (2Cor. 2:11). Silly losses are of no
spiritual value. However if it is the will of God, believers should not avoid
the loss though they know that it is a trap.
7) Believers should not suffer meaningless losses
or be harmed by others. Believers should not let others suffer losses or harm
others.
8) The appearance of the world pretends to be
honest and “harmless” and their hearts are full of schemes and wiliness.
However Christians’ outside attitude should be “harmless” and our inner reality
should be “wise”.
9) “Wise” and “harmless” are closely interrelated
to each other. Careless ones could not keep simple and brutal ones would
assuredly lose wisdom.
Matt. 10:17 “But
beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in
their synagogues.”
YLT: “And, take ye heed
of men, for they will give you up to sanhedrims, and in their synagogues they
will scourge you,”
Literal Meaning: “councils” were the
supreme meeting of the Jews. It was composed of seventy members and it had the
right to judge common civil and religious matters. To those who had been
sentenced of sins by the councils, it is lawful to whip them and it is not
lawful to put them to death (John. 18:31).
“Synagogues” were the places for the
Jews to gather together to study the Bible and to worship God.
Spiritual Meaning: “councils”
symbolizes the authority of religion;
“Synagogues” symbolizes the
circumstances of religion.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) A true worker will be hated, rejected and
persecuted by religionists. Therefore workers have to be aware of them.
2) The system of God’s elect contrarily turned out
to be the organization to persecute those who are truly of God. Today some
groups in Christianity are willing to help the evil political power to
persecute true Christians.
Matt. 10:18 “You will be brought
before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the
Gentiles.”
YLT: “and before
governors and kings ye shall be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them
and to the nations.”
Meaning of Words: “governors”: rulers (Pontius, politarchs and etc)
Spiritual Meaning: “governors and
kings” symbolize power and influence of the government;
“The Gentiles” symbolizes the world.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Because we are not of the world, the world hates
us. Since the world had persecuted the Lord, they will also persecute us (John.
15:19-20).
2) The assembly does not lack preachers but lacks
those who are willing to stand for the Lord and bear witness to the Lord.
3) The Lord gives us difficult circumstances
because He loves us. Without the press of circumstances, we won’t learn to
closely look upon the Lord and rely on Him.
Matt. 10:19 “But when they deliver you
up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to
you in that hour what you should speak;”
YLT: “`And whenever they
may deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye may speak, for it shall be
given you in that hour what ye shall speak;”
Literal Meaning: “how you should
speak” indicates the way to speak;
“What you should speak” indicates the
contents to speak.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When we are confronted with persecution and
opposition, we should not speak by ourselves.
2) If believers are persecuted or opposed, we
should not deal with the difficulty by ourselves. We should commit ourselves to
the Lord through faith. He that believes on the Lord shall not be ashamed (Rom.
9:33).
Matt. 10:20 “for it is not you who
speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”
YLT: “for ye are not the
speakers, but the Spirit of your Father that is speaking in you.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should learn to return into the spirit and
look on the guidance of the Holy Spirit instead of facing the persecution by
ourselves because God’s Spirit dwells in our spirits (
2) The Spirit of your Father is our hold and comfort
when we are persecuted for serving the Lord.
3) If men rush to the fore to speak, the Holy
Spirit will have no status to speak. If men do not speak for themselves, the
Holy Spirit will manifest his words.
4) Many times men could speak what they are unable
to speak and what they are unexpected because it is not men who speak, but the
Spirit of their Father who speaks in them.
Matt. 10:21 “‘Now
brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children
will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.”
YLT: “`And brother shall
deliver up brother to death, and father child, and children shall rise up
against parents, and shall put them to death,”
Literal Meaning: the situation
described in this verse had happened in history. In the country where there was
no freedom of faith, many similar situations happened.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The greatest cross for believers is to be
opposed and persecuted by their close family members because it is extremely
painful.
2) The world relies on relations of flesh and
believers pay attention to relations of spiritual life.
Matt. 10:22 “And you will be hated by
all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
YLT: “and ye shall be
hated by all because of my name, but he who hath endured to the end, he shall
be saved.”
Meaning of Words: “endures”: could not be overwhelmed
Literal Meaning: “to the end will be
saved” Here it doesn’t mean the avoidance of perdition. It means to be
delivered from evil men. It also means to avoid being punished by the Lord in
Christ’s second coming.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Many people are hated by men. How many of them
are hated by men for the sake of the name of the Lord? It is of spiritual value
if we are hated by men only when we are fervently preaching the Lord’s name and
standing firmly for the Lord’s name.
2) If believers do not associate with evil ones and
come out to disclose sins, unavoidably they will be hated and even killed by
men.
3) “Endurance” is the best principle to deal with
the situation that one is hated by men. Only entering into the endurance of
Christ could we be delivered from bad and evil men (2Thess. 3:2-5).
4) The life believers receive is the life that is
able to inherit everything and still stand after overcoming everything. There
isn’t any difficulty that is too difficult for this life to bear. Therefore we
can endure to the end.
5) By ourselves nobody is able to “endure to the
end”. However since we are persecuted for His name, our persecution is His
persecution and we are able to endure because He has borne the persecution.
Matt. 10:23 “When they persecute you
in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have
gone through the cities of
YLT: “`And whenever they
may persecute you in this city, flee to the other, for verily I say to you, ye
may not have completed the cities of
Literal Meaning: “when they persecute
you in this city, flee…” “Flee”: concede, not resist.
“You will not have gone through the
cities of
Spiritual Meaning: this verse could be applied
to God’s people in The Tribulation (see Matt. 24:9, 13-14).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Fleeing”------ concede and do not argue with
others------is the principle for believers to deal with persecution.
2) It is not shameful for Christians to flee. They
obey the Lord’s order.
3) God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation make the issue
also, so that should be able to bear (1Cor. 10:13).
4) “The Spirit of your Father” (v.20) and “steps of
the Son of Man” (“the Son of Man comes”) is our hold and comfort when we are
persecuted for serving the Lord.
Matt. 10:24 “‘A
disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.”
YLT: “`A disciple is not
above the teacher, nor a servant above his lord;”
Meaning of Words: “servant”: bondman, slave
Literal Meaning: this verse specially
refers to suffering: the degree of pain we suffer will never exceed the
persecution the Lord had suffered.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We are pupils of the Lord and we should learn
from Him. We are slaves of the Lord and we should obey Him in every thing.
2) The Lord’s steps are the example for those who
serve the Lord to follow. It is inevitable for those who serve the Lord to walk
in the way of cross.
Matt. 10:25 “It is enough for a
disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they
have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call
those of his household!”
YLT: “sufficient to the
disciple that he may be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord; if the
master of the house they did call Beelzeboul, how much more those of his
household?”
Literal Meaning: “Beelzebub” is the
Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron (2Kings. 1:2). The Jews changed the voice to call
“Beelzebub” and it means “the king of dunghill”. It also means “the king of
house” because the devil possesses men, treats men as houses and occupies men’s
body to be the king of house.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) No matter how greatly a Christian suffers, the
most is the same with the Lord. This comforts us because the Lord knows our
tribulations on earth.
2) Since men abuse and blaspheme our Lord, we
should not hope that others may treat us kindly. Every time we are
misunderstood, persecuted or despised by others, we should remember how the
Lord was treated by men.
3) It is impossible that our Lord here received
cross but we receive crowns. We should not hope to have different destinies and
future with the Lord. Anyone who seeks men’s glory is unable to be the Lord’s
servants.
4) If we are treated by the world differently from
our Lord, probably something is wrong with us ------there are some problems in
our relations with the Lord.
Matt. 10:26 “Therefore do not fear
them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that
will not be known.”
YLT: “`Ye may not,
therefore, fear them, for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed,
and hid, that shall not be known;”
Literal Meaning: according to the
context, “covered” is equivalent to “whatever I tell you in the dark” (v.27)
and “hidden” is equivalent to “what you hear in the ear” (v.27).
This verse has several aspects of
meanings:
1) The mysteries and revelations that the apostles
have received from the Lord today will be known to the world in future.
2) It exhorts that we should not be hidden
Christians for fearing to be persecuted because once we truly believe in the
Lord, we will be known by others sooner or later.
3) Even we are misunderstood as Beelzebub by others for the things that we keep for
the Lord secretly, God will clear it up some day.
4) Men’s persecutions, hidden jealousies,
deceitfulness and sins towards Christians will be revealed some day.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The greatest difficulty for men is anxiety and
fear besides sins.
2) A fearful person is of no great use in God’s
hand.
3) Since things that are covered and hidden will be
revealed sooner or later, it would be better for us to muster up our courage to
speak what we should speak and to do what we should do.
Matt. 10:27 “‘Whatever
I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear,
preach on the housetops.”
YLT: “that which I tell
you in the darkness, speak in the light, and that which you hear at the ear,
proclaim on the house-tops.”
Literal Meaning: the Lord here
encouraged us to be bold in it as we ought to speak (Eph. 6:20). Moreover, what
we say must be heard from the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The enemy always threatens us in order to close
our mouth. However the Lord always asks us to “speak in the light” and “preach
on the housetops”.
2) If the Lord has not told us in the dark, we
could not speak in the light. If we have not heard “in the ear”, we could not
“preach”. If men preach the Lord’s words, they must preach what the Lord has
spoken.
3) Those who speak for the Lord must speak
according to the words heard from the Lord and must receive fresh words from
the Lord continually.
4) Nobody could be a Christian in the dark. Any true
Christian has to bear witness to the Lord.
Matt. 10:28 “And do not fear those who
kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell.”
YLT: “`And be not afraid
of those killing the body, and are not able to kill the soul, but fear rather
Him who is able both soul and body to destroy in gehenna.”
Literal Meaning: the devil and its
ministers (including the world) could kill the body at most and they cannot
kill the soul. However if we dare not to bear witness to the Lord, fearing that
our bodies may be killed, probably our souls may be punished by the Lord one
day and this is what should be afraid of.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers should not fear those who make us
suffer losses temporarily and should fear those who make us suffer losses
forever.
2) Men’s difficulty is that they do not fear what
they are supposed to fear and fear what they are not supposed to fear. What men
should fear is to fear God. Fearing God is the foundation of our victory.
Matt. 10:29 “Are not two sparrows sold
for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your
Father's will.”
YLT: “`Are not two
sparrows sold for an assar? and one of them shall not fall on the ground
without your Father;”
Literal Meaning: “a copper coin” it
is of little value.
This verse indicates that we are more
precious than two sparrows in the eyes of the Father of heaven. If the Father
of heaven does not let a sparrow die casually, should not rather we?
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should learn to trust and rely on God’s care
and arrangements.
2) Men and devils are unable to harm us apart from
Father in heaven. All our circumstances are permitted by our Father and He
knows what is profitable for us (Heb. 12:10).
Matt. 10:30 “But the very hairs of
your head are all numbered.”
YLT: “and of you even the
hairs of the head are all numbered;”
Literal Meaning: this verse indicates
that every hair of us has been numbered by God. God managers this little thing
and he will assuredly regard us when we are encountered with difficulties
because of His works.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Every thing believers have encountered is
arranged by God. God arranges our circumstances carefully just as He has
numbered our hairs.
2) God’s infinite meticulosity is just like His
infinite greatness. Upon us nothing is too detailed for God to arrange.
Matt. 10:31 “Do not fear therefore;
you are of more value than many sparrows.”
YLT: “be not therefore
afraid, than many sparrows ye are better.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Many” is very precious. No matter how many
sparrows there are, you are of more value.
2) God loves us as the apple of His eye (Deut.
32:10, Zech. 2:8).
3) The reason why men may fear is that they do not
trust in God’s arrangements. Everything is arranged by God. If you trust in
God’s arrangements, you won’t fear and you will praise Him.
4) Obedience works joy and faith works rest. One
will not fear when he is full of rest and joy.
Matt. 10:32 “‘Therefore
whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who
is in heaven.”
YLT: “`Every one,
therefore, who shall confess in me before men, I also will confess in him
before my Father who is in the heavens;”
Meaning of Words: “confess”: acknowledge.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If we bear witness to the Lord, the Lord will
bear witness to us.
2) If we respect the Lord before men, the Lord will
respect us before God.
Matt. 10:33 “But whoever denies Me
before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”
YLT: “and whoever shall
deny me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in the
heavens.”
Literal Meaning: whether we confess
the Lord before men is closely connected with whether the Lord confesses us
before God. If we dare not to confess the Lord before men because we are afraid
of men, we will suffer the consequence of our fear. Should we fear God? Or
should we fear men? It is a fearful thing to fall into hands of living God
(Heb. 10:31).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Today it is wrong for believers that the more
others oppose them, the less they dare to bear witness to the Lord. Actually,
lamp is lightened in the dark. The more men reject the Lord, the more we should
preach.
2) Many believers hold that they do not need to
preach the glad tidings with mouth and they want to express the glad tidings
with deeds. Our deeds should be worthy of the glad tidings (Pill. 1:27),
however, deeds could not replace utterance.
Matt. 10:34 “‘Do
not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace
but a sword.”
YLT: “`Ye may not suppose
that I came to put peace on the earth; I did not come to put peace, but a
sword;”
Meaning of Words: “peace”: reconciliation.
Literal Meaning: “I cam to…but a
sword” The Lord came to the world to make those of Him to suffer the pain of “a
sword”, i.e. a sword shall go through our own souls (Luke. 2:35). Our natural
feelings and favors will be dealt with and we are instructed not to live by our
natural life.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Christ’s coming
certainly breaks off the earthly and interpersonal relations. If the relation
has not been broken off, it proves that work of the Lord’s grace is not enough.
2) The reason why men are unable to live in peace
with each other because God and men are unable to live in peace with each
other. If men have not been reconciled with God, men are unable to be
reconciled with men.
3) The Lord came into the world to cut off men’s
natural life.
Matt. 10:35 “For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her
mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law';”
YLT: “for I came to set a
man at variance against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,”
Literal Meaning: the Lord here did
not mean that believers should not love their parents and family members. He
meant that the Lord is among us, our parents and family members, if the
relation between one part and the Lord is wrong, there will be problem among
them. However, if the whole family magnifies the Lord, the family life of
believers is much happier than that of the world.
The verse means that who mostly hinder
one from loving the Lord whole-heartedly is usually the one in his house.
Spiritual Meaning: parents are the root
of children’s natural life and therefore setting a man “against” his parents is
cutting off the root of men’s natural life.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When living in the world, it is impossible for
one to live in peace with one who opposes the Lord, otherwise there will be
something wrong between him and the Lord.
2) Those who follow the Lord firmly will not be
understood by his own household. Because the power of darkness behind
unbelievers is against the heavenly king and it makes that earthly men hate
heavenly men.
3) The Lord came to gain men’s highest place in
their hearts. Originally men’s highest place in their hearts is their parents
and mother-in-law. But the Lord came and men have to give the highest place to
Him. In order to serve the Lord, the interpersonal relations should be regarded
as secondary.
Matt. 10:36 “and ‘a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'”
YLT: “and the enemies of
a man are those of his household.”
Literal Meaning: this verse means
what mostly hinder men from fully loving the Lord is always his own household.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Men could not love both the Lord and his family
members. If believers love the Lord, their family members who are unbelievers
will be jealousy and jealous makes hatred. Family members hate the Lord first
and then they treat us as enemies.
2) Those who truly serve the Lord will assuredly be
despised by men with who they have intimate relations------“his own household”.
Matt. 10:37 “He who loves father or
mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more
than Me is not worthy of Me.”
YLT: “`He who is loving
father or mother above me, is not worthy of me, and he who is loving son or
daughter above me, is not worthy of me,”
Literal Meaning: the Lord here did
not mean that we should not love our parents or daughter. What He meant is that
the order of our love should be adjusted------we should let Him have the first
place in all things (Col. 1:18). For example: when parents who are unbelievers
use the renunciation of parenthood to threaten us to give up faith, if we give
way in this, we do love father or mother
more than the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Those who leave all things and only love the
Lord are worthy of the Lord.
2) Those who give the priority to their parents and
then the Lord are not worthy of the Lord.
3) Only those who love the Lord more than “these”
are worthy to work for the Lord to feed His lambs (John. 21:15).
4) The Lord asks us to give everything to Him. The
Lord asks us to love Him completely instead of partially.
5) When someone loves the Lord so much that even
hurts himself, he will receive the true joy. If someone has not received the
joy, he has not hurt himself for loving the Lord.
6) Men are so close to each other that they could
not feel the preciousness of drawing near to God. Too much satisfaction from
men may eclipse the preciousness of the Lord.
7) The Lord is qualified to be loved and served by
men completely and unconditionally. If we think that He is unworthy of this, He
will assuredly hold that we are unworthy of Him because we were unworthy to
receive the salvation.
8) Earthly feelings should be dealt with and then
one could have normal relation with the Lord.
Matt. 10:38 “And he who does not take
his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”
YLT: “and whoever doth
not receive his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.”
Literal Meaning: the cross is the
peak of the unreasonable treatments and pain added by the world to the Lord.
Therefore to believers, taking his cross and following the Lord symbolize
various kinds of tribulations, humiliations and sacrifice suffered for the
Lord.
When believers adjust their relations
with their family members according to the principle in v.37, our natural
feelings will be uncomfortable and our souls (self) will be hurt. It is taking
one’s cross. Taking one’s cross means denying oneself (Matt. 16:24). A disciple
of the Lord has to take his cross and follow after Him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) In order to love the Lord more than parents and
children one has to deny himself (v.37). However if one wants to deny himself,
he has to take up his cross.
2) Those who are unwilling to take up their own
crosses are not willing to deny themselves and want to save their lives firmly.
This kind of people are not worthy of the Lord.
3) When He was in
4) Those who put themselves aside, only obey God’s
will and love Him at any price are worthy of the Lord.
Matt. 10:39 “He who finds his life
will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
YLT: “`He who found his
life shall lose it, and he who lost his life for my sake shall find it.”
Literal Meaning: “he who finds his
life will lose it.” It means that if one walks according to his won will and
let his soul have enjoyments in this age, he will lose the enjoyment of soul in
the coming age.
“He who loses his life for My sake will
find it.” It means that if one prefers to let his soul suffer loses in this
life for the Lord’s sake, he will obtain soul’s enjoyment in the coming age.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The significance of cross is that it makes men’s
souls------thoughts, feelings and wills suffer losses. Anything that does not
hurt one’s soul could not be accounted as the experience of the cross.
2) Though the cross let us loss soul’s enjoyment
today, it will make us enjoy the joy and fullness in the eternal age.
3) If there is no tribulation, there will not be
joy. Nothing in the world except tribulation could work joy.
4) Anyone who is willing to be dealt with by the
cross and do not seek for his own satisfaction will receive heavenly abundance
because his heart is full of the Lord Himself.
Matt. 10:40 “‘He
who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”
YLT: “`He who is
receiving you doth receive me, and he who is receiving me doth receive Him who
sent me,”
Literal Meaning: when believers truly
take their cross and deny themselves, the Lord will have place in them and they
will truly be united to the Lord. Under this condition, the Lord holds that if
someone receives them is to receive Him.
Spiritual Meaning: men’s “receiving”
someone means to be united to him or communicate with him.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) One has to take his cross at first (v.38) and
then he will be received by men. Many people put the incidental before the
fundamental and. They haven’t taken their cross and want to be received as the
Lord by men.
2) When we stand on the position of taking one’s
cross, the Lord will hold that he who receives us receives Him.
3) The reward for those who follow the Lord is also
for those who receive the Lord’s followers.
Matt. 10:41 “He who receives a prophet
in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives
a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's
reward.”
YLT: “he who is receiving
a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he
who is receiving a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive
a righteous man’s reward,”
Literal Meaning: “a prophet’s
reward.” “A prophet” is the one who speaks for God. Therefore his reward is
God’s words and he is full of God’s words.
“A righteous man’s reward” “A righteous”
is the one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness and therefore his reward
is the obtainment of “God’s righteousness”.
Spiritual Meaning: “receives a prophet”
is to receive the words of a prophet and to be united to the words.
“Receives a righteous” is to receive the
righteousness of a righteous and to be united to the righteousness.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Do not forget to treat others well and those who
treat others well will be treated well by others.
2) Those who receive the Lord’s workers will gain
reward with them together in future. Therefore we should learn to honor and
receive them.
3) Only when we thirst for God’s words and
righteousness from our hearts could we receive the prophets and righteous men
willingly and then obtain their reward.
Matt. 10:42 “And whoever gives one of
these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple,
assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.’”
YLT: “and whoever may
give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name
of a disciple, verily I say to you, he may not lose his reward.`”
Literal Meaning: even a little good
treatment to the Lord’s workers will be remembered by the Lord. On one hand, it
shows the unification of the Lord and His workers. On the other it shows that
as long as we set everything for the Lord, we will be rewarded.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God is not unrighteous and He won’t forget the
work we have done. God is righteous and He has to punish sinners for their evil
and reward saints for their righteousness.
2) What the Lord values is not the greatness or the
quantity of men’s workers. As long as a man works in the name of a disciple
(the one who is related to the Lord), he partakes in the heavenly rewards.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Establishment of
King’s Workers
II. The calling of workers (v.1)
III. The nature of workers (v.2-4)
Rules of King’s
Workers
I. Workers’ way (v.5-8)
II. Workers’ attitude (v.8-15)
Life, Manner and
Deeds of King’s Workers
II. They do not fear men (v.26-28)
III. They endure to the end (v.22)
IV. They abandon everything (v.39)
V. They bear witness to the Lord with their
lives (v.18, 39)
Spirit of King’s
Workers
I. The spirit of wisdom (v.16)
II. The spirit of dependence (v.17-20)
III. The spirit of endurance (v.21-23)
IV. The spirit of braveness (v.24-33)
V. The spirit of sacrifice (v.34-39)
Difficult Positions
of King’s Workers
II. Be delivered up to the power of religion
and politics (v.17-18)
III. Be hated by the masses and even by
family members (v.21-22a)
The Way to Deal with
Difficult Positions of King’s Workers
II. Speak by the Spirit (v.19-20)
III. Endure to the end (v.22b)
IV. Flee (v.23)
V. Do not fear men, speak in the light and
preach on the housetops (v.26-27)
The Reasons Why
King’s Workers are not Afraid of being Persecuted
I. The Lord Himself was persecuted (v.24-25)
II. If they hide themselves because of fear,
others will still know sooner or later (v.26)
III. The persecutor at most kills the body
but cannot kill the soul (v.28)
IV. Everything is under the hand of our Lord
who treasures us (v.29-31)
V. They will be praised by the Lord in
future (v.32)
VI. If they deny the Lord because of fear,
they will be denied by the Lord in future (v.33)
The Relation between
Workers and the Lord on Earth
I. The relation between workers and the Lord
surpasses the relation between workers and their family members (v.34-39).
II. Workers represent the Lord Himself on
earth (v.40-42).
The Lord’s
prophesies and teachings about three periods of times
II. Tribulations apostles may suffer were
from the day the Lord was crucified on the cross to the time the city of
III. The tribulations of God’s children will
suffer are from A.D. 70 to the day of His second coming (v.24-42).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren