Matthew part 16

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Before we take a look at the last part of chapter 10, let’s take a quick review of the first part of Jesus’ message to the disciples before they are sent. First, Matthew gives the list of the 12 grouping them in pairs which points to the strong possibility Jesus sent them out in pairs. Then, Jesus tells them to go into the various towns proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. They are to do all the things that Jesus has been doing—heal the sick, cast out demons, and even raise the dead. The very miracles Jesus accomplished, they are to do the same. He is multiplying his ministry on earth through the disciples.

He then begins a warning to the disciples to be ready for persecution. There will be some who are “persons of peace” who will aid the disciples. They will see some success in their ministry, but they will also face hardships. In fact, starting in verse 16, Jesus unfolds the many hardships they will face, even after the Resurrection, and we saw in history how all the disciples would die a martyr’s death except Judas and John. But even during these difficult times, they can rest in the promise that God will see them through it, and the Holy Spirit will give them the words to say at the time.

Last week was very much a “bad news” type of passage, but with certainly a ray of hope. This week is something of a “good news” balance, but we cannot dismiss the seriousness of this passage. Jesus is giving us some hard truths here. They are certainly wonderful promises—reward for a life of labor, the Father’s presence in the believer’s life, and the value God places on us. And yet, Jesus reminds us the responsibility that accompanies the disciple of Jesus.

The Promise to the Disciples | Matthew 10:26-33

“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. 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.

Matthew 10:26-33

This passage contains a series of statements that are helpful to unpack one at a time.

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”

The “them” here refers to the courts and persecutors mentioned in the previous section. Jesus reminds us to have no fear when we face our persecutors. One reason to not be afraid is because their actions will come to the light. Sometimes we may wonder if God sees the troubles falling on us. Or we may wonder how a world that promises peace and justice can practice so much injustice. It reminds me of the proclamations of ‘tolerance’ that pervade the media landscape that so typically is intolerant of all things religious—especially Christianity. How is it no one seems to see the hypocrisy? Or how many times do we hear about a victim unable to get justice because their perpetrators are able to avoid justice?

God promises no injustice will remain hidden forever.

The next statement is related, but with a different thrust. “What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

When we go into our prayer closets and listen for the still, small voice of God, what we hear is not supposed to stay in the prayer closet. The message that God gives us, the little teaching, or peaceful assurance, is supposed to be shared with others. In fact, Jesus says to shout it from the rooftops. As God unveils injustice and brings the truth to light, we are to join by speaking truth into the darkness around us.

Part of joining God’s mission is to speak the Truth in this world of darkness.

Then Jesus says,

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.

There is no need to fear someone who can only hurt our bodies. When we are kingdom-minded, we have eternity in our sights. This life is just a mist compared to eternity. We should be far more concerned about the status of our soul. And, if we know we are in God’s hands, then we have no need to fear some human. We are far more valuable than sparrows, and yet, God even knows when just one of them falls.

Consider how Jesus says the hairs on our heads are numbered. This statement does not just mean God knows the total number of hairs on our head. God knows that if one is plucked out, he can tell you the serial number of that one.

Fear of sharing our faith subsides when we realize who our faith is in.

Whenever we find ourselves in a situation where we can share our faith, it can be easy to get distracted by whatever trouble is associated with it. But when we focus our minds and attention on the big God we serve, those troubles just don’t seem that big of a deal anymore. One of my favorite hymns says,

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Jesus then gives a warning.

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.

Now, we know Peter (and other disciples) denied Jesus at just the wrong time, but Peter was later restored. So, we should not be too dogmatic or judgmental in our interpretation of what Jesus is saying. At the same time, the meaning is quite clear. If we are willing to acknowledge (meaning confess or testify our allegiance to him) Jesus before others, he will acknowledge us before the Father. If the worst-case scenario does occur when we testify our faith in Christ, and we find ourselves facing the Ultimate Judge, then Jesus will be right there saying, “This one is mine!”

But, we are unwilling or choose to deny our faith, then Jesus says he will deny us. It sounds harsh. Doesn’t Jesus know we are afraid? Doesn’t Jesus know it is difficult? Doesn’t he realize we feel unequipped? Yes! He knows all these things! The question is not about our circumstance—it is about our faith. If our heart is not truly devoted to Jesus, then it will be devoted to something else, and when trouble comes, we will find ourselves aligned with our true devotion. Jesus is not saying he will have petty, hurt feelings if we do not acknowledge him. He is saying if we are unwilling to face the fire in His Name, then our heart doesn’t really belong to him in the first place.

If we are unwilling to share our faith, then how much faith do we really have?

Partitions and Vindications | Matthew 10:34-42

“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.

“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.”

Matthew 10:34-42

This last bit reiterates the points already made in the chapter, but it also reminds us of the partitions and vindications promised to us at the End of the Age. First, I say ‘partitions’ because the old familial and political connections go by the wayside in light of Christ. Humanity is no longer divided by our own categories. They are simply those who are in Christ and those who are not. That is why Jesus says he came to bring a sword and “set a man against his father” or why “a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” It is not that Jesus necessarily wants to break up families, it is that families will have those who follow Christ and those who do not.

It is a hard truth to accept sometimes, but the fact is, those who are in Christ are united together breaking apart all human categories. Unfortunately, that also means the last barrier to exist between humanity is the only one that really matters. And it is the one that supersedes all others. It is the barrier that exists between the one who is in Christ and the one is not.

The only true division among humanity is the one between those who follow Christ and those who don’t.

As Jesus draws this teaching to a close, he reminds us the truth taught in the Sermon on the Mount. If we cling to this life, we will find ourselves destroyed by the very same corruption that has ruined this world. But if we are willing to lose this life for the sake of Christ, we will find true life.

There is a quote from Gandhi plastered to school walls I see periodically. He says, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” With all due respect to an otherwise great man, he is not quite right. He has left out the only One who can give life.

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of the Lord.

It is God who made you. It is God who saves you. It is God who can direct you. And it is God who can reveal the best you there can be. And that happens when we devote ourselves to Him.

Last, Jesus tells us that whether we are in the company of prophets, righteous ones, or just offering water to thirsty children, if we are serving in the Name of the Lord, we will not lose our reward. The life that God develops in and through us will come to fulfillment and maturity if we are willing to serve in the Name of the Lord.

Today, God is calling us to remember the One we serve.

There is no need to fear in serving the Lord. We serve the One who has power over body and soul. There is no need to lament the injustice of this world. We serve the One who will bring all things to the light.

There is no need to find ourselves before we serve the Lord. He will show us who we truly are as we walk with Him.

Wherever you find yourself in relation to Jesus…

whether still wondering if he is worth following (He is),

whether concerned about the growing distaste this world has for Christians,

whether nervous about sharing your faith,

Or if you wonder if you might be nearing the end of your service on this earth,

Remember that wonderful chorus penned by Helen Lemmel way back in 1922.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.