The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 10 Part 4 Boldly Preach The Gospel

Jesus our Master suffered and His disciples shall also suffer because we are not above our Lord.

Matthew 10:24-25  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25)  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 

Jesus taught His disciples truths they needed to know as He sent them forth to preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.

He wanted them to depend upon God to supply their needs for food and shelter in each town that they traveled to.

He wanted the disciples to use discernment in choosing what home to stay in by staying with godly families.

Jesus prepared the disciples for verbal abuse and opposition to preaching the gospel of the kingdom.

By "the master of the household" Jesus refers to Himself, for He is master of heaven and in earth.

Christ is called is a son over his own house, the high priest over the house of God, the Lord and King of all the household of faith. 

It is Christ Jesus who takes care of, provides for, and protects all that are of God's household. 

Yet, the religious Jews called Jesus "Beelzebub" which was a vile name for a pagan god.

"Beelzebub" is another name the Jews applied to Satan and it literally means the god of flies, the name of the chief of the devils, whom they connected Christ with.

“Beelzebub” was a god of the Ekronites (See 2 Kings 1:2). 

This idol was supposed to protect them from numerous swarms of flies that abounded in that place.

Aramaic was a language widely spoken and used by Jesus. 

There are many examples of Jesus using Aramaic words in the gospel accounts (See Matthew 5:22; 6:24; 27:33; 27:46; Mark 5:41; 7:11; 7:34; 14:36; 5:34). 

The Aramean form of Beelzebub means the god of dung or filth.

Thus, religious Jews hurled a vile and despicable attack upon the pure, holy character of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus warned His disciples then and warns us now, that we can expect similar treatment when we live in accord with the gospel and seek to be His faithful witnesses.

Never fear to serve God and be Christ's witness because He is always with us.

Matthew 10:26  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 

Isaiah 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Jesus connected His commands to disciples with the promises of God given to Old Testament prophets. 

Jehovah consistently promised that He would never leave nor forsake His people.

Those who love God should not be overcome with fear nor should they be in dismay because the enemy seems to be triumphing.

God will supply the strength we need to preach the gospel, confront sin and live a holy life that honors Him.

Jesus said be not afraid of men, and of their reproaches or words of reviling.

Jesus said that their evil speeches and vile conduct would do them no more hurt, than they did Him. 

In time, God will wipe all of that away and bring all things to the pure light of His truth. 

Replace the fear of what man may do to us with trust in Almighty God's protection. 

Proverbs 29:25  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. 

Then the evil hearts and vile plots of wicked men will be exposed by the light of the gospel.

Pharisees and scribes will have their religious hypocrisy exposed for the sham that it is.

The glory of God will highlight the integrity of Christ and his disciples as a testimony against sinners.

Those who fully trust the LORD shall be safe through it all.

Psalm 56:4  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Psalm 118:6  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

The gospel of Christ is also the Word of God that teaches mankind about sin, death, hell and eternal condemnation.

The gospel also points sinners to Jesus Christ the savior who took away the sins of the world so that all who hear the gospel might repent and believe and be saved.

Thus, the Psalmist praises God for His wonderful, comforting Word and declares that he will not fear what man might do to him because of living for God's glory.

Again, the Psalmist declares the truth that Jehovah is on his side and is his mighty helper.

Therefore, he need not fear what sinful men might do to him. 

Preach the gospel of light publicly so that men may hear and respond with faith or unbelief.

Matthew 10:27  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 

Jesus taught using parables that many in the multitude did not understand because their hearts were far from God (See Isaiah 6:9-10).

What did Jesus mean when He said to speak the gospel in light?

Evil men do evil works under cover of darkness but those who live for God's glory and who seek to share the gospel, do so in the light.

Speaking in the light pictures preaching and sharing the gospel publicly, in the open, not being ashamed of the gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation (See Romans 1:16-17).

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

It also means clearly proclaiming that repentant faith in Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation because He is the Light of the world.

Those who follow Christ walk in the light with Him because God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all (See 1 John 1:5-7).

Those who share the gospel shine the light of truth into a world darkened by the Devil's lies.

God's Word floods the soul of a repentant sinner with holy light (See Psalm 119:130).

God's Word is a light that shows us spiritual snares in front of us so that we do not fall into sin or error.

God's Word is a powerful beam of light that shows us the direction and path that God want's His children to walk on.

Jesus taught parables to those whose eyes were blinded but He explained them to His disciples.

John 12:35-40  Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36)  While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. 37)  But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38)  That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39)  Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40)  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 

As Jesus preached the gospel everywhere that He traveled, He reminded His hearers that they must hear and heed light from God's Word.

Yet, the Jewish people and religious leaders remained in unbelief in spite of seeing mighty miracles and wonders of Jesus and in spite of hearing Him preach with power and authority.  

Jesus linked their unbelief to Isaiah's prophecies because their hearts were hardened and their eyes blinded to the gospel.

Why? Because they refused to believe the gospel.

God wanted them to be saved but they refused to hear and heed God's call to repent and trust Christ for salvation.

Therefore Jesus used parables that the crowd did not grasp because of unbelief but He always expounded the truth contained in each parable to His disciples (See Matthew 13:10-17).

Thus, teaching in parables and in private conversation with His disciples, Jesus gave them the light of His gospel to shine forth into a sin darkened world.

Jesus essentially said to His disciples that "whatever I speak to you is for the benefit of mankind.  Hold nothing back from them and declare the whole counsel of God."

Deuteronomy 22:8  When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence. 

Preaching on a housetop is mentioned because many homes were flat-roofed, with a short wall around it, used for the purpose of refreshment, prayer or meditation.

God's law required a "battlement" or short wall to be added onto the perimeter of a flat roofed home for safety purposes. 

Acts 10:9  On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 

A housetop was often used to announce to their community things like the birth of a child or a marriage celebration.

In the book of Acts, Peter climbed up to the flat roof of his host's home to pray when God sent him a vision about taking the gospel to Gentiles.

Thus, preaching, teaching and sharing the gospel is pictured as using a public venue to tell people the good news.

It is part of letting our light shine so that people are drawn to Christ, and it is part of being salt that slows the spread of sin in society. 

Jesus gave a picture of spreading the good news of salvation as publicly and widely as possible. 

2 Corinthians 4:3-6  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5)  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6)  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus spoke to us through His apostles (See John 16:12-16).

He spoke through Paul to tell us that the gospel is hid because Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers with lies.

One major lie is promoting evolution and dismissing creation by God. 

Thus, the universe exists from random processes instead of God's orderliness in creating and sustaining all things.

This lie results in people adopting in a fatalistic view of life instead of finding the purpose and meaning as God intends. 

Those who believe the gospel find that its glorious light shines brightly into their souls bringing new life in Christ and teaching us how to walk in newness of life. 

What has Jesus taught us?

First, we must do as He commands us to do and be involved in Great Commission work (See Matthew 28:18-20).

Second, we must publicly proclaim the gospel so that sinners have the opportunity to hear, repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Third, we must be Christ's faithful witnesses and go forth in His power and strength that He promised to supply.

Let us shine gospel light into the places where God has placed us.

Let us determine to live our lives in accord with the gospel of Christ.

Let us seek to do all things for His glory and be thankful for our salvation.

Bob