The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 10 Part 7 Love God Then Take Up Your Cross

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Jesus instructed His disciples and by extension, all Christians today, not to fear what man may do to us.

We are not to fear our evil adversary, the Devil because Christ defeated Satan at Calvary with His resurrection.

We are not to fear when we face opposition, resistance or hostility toward the gospel when we share it with others. 

Instead, we are to trust our Father in heaven and do His will on earth in our individual lives. 

The gospel of Christ will naturally create divisions when sinners are converted to Christ.

Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 

Jesus then gave a remarkable declaration about His mission of bringing salvation to all who will believe and eternal condemnation upon all unbelievers.

Christ did not say that the object of His coming was to produce discord and contention, because He is the Prince of Peace (See Isaiah 9:6;11:6; Luke2:14). 

Rather, Jesus taught that discord and division would be the impact of His coming. 

The sword is an instrument of death, so to send a sword is the same as producing hostility and war among people.

One part of a family that was opposed to Christ would set themselves in array against those who believed in Him. 

It is the internal wickedness of men that causes such hostility, not the beautiful gospel of Christ.

The gospel creates divisions between a believer in Christ and those who do not yet believe.

Matthew 10:35-36 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 

The word "variance" means to cut into two parts, or to cleave asunder. 

Jesus used this phrase to explain what He meant by sending a sword. 

Those who respond with repentance for sin and faith in Christ shall be divided or separated from their former relationships.

Micah 7:5-7 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. 6) For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. 7) Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. 

Jesus' words are quotation from the prophet Micah.

Micah warned the people of God not to trust their friends because a friend can be two faced, speaking well in your presence, while plotting to betray you.

In like manner, a wife may betray her husband or the husband betray his wife.

Children will rebel against parents and a man's enemies will be found in his own home.

Such is the impact of the gospel when a parent or child or spouse is born again, and a division is created that can only be rectified by the other person's salvation.

Your trust must be put in the LORD and we must trust Him to do the work in the hearts of those whom we love, to save them and heal the division.

Within the home, a saved family member will find himself at odds with those who are unsaved. 

A division will occur because the entrance of God's Word into a sinner's heart brings light along with a new spirit and a new heart.

Salvation brings a new way of living and often, those whom we are close with do not understand the internal change effected by the power of the gospel of Christ. 

Paul says our old way of life, our old sinful habits and our old circle of friends will pass away as God makes our life brand new (See 2 Corinthians 5:17).

This is why Jesus said that a son will come into conflict with his father and a daughter will be in conflict with her mother. 

Christians are called out of sin's darkness and into the marvelous light of the gospel.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 

Those who are born again receive the righteousness of Christ and are not to be connected with unrighteous sinners and their vile activities. 

Light is the opposite of darkness, and the temple of God has no connection or affiliation with idolatrous people.

Therefore, God calls us to come out from a depraved and corrupt culture and walk with Him in newness of life. 

When a sinner repents of his or her sin and turns to Jesus Christ for salvation, that person's life is radically changed at their core.

They are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and receive a new heart, new spirit and a new way of living.

Of course, this will create conflict in a home or workplace or neighborhood because those around us will not understand why we live differently than we did before. 

Saved members of a family must maintain a godly testimony in their home. 

1 Peter 3:1-2 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2) While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

A Christian wife must determine to live a godly life and be a faithful, loving witness to her unsaved husband, because God can use her testimony to lead him to Christ. 

This is exactly what God did in my life.

He used my wife's sweet, consistent testimony to keep pricking my heart because of my rebellion against God.

Ultimately, He led me to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

What about a child who hears the gospel and is born again, but his parents remain unsaved?

The role God has for a child to learn is to obey and honor his parents, whether they are born again or not.

Therefore, a saved child can obey and honor his or her parents and God can use this child's testimony to lead the parents to Christ. 

Loving Jesus Christ must become our highest priority in life. 

Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

The phrase "He that loveth father or mother more than me" is not designed to lessen the due affection of children to their parents. 

God's plan for the family is that children always honor and obey their parents as long as doing so does not conflict with the commandments of God.

Thus, it is the duty of children, to love, honor, and obey parents who brought them into the world. 

God gave parents the duty to train up their children in the right ways of God. 

The meaning of this passage is clear. 

Jesus Christ must be loved supremely, or He is not loved at all. 

Mark 12:29-31  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30)  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31)  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 

If we are not willing to give up all earthly possessions, and forsake all earthly friends, and if we do not obey Christ over all others, then we have no true attachment to him.

When asked what the greatest or most important command was, Jesus gave this answer.

Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and then love our neighbors as ourselves.

This is what Jesus meant when He said that we must love Him more than we love our spouse, our parents or our children. 

Psalm 2:11-12 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12) Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. 

In telling us how a Psalm 1 man must live in a Psalm 2 world, we learn that we must fear, love and serve God with all of our being.

God tells us kiss or reverence His son because blessing attends all who put their trust in Him but trouble comes to those who reject Him.

We must take up our cross and follow Jesus Christ no matter how people treat us. 

Matthew 10:38-39 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 

When people were condemned to be crucified, a part of the sentence was that they should carry their cross  to the place of execution. 

Thus, Christ carried his, until He fainted from fatigue and exhaustion. 

To carry a cross was burdensome, disgraceful, and added public shame to the punishment. 

Thus, “to carry the cross” is a figurative expression, meaning that we must endure whatever burden or disgrace we receive for following Christ. 

Carrying our cross is simply in doing our duty whether people commend us or reproach us. 

We simply do what is required of us in the Scriptures, enduring whatever shame, disgrace, or pain it may cause us. 

The words "He that findeth his life" finds the word “life” used evidently in two senses referring to temporal life and eternal life. 

First, it means he that is anxious to save his temporal life, to keep his comfort and security here, shall lose his eternal life and not see heaven. 

Second, he that is willing to risk or lose his comfort and life here for Christ's sake, shall find life everlasting and eternal rest in heaven.

Those who are willing to forego the present blessings of life, in order to suffer reproach and persecution for the sake of the gospel are those who find eternal life. 

Such a person will not deny, conceal, or reject any truth and ordinance of Christ and he (or she) shall find eternal life.

Thus, Jesus taught us that when we are born again we can expect to encounter some kind of division within our home, within our families or neighborhoods or communities. 

Christians are called to walk in the light with God who is light.

We are called to walk as children of light. 

We are called to walk in newness of life.

We are called to follow Jesus Christ with all of our being and to love Him above all others.

We are called to take up our cross and to suffer for the cause of Christ.

At the same time, we must also faithfully live out the gospel in our homes, places of work, neighborhoods and communities. 

Thus, born again children must still honor and obey and love their parents even if their parents seem against them.

A believing wife must still love and care for her unbelieving husband even if he resists the gospel, for God can use her witness to lead him to salvation. 

May we praise our God for telling us these important truths about our walk with the Lord.

May we be faithful and obedient people who love and serve God no matter what the cost is.

May each Christian reading this lesson renew his or her commitment to live for the glory of God.

Bob