Bible Study series: Matthew 10:16-25. Get ready. You will be misunderstood and even persecuted when you preach the gospel in a hostile religious environment.
A warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn, so let’s learn together. I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Matthew 10:16-25
16 “Watch out! I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore, be prudent as serpents and pure as doves. 17 Be on your guard against people, for they shall betray you to their councils, and in their synagogues they shall flog you. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings because of my name, for a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19 When they betray you, do not be anxious how and what you might speak, for it will be given you at that moment what should you should speak, 20 for you are not the ones speaking; instead the Spirit of your Father is the one speaking in you.
21 Brother will betray brother to death and a father a son, and children will rise in rebellion against parents and put them to death. 22 Moreover, you will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end—this one will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in this town, flee to another. For I tell you the truth: you will not complete the towns of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
24 A disciple is not above the teacher, nor is the servant above his master. 25 It is sufficient for the disciple to be like his teacher and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the household Beelzebul, even more so his household members!” (Matt. 10:16-25)
Comments:
16:
“Watch out!”: this is an updated translation of the older “behold!” It means “pay attention” or “look!” or “keep your eyes peeled!”
In v. 6 Jesus called the house of Israel lost sheep; now he is sending his disciples out like sheep, and they shall walk among wolves. The wolf imagery refers to the Pharisees and teachers of the law (Matt. 7:15; 3:7-8; 12:24, 33).
Therefore, his disciples should be “wise” or “prudent” or “shrewd” or “sensible” or “thoughtful” as serpents. It more fully means: “sensible, thoughtful, prudent, wise.” It appears in the context of Matt. 24:45-51, in the Parable of the Faithful and Unfaithful Servant. A wise and prudent manager of God’s household or portion of his kingdom can figure things out by the Spirit. He knows how to plan and surrender his plan to God. He is in constant communication with God through prayer. God gives him heavenly wisdom to apply God’s kingdom principles to everyday life. It is God-given know-how. It may even include shrewdness (Luke 16:8). He is smart or wise enough to run a household faithfully and with business savvy. Likewise, disciples out on mission must be as wise as the faithful servant, with business savvy and know how. He can size up a situation and not be gullible. He can spot wolves.
The comparison with a serpent probably comes from Genesis 2-3; serpents were believed to be crafty. No, Jesus is not urging his followers to be like Satan! Instead, a proper interpretation just strips away the negative connotation of the serpent and looks at its craftiness. Be “kingdom-crafty.” Don’t do foolish things. Be wise. Once again, Jesus uses a startling image to wake up this listeners.
Doves were believed to be “innocent” or “pure” or “guileless.” The Greek word here is literally “unmixed.” We are never to lose our focus as we watch out for and be on our guard against people; we are never to get distracted or impure when we go out into the world system. People will betray us, so watch out!
17:
Jesus then broadens the warning to include people in general. The Greek word for “people,” often translated as “men” in the more conservative translations, is generic enough in this context to include men and women who are on the verge of betraying Jesus’s missionary followers.
This is especially true in Islamic cultures. If a Muslim girl converts to Christianity, she may be “honor-killed.” Therefore, she should guard herself against unwise decisions, like telling her father she left Islam and converted to Christianity. In fact, if she is old enough, she may have to flee to another town or even another country (v. 23). Or she should keep quiet about her conversion, until it is safe enough to tell her family and friends or never at all while the men are nearby.
The prediction of flogging before the councils and in their synagogues is unhappy, but the prediction has to be made.
2 If the guilty person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make them lie down and have them flogged in his presence with the number of lashes the crime deserves, 3 but the judge must not impose more than forty lashes. If the guilty party is flogged more than that, your fellow Israelite will be degraded in your eyes. (Deut. 25:2-3, NIV)
Here this is the flogging prescribed in those verse, not the scouring Jesus suffered Matt. 217:26) (Osborne, comment on 10:17).
It is interesting that he says their synagogues. Why does Matthew keep saying “their synagogue or their city or their teachers of the law (see 4:23; 7:29; 8:34; 9:35; 12:9; 13:54; 22:7; 22:16)? My opinion: his community has moved well past Judaism and must distinguish between the newly formed Christian community and the Jewish community.
18:
In v. 18 Jesus shifts his focus away from the Jews and over to the Gentiles. He himself was betrayed to Pilate and Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. In the last one-quarter of the book of Acts Paul appears before the magistrates, both Gentile and Jewish, so we can have no doubt that other traveling Christians had this happen to them, too. The imprisoned disciples are supposed to offer their testimony to them, not against them. They are called to be witnesses for the gospel. This is part of the mission to Gentiles (Osborne, comment on v. 18).
See Paul’s reflection on his own suffering:
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. (Phil. 1:12-14, NIV)
Here is what happened to the twelve apostles, when they were brought before the Sanhedrin (the highest council and court in Israel):
They [Sanhedrin] called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 5:40-42, NIV)
19-20:
Now we have Spirit-filled prophecy, promised to all believers. The Spirit of the Father will speak in the ones who are standing before the councils and the rulers and the kings. So the persecuted don’t need to be anxious about these things. They don’t need to rehearse their speeches. However, if during the night before the trial, the Spirit gives them a dream or a word of wisdom, I trust they will tuck it away in their mind.
“will be given”: this is the divine passive, which means the passive voice in the Greek verb indicates that God is the one giving the content. This does not mean no preparation at all, but one must depend on God. OT parallels: Exod. 4:12 (Moses); Ps. 119:41-46 (when taunted, even by kings); Is. 50:4 (the Servant); Jer. 1:9 (Jeremiah). Those who are persecuted for the gospel can expect the same help.
I really like how the Father is overseeing the troubles of his Son’s followers. He sends his Spirit in their hearts. And he will speak “in them,” which is how the Greek reads, though some translations have “through them.”
Here are some of my posts on a more formal doctrine of the Spirit (systematic theology):
The Spirit’s Deity and Divine Attributes
The Spirit in the Life of Christ
21:
This verse predicts family division because of the name of Jesus. This comes in a Jewish context. Many Jews today are converting to their true Messiah, and they suffer persecution and family division. It is imperative to choose Jesus over family, if the choice has to be made, because in the OT family is important in normal circumstances (Exod. 20:12; 21:17; Lev. 20:9; Deut. 5:16). However, if the family, particularly the father, resists or opposes your conversion to Jesus, then choose the Messiah and Lord.
“name”: Let’s explore this word more generically, to get an idea how it applies here. This noun stands in for the person—a living, real person. You carry your earthly father’s name. If he is dysfunctional, his name is a disadvantage. If he is functional and impacting society for the better, then his name is an advantage. The Father has the highest status in the universe, before and above the entire universe, which he created. His character is perfection itself. Now down here on earth you walk and live as an ambassador in his name, in his stead, for he is no longer living on earth through his Son, so you have to represent him down here. We are his ambassadors who stand in for his name (2 Cor. 5:20). The good news is that he did not leave you without power and authority. He gave you the power and authority of his Son Jesus. Now you represent him in his name—his person, power and authority. Therefore under his authority we have his full authority to preach the gospel and set people free from bondages and satanic spirits and heal them of diseases.
I recall sad stories coming out of the communist dominated countries back in the 1970s and 1980s that Christians were betrayed to the state. Some of the Christians were put to death. We were aware of this, and we prayed for them. Some intrepid Westerners went in there and gave them Bibles and hope, anyway.
22:
“end”: this is the Greek noun telos (pronounced teh-loss), and it is used six times in Matthew’s Gospel: here; 17:25, where it means “duty tax” and 26:58, where it means
Peter followed Jesus from a distance to see the outcome of the events. In the prophecy about the end times (24:6, 13, 14) This promise is hard, but necessary. If we endure to the end, we shall be saved. Here the end probably refers to the trials of persecution that last throughout the disciples’ ministry. Or it could mean the time when the Son of Man appears, but this refers to the end of the temple, which coincides perfectly with its use in 24:6, 13, 14 (see v. 23, next). In fact, 24:13 closely resembling v. 22, is also about the end of the temple, just like the next verse here in this chapter.
“As in 5:10–12, disciples are hated and rejected for their allegiance to Christ. Christians will be greatly tempted to apostatize, but perseverance will bring eternal life (v. 22b)” (Blomberg, comment on 10:21-23).
Possible Apostasy or Eternal Security?
Remaining a Christian or Falling Away?
“saved”:
What Is the Work of Salvation?
“I tell you the truth”: see v. 15 for more comments.
23:
This is wise counsel. Run! Flee! No one needs to relish persecution, as some Christians seem to do, according to the accounts I have read both current stories and ancient ones.
What does it mean that the disciples won’t complete their task of going through all the towns in Israel before the Son of Man comes? The best solution is related to Matt. 26:64 (and 24:30; 25:31 and 28:18), where Jesus proclaims before Caiaphas the high priest and the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish Court and Council in Judaism, that from now on they will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven. This confession refers to the Son of Man in Dan. 7:13-14, when he comes in clouds of heaven:
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Dan. 7:13-14, NIV, emphasis added)
The Ancient of Days is God. Jesus was about to ascend and be enthroned on high, sitting next to God. So his coming here in v. 23 refers to his ascension and enthronement. It is simply a fact that the disciples did not complete their task of going through the towns of Israel before this “coming” happened. Jesus was granted authority over heaven and earth (28:18), before the disciples completed their mission. This makes the most sense of v. 23 in light of Dan. 7:13-14.
France and Carson interpret v. 23 in this way, though Carson expands the coming to mean the partial coming of the kingdom, which is a dynamic concept, and not just to the Son of Man’s vindication fall of Jerusalem. Therefore, both the ascension and enthronement—and the coming kingdom are in view here. (See 12:28, which says that if Jesus expels demons by the Spirit of God, the kingdom has come upon the people of his generation.) And no, v. 23 does not refer to the grand and wondrous Second Coming when the whole earth will be overtaken by his glorious appearing.
See my commentaries on Matt. 24 and 25 for how the coming-in-judgment on the temple and the parousia (Second Coming) are distinct.
Matthew 24:4-35 Predicts Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Matthew 24:36 to 25:46–From Second Coming to New Messianic Age
Osborne notes another possible interpretation: Jesus expected a long delay before the end (13:24-33; 18:15-18; 19:28: 21:43; 23:32; 28:19), so the mission to Israel keeps going until the Second Coming (comment on 10:23).
However, I prefer the interpretation that says there was a judgment on Jerusalem and the temple and the inbreaking of the kingdom (as Carson says).
Please see this post for a extended commentary on v. 23.
“You Will Not Complete Towns of Israel until Son of Man Comes”
24-25:
Jesus is about to suffer first what the disciples are about to suffer. He is the teacher and master and master of the household, and if he goes through unjust persecution, then how much more will his followers? If they called him Satanic or Beelzebub, the prince of demons (see 9:34; and then 12:22-30), then his followers can be sure that their opponents will call him this ironical name. Many Muslims believe that Christians are deceived. Irony. In fact, it is Islam that has thrown the wool over people’s eyes and deceived hundreds of millions.
4. Either Jesus or Muhammad: Does Islam Improve on Christianity?
Please read Paul’s list of persecutions and hardships for ideas of how much we may have to go through:
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? (2 Cor. 11:23-29, NIV)
We may not have to go through these things in the free West, but our brothers and sisters are going through such things in communist and Islamic countries.
Should Christians Fight or Flee Persecution?
“disciple”: see v. 1 for more comment.
“servants”: The word servants here is doulos (pronounced doo-loss) and could be translated as slaves, but I chose servants (the Greek is plural douloi, pronounced doo-loi) because in Jewish culture a Hebrew man who sold himself into servitude to his fellow Jew was like an indentured servant whose term of service had a limit; he was freed in the seventh year. But then the indentured servant could stay with his family, if he liked his owner (Exod. 21:2-6; Lev. 25:38-46; Deut. 15:12-18). So there was a lot of liberty even in servitude, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament).
Slavery and Freedom in the Bible
It is a sure thing, however, that Matthew’s Greek-speaking audience, knowledgeable about Greek culture, would have heard “slave” in the word doulos. So if you wish to interpret it like that, then that’s your decision. But culturally at that time slavery had nothing to do with colonial or modern slavery.
“Beelzebul”: “The Greek has ‘Beelzebul,’ which could mean “lord of the dung … but is better “lord of the heights”—in fact a play on words with the “lord of the house” in v. 25a. He was the chief God of Ekron (2 Kgs 1:2) but here is the ‘prince’ of demons,’ Satan (9:34; 12:24), a being who had several other names in Jewish circles –Azazel, Belial, Beliar, the Dragon, Mastema. The leaders are accusing Jesus of gaining control over demons by allying himself with Satan. The disciples should expect as much” (Osborne, comment on 10:25).
Some translations have Beelzebub (“lord of the flies”), an ancient insult to the Canaanite deity.
GrowApp for Matt. 10:16-25
1. In the Western world, we don’t undergo persecution as Christians do in Islamic and communist countries. Can you join organizations or at least get emails from them that expose persecution? How would this help?
RELATED
9. Authoritative Testimony in Matthew’s Gospel
1. Church Fathers and Matthew’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
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