Matthew 10:21-25
The language of this passage is startling and graphic. What makes it so startling is that Jesus talks about the extreme discord that will take place because of the gospel of the kingdom in families. The place where we are supposed to find shelter, love, acceptance will be so affected by the good news message of Jesus that a brother will betray a brother to death and a child will rebel against her parents and have them put to death.
Jesus uses another relationship, that of the teacher-student, to explain why the disciples should not be suprised by such opposition or think it strange when it happens: a student is not above his teacher so if the teacher is treated this way (betrayed to death) than the student should expect no less. If the teacher is hated, the student should expect no less.
This ties directly to what Jesus said in the paragraph just previous: the disciples are being sent out as sheep among wolves. It also ties very closely to his teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake...
I guess the message for me is that I should be more surprised when I am not facing opposition than when I am. If I am not facing opposition, could it be because I am not really living according to the teachings of Jesus?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Good thought, Jesus and opposition go hand in hand, and we have been warned about this. People are going to hate us because they hate Jesus, but we are given the promise that if we stand firm we will be saved, praise God.
Post a Comment