(Notes after the letter)
Hey Ryan. Hey Kat.
Hey Joel. Hey Sergio. Hey Jay.
We're thinking of you. We miss you. We had a good service this week. It was pretty intense. It's been getting pretty intense lately.
When you come back, you may be surprised at the congregation you return to. There were twenty people here this morning. This is with a few weekly regulars missing. It seems like every week we have someone new joining us right now. We're way past capacity. I'll be honest, it feels pretty awesome. We're on arms of chairs and all over the floor.
Joel J hosted today. He had very little sleep, and a lot of coffee, so he was a little bit like Woody Woodpecker as a radio talk show host.
We had vegan sausages and vegan french toast. Yup. The brunch team has really been raising the bar on the food around these parts. It was incredibly good. I kind of like it when my food tricks me. They're a well-oiled machine on cleanup, too. The whole community has been getting good at working together, actually.
We missed our skype date, Kat. You are loved.
Joel read your letter this morning, Ryan. It was very good to hear from you.
Announcements - The Easter Sunday service is going to be special. Stay toon'd.
There is a women's conference at the end of April. Most of the women want to go, and about half the men.
Brandon led communion. He kept it very beautifully simple. Jesus is beautiful, isn't he?
Kate led worship in song. The songs she picked were very Jesus-heavy. My favourite was "How Deep the Father's Love For Us".
We talked as a community for almost forty minutes before my message about the nature of authority and our relationship to it.It got a little hot. The truth is that all of us have emotional memories attached to words like "authority", "rebel", "obedience", and "submission". It was real, and prepared us to engage with what scripture says about these things and submit our feelings to each other.
Then I preached. The message was pretty fun to deliver, as I've been finding all of them fun for a while now.
After the message, we sang the doxology and dismissed. The assignment for next week is to consider and be in contact with someone who is living in obedience to the Kingdom of God, and in disobedience to a kingdom in this world. Or, we could try to contact someone who has been put in prison for righteousness' sake.
People stuck around for a good half hour after we were done. The women left for Remedy to have a small group meeting. I made sandwiches with people that remained. It's quarter after 4pm, and the last person is just leaving now . . .
. . . and at the exact same moment, the ladies are returning through the back door.
Bless you. We love you.
-Shawn
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Mar 27, 2011 – Shawn Birss – LTTX
Matthew part 7 (ch8-10) – The Second Discourse
The Authority of The Kingdom
REVIEW/INTRO
The Sermon on the Mount (ch 5-7)- Describing how YOU as an individual will change as who you are becoming looks more like who you belong to.
5 Extraordinary Citizens of an Extraordinary Kingdom
On the cross, Jesus took on himself all evil, and the punishment for it. On the cross he became the poor, the grieving, the meek, the hungry, the thirsty, the righteous, the merciful, the pure, the peacemaker, and the persecuted. From the cross, he gave every piece of clothing, took every second beating, and walked every second mile when he took the greatest violence ever committed into himself and called out for his Father to forgive. Through faith in him, we can now become the comforted, the filled, be shown mercy, inherit the earth, become citizens the kingdom, see God, and be called his children.
Through faith in him we live as disciples, walking in the image of that same radically forgiving love.
Disciples live changed lives that change lives. Their good works will be seen. And God will be glorified.
Jesus’ interpretation of God’s law challenges all disciples to love unconditionally in every relationship, from their partner, to the bagger at the grocery store, to an oppressive government that would abuse or imprison them. In every case, love means to unconditionally commit to bring that relationship to God’s intended purpose.
6 Hidden Citizens of a Hidden Kingdom
Jesus makes clear that the extraordinary, bright, and world changing life of the disciple will be found in the most ordinary, common, and even hidden of lives.
Our good works are fruits of righteousness, displayed as naturally a result of a disciple’s life as a beating heart which continues its’ essential work quite separately from our conscious thought.
We only seek the approval of our Heavenly Father, not people. We serve God, not earthly treasure. We trust a permanent God, we don’t worry about impermanent things.
7 Citizens Wise and Rare of a Kingdom Living and True
Here Jesus gives us two choices again. Two gates. Two foundations.
He makes it clear that he is the final judge, and the highest authority (vv23,26).
If we judge, we cannot be living the extraordinary life of unconditional love described in chapter five. We commit to bring every relationship to God’s intended purpose - reconciliation and forgiveness.
We are also forbidden to be hucksters of cheap grace, trying to force upon the world a gospel that it does not want.
Finally, Jesus makes the challenging invitation for us to enter the Kingdom through him, and build our lives on obedience to our King, the King over every other king.
Conclusion
Before giving his invitation, Jesus ends his sermon by sharing with us the only power by which we can accomplish it – by faith in his resurrection life living in us through the Holy Spirit. Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened.
The gate to discipleship is as narrow as Jesus. This gate comes first, before the road of discipleship. He is the beginning of the path, and there is no hard path to reach him. It starts with Jesus. It ends with life.
Be encouraged. The gate is the king, the difficulty is temporary, and the benefits are eternal.
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Matthew 8:18-27
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
(Matthew 16:24-27
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.)
In the narrative preceding the Sermon on the Mount (ch1-4), we see Rabbi Jesus calling disciples to come and follow him. In the Sermon on the Mount, he defines and describes their calling as disciples concerning their inner life, their relationship to Jesus, and their place in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Having completed his first sermon in Matthew (7:28 – “When Jesus had finished saying these things…”), Matthew leads us down the mountain and into a new narrative. These next two chapters (chapters 8 and 9)begin immediately to illustrate the foundation for Jesus’ second sermon, the disciple’s first commission (chapter 10).
Jesus ends his first sermon with the ultimate conclusion that he is the only judge, and the final authority. He is the Rabbi that calls, and he is the king of the kingdom that has come and is coming. “the crowds (are) amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who (has) authority…” (7:28,29). Chapters eight and nine see Jesus demonstrating that authority.
Jesus has clearly defined the boundaries of true discipleship. Some from the crowd respond to the invitation and become disciples. Some Pharisees and even members of the Sanhedrin are convicted, repent, and become disciples (ie. Joseph of Arimathea - Matt 27:57-60; Mark 15:43). Even notorious hated sinners and tax collectors may have heard Jesus’ call to truly follow (ie. Zacchaeus - Luke 19:2-10).
Jesus comes down the mountain, and explicitly and dramatically begins to demonstrate his authority for those disciples who have committed to follow.
1. Jesus is King of the Kingdom of Heaven
Jesus is King of kings. Every other kingdom bows to the authority of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Chapter 8 – Jesus’ Authority Demonstrated
Each demonstration teaches us about the nature of Kingdom authority.
1. Jesus has authority over sickness (8:1-17)
He heals three types of marginalized people first – a leper, a gentile, and a woman (possibly a widow). Jesus makes way through all possible barriers to the Kingdom of Heaven.
8:1-4 – Jesus has authority to cure leprosy (uncleanness). Jesus crosses purity boundaries.
8:5-13 – Jesus has authority to command paralysis to go. Jesus crosses ethnic boundaries.
8:14-15 – Jesus has authority to heal with a touch. Jesus crosses gender boundaries.
8:16 – Jesus has authority to heal or cast out demons with a word.
2. Jesus has authority to call disciples, and keep them in their calling (8:18-22)
8:19-20 – The call to discipleship is only by his authority.
8:21-22 – No other authority legal or cultural will hinder Jesus’ authority to call.
3. Jesus has authority over the natural world (8:23-27)
v18 - Jesus commanded them to go across the lake. By his authority, they will make it across. This is why they didn’t need to be afraid in v26. See Acts 27:13-44 for a similar incident with Paul.
8:23-27 – Wind and waves obey Jesus’ authority.
4. Jesus has authority over the supernatural world (8:28-34)
8:28-34 – Jesus has authority to command demons to go.
Chapter 9:1-17 – Jesus’ Authority Questioned and Vindicated
5. Jesus has authority to forgive sin, call sinners, and empower sinners to change (9:1-13)
9:1-8 – Jesus demonstrates his authority to forgive a paralytic by healing him in front of his critics.
9:9-13 – Jesus justifies his authority to call sinners to repentance to his critics through the scriptures.
6. Jesus has authority to guide his disciple’s spiritual practices (9:14-17)
9:14-17 – Jesus has authority to interpret and apply God’s law for his disciples.
Response to Jesus’ Authority (9:18-34)
The second half of chapter nine (verses 18-34) shows us five examples of people’s response to Jesus’ authority. It is the final setup for Jesus second sermon to his disciples.
1. A ruler submits to Jesus’ authority. His child is healed (vv18, 25).
2. A woman has faith in Jesus’ authority. She is healed. (vv21-22).
3. Two blind men recognize Jesus’ authority as Messiah. They are healed (vv27, 30).
4. The crowd is amazed at Jesus’ authority (v33).
5. The Pharisees discredit Jesus’ authority, calling it demonic (v34).
Nobody denies that Jesus does have authority to do miracles after seeing his authority demonstrated.
2. Disciples are Ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven
The Sermon on the Mount introduced disciples to life as CITIZENS of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The second discourse describes life as AMBASSADORS of the Kingdom of Heaven, representing and carrying the message of the king with his authority. (plenipotentiary–diplomat fully authorized to represent their government)
Chapter 10 – The Second Discourse – The Sending of the Twelve
v1 – The short term mission was for these apostles at this time. However, when Jesus gives AUTHORITY to them, Matthew identifies them as DISCIPLES, inviting all disciples (including us) to be challenged by the same call to life as ambassadors of the Kingdom, and the greater mission described in this sermon.
Matthew 10:16-20
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
There is no course on evangelism or apologetics or missions or missiology that will adequately "prepare" me for how God intends me to respond to every situation as I share my faith in this lifetime.
It's not up to me to get it all figured out before I'm qualified to incarnate the gospel in the world.
It's up to me to be obedient. It's up to me to go. And speak. And bless. And minister healing.
It's up to God to do with me whatever he wants in my obedience.
To give me the words. To manifest blessing. To heal. To set free.
And while on this mission, in every circumstance, whether wealthy or poor, free or in court, God is faithful and will provide whatever I need to accomplish his purpose through me until he takes me home.
The nature of Kingdom Authority – (the authority of Kingdom ambassadors) - Matthew 8:1-13 - The centurion understood, accepted and expected authority to work in a certain way.
v9 - This man understood that Jesus was a man under authority and because He was under authority He had authority. ALSO The centurion honoured those over him and felt responsibility for those he had been given authority over. Therefore, he came to Jesus on behalf of his servant for healing.
Kingdom authority flows from submission to the King (Jesus). King Jesus is submitted to the Father.
Kingdom authority is compassionate and serving, not controlling or oppressive.
Kingdom authority is received, not demanded or forced.
“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward” (Matthew 10:40-41a)
Jesus commissions us to go with the message of the gospel, but he does not promise the gospel will be received.
When we walk in (submission to) Jesus’ authority, and go out on the mission he has sent us, nothing can hinder us.
3. No Other Authority can Hinder the Mission of a Kingdom Ambassador
Just as Jesus has paved the way for discipleship through any and all obstacles, so also has he given us authority to accomplish his mission on Earth when we are walking in his intended purpose.
Nature – Paul and the Shipwreck - Acts 27
Finances – “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13
Our Emotional State – “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” – Ephesians 4:26 (Jesus was sad, and fed 5000 men)
Worldly Pleasures - “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.”
– 1 Corinthians 6:12
Our Imperfection – “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14
The Demonic Realm – Acts 16:16-18
Worldly Authority – Acts 4:16-20 (read); Acts 5:28-33, 38-42
“Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” – Acts 5:29
v42 – You can’t stop us. We’re on a mission from God.
18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (also see Luke 21:15)
Acts 4:1-22, 12:1-4, 14:5 – These events were prophesied by Jesus, and ordained as a means of spreading the gospel. A disciple’s goal is to be just like his Rabbi.
vv19-20 – Opposition is guaranteed, but the Holy Spirit will empower disciples to be wise and to endure.
(Jude 8; 2 Peter 2:9-10. This is not a game. Rebellion will not be tolerated.)
Why might disciples be brought before authorities? Because they are breaking the law.
For breaking the law for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven, more Christians have died at the hands of government in the last one hundred years than ever before in the last 2000 years of Christian history.
Jesus said that we are blessed when we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
God’s justice is always legal.
God’s authority is always transcendent.
When you act according to the law of God, whatever the consequences, you are acting legally.
This is not rebellion.
Jesus is not a punk. Jesus is not a rebel against authority.
Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. When the laws of this world are not congruent to the Kingdom of Heaven laws of love, righteousness, peace, grace and justice, it is the authorities of the world that are rebelling against Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t need to be a rebel. It’s the kingdoms of the world that rebel against him.
Obedience to the Kingdom of Heaven is always legal. Jesus didn’t promise that if we obey him we will not face opposition, or imprisonment, or even death from the kingdoms of this world. But what he does promise is that his Kingdom will not be stopped.
The Kingdom of Heaven is coming.
The Kingdom of Heaven is already here.
The only thing that can stand between you and God's intended purposes for you is your disobedience.
(In the case of Jonah, not even that.)
(We can disobey – 9:27-32)
(Jesus can fully restore us when we sin- John 21:15-19 – Peter after his denial)
We have no excuses.
Matthew 10:38-39
Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Nothing can stop us. We’re on a mission from God.
Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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Pray with me: Our Father, who art in Heaven. Hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil. Yours is the Kingdom. And the Power. And the Glory. Forever and ever. AMEN
Matthew 8-10
Chapter 8
1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities
and bore our diseases.”
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
Chapter 9
1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”
18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Chapter 10
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
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