Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus told His disciples, “ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Jesus continued, “But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak. For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you”, and in chapter ten and verse twenty-one of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples about the betrayal of, “brothers, fathers, children and parents” where we read:
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
The verse reads, “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: ...” Matthew began with the words, “and the brother” which means “the male child born to the same parents or only of the same parents” “shall deliver up” or “these people will betray, commit and commend the disciples” “the brother” or “the male child born to the same parents or only of the same parents” “to death” which means “that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended”, “and the father” or “and the male generator or ancestor” “the child” which means “his offspring or son”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared that “brothers and fathers” would betray their “brothers and sons” during this time.
The verse continues, “... and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.” Matthew added the words, “and the children” which means “and the offspring or sons” “shall rise up” or “shall be raised or attack” “against” which means “in opposition to” “their parents” or “the generators or ancestors of the children”, “and cause them” which means “and render, make and originate that the parents” “to be put to death” which means “be killed or mortified”. Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples there would be “children” who would “revolt against and betray” their “parents” and be the reason their parents were “killed”.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how out of control social norms would be because of the witness of the “apostles” of Jesus Christ. People in government would desire to know who was following Jesus and His ways, and “brothers” would betray “brothers”, “parents” would betray their “children” and “children” would betray their “parents”. God desires for people to have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, however, not everyone will. Even the government was to be against those who follow Jesus, and that was fulfilled in the time of the disciples. Those who think through these things may see a time or place in the world where this is occurring today, and those who are wise shall not only align themselves with God and His Spirit, but shall be looking for Him to come to their aid when it is time to share about it.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples how it would be, “you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
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