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 in chapter ten and verse eighteen of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake” where we read:
And you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake,
for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
The verse reads, “And you shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and you shall be brought” which means “and the disciples were to be carried, lead, guided and impelled” “before” which refers to “in front and in the presence of” “governors” or “the leaders, guides, rulers, prefects, presidents, chiefs, generals and commanders of any kind” “and kings” which refers to “leaders of the people, princes, commanders and lords of the land” “for my sake” or “because and on behalf of Jesus' cause and purpose”. Matthew shared how Jesus warned His “apostles” concerning being “carried” before the rulers of the land because they aligned themselves with Jesus and His ideas.
The verse continues, “... for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.” Matthew continued with the words, “for a testimony” which means “for the purpose of evidence and a witness” “against them” or “in opposition to the rulers” “and the Gentiles” which refers to “and the heathen nations or multitudes”. Matthew shared how Jesus told His “apostles” the purpose of their being brought before rulers was to “be a witness” in front of both the rulers and the “heathen nations”.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus warned His “disciples or apostles” they would face “rulers” in the places they shared His gospel. The “good news” of God has a cost associated with it, and Jesus was preparing His disciples for the conditions they would face as they shared about the “kingdom of heaven”. God desires a personal relationship with every person, and this was made accessible by Jesus Christ Himself dying upon the cross for the sins of the world. All that He warned His disciples about came to pass in His own life, and since this was the case with Jesus, how much more should those who share His “salvation” plan expect it today?
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples when “they deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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