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 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. And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee into another: for verily I say unto you, You shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”, and in chapter ten and verse twenty-four of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “disciples and masters... and servants and lords” where we read:
The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
The verse reads, “The disciple is not above his master, ...” Matthew began with the words, “the disciple” which means “the student, learner, pupil and attendant” “is not above” or “is not beyond or over” “his master” or “the disciple's teacher or instructor”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred to how “disciples” are not “beyond or over” their “instructor or teacher”.
The verse goes on to say, “… nor the servant above his lord.” Matthew added the word, “nor” which means “no and not in any way is” “the servant” or “the bondman, person in servile condition and attendant” “above his lord” which means “beyond and over the servant's one to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding or master”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred to the way “a bondman or attendant” is not “beyond or over” his “master”.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see the order of authority between “students” and “teachers” as well as “servants” and their “masters”. Jesus Himself faced “persecution” and “difficulties” from people who did not believe in Him, and that being the case, His “disciples” were not to expect anything different. God desires a loving relationship with every person, and when they align themselves with Him and promote His “gospel”, they should not expect any lesser treatment by others than He Himself encountered. “Instructors” are “over” “students”, and “masters” are over “servants”, and those who are wise shall understand their relationship to God through Jesus and expect the adversity that came to Him shall also come to them.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples what will occur, “if they have called the master of the house Beelzebub”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
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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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