What do I know with Isaac Carroll
What do I know with Isaac Carroll
Today's Bible Reading: Matthew 10 - Missionary Instructions, Endurance, and the Paradox of Faith
Join with me as we discover Christ instructions in Matthew 10, Are you ready to uncover why Jesus directed his apostles to focus solely on the lost sheep of Israel? We promise you'll gain insights into the theological challenge of bestowing peace, reliant on the worthiness and receptivity of others. Embrace the concept of relying on divine provision, as we explore the intricate balance between divine grace and human response.
Stepping into Hebrews 10, we draw strength from the early believers who stood firm in their faith despite immense trials. Feel inspired by their endurance and the promise of a heavenly reward that kept their spirits unyielding. Explore the powerful connection to Jesus' teachings in Luke 17:33, as we discuss the paradoxical wisdom of losing one's life to truly save it. This episode encourages you to channel that same unwavering faith in your own life, and keep an ear out for more enlightening conversations in future episodes. Until next time, Let the Holy Spirit be your guide, love you guys!
May God bless you and lead you always.
Welcome to the podcast. I'm Isaac Carroll, and this is what Do I Know? Alright, in today's Bible study we are going to be in Matthew 10, starting in verse 1. Jesus summoned his job disciples and he gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every disease and every sickness. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these the first, simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. James, the son of Zebedee and his brother, john Philip and Bartholomew. Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, simon, the Zealot. And Judas, isocrat, the one who also betrayed him.
Speaker 1:These twelve, jesus sent out, instructing them, saying Do not go on a road to the Gentiles and do not enter a city of Samaritans, but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and, as you go, preach, saying the kingdom of heaven has come near. Heal the sick and raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy and cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold or silver or copper for your money, belts or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the worker is deserving of his support and whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. The house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it's not worthy, take back your blessings of peace. And whoever does not receive you nor listens to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of sodom and gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city. Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. So be as wary as serpents and as innocent as doves. Be on on your guard against people, for they will hand you over to the court and you will be flogged in their synagogues, and you will even be brought before governors and kings on my account as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour, for it is not you who are speaking, but it Verse 2. Of my name. But it is the one who doors to the end who will be saved. But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next, for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of man comes. Okay, let's stop here.
Speaker 1:In 23 and discuss some of this, we see Jesus sending out the 12 to go and preach. Tells them to heal the sick and to cast out demons. Tells them to preach the message the kingdom of heaven has come near Now. This message they are to proclaim is well known among the people of Israel, even to this very day. Jesus himself tells them to take it only to the children of Israel.
Speaker 1:The Gentiles were never promised that the king would come. It was the prophets of Israel who proclaimed that God would reign amongst them, like Zechariah 9.9. Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion, shout aloud, o daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your king is coming to you, righteous and having salvation. Is he humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey? Or Isaiah 9, 6-7,. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of Peace, of the increase of his government and of the peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness for the time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. So they knew exactly what this message meant that they were to proclaim.
Speaker 1:We find in Luke 17 that Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees. It reads like this In verse 20, it says now he was questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered them and said the kingdom of God is not coming with signs that can be observed. Nor will they say Look, here it is or there it is. For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst. So the message would have been very clear to the people of Israel. Now, as Jesus sends out the twelve, he gives them a set of instructions. He tells them to freely give, as they had been of instructions. He tells them to freely give as they had been freely given. He tells them to take nothing for their journey because God would see to their needs. He said the worker was worthy of his wage. Now, this promises that God was going to see to their needs and he tells them to find out who among the town is worthy for them to stay at their house and if the house was worthy to, let their blessing of peace rest upon the house and if not, let it return to them.
Speaker 1:Now I remember the first time I read this I didn't. I said to myself can someone endow peace on a house? Was that spiritual or was it? Was it an idea, or was you doing it by faith, or was this just the attitude? A person had Decided to look up and see if I could find some information on this. And this is what I found, and it kind of makes sense to me. It reads like this it says from a theological standpoint, this verse touches on several concepts. First, this might suggest the idea of conditional peace and blessings, where the worthiness of a person or household determines the reception of God's blessing. This would align with the wider biblical theme that God's grace calls for human response and to be receptive. Secondly, the message of peace being offered and potentially withdrawn may be seen. Secondly, the message of peace being offered and potentially withdrawn may be seen in light of the concept of divine judgment.
Speaker 1:Some scholars suggest that the household's rejection of the disciples and thereby the message of Jesus could lead to consequences, which in this case, is the retraction of peace. The reason why this makes sense to me is I have a friend who often wears a shirt that reads no Christ, n-o, no Peace, and then under it says no Christ, k-n-o-w. No Peace, no Peace, all right. So finally we get to the warning where Jesus tells them to be on guard, said they were sending them out as sheep among wolves, to be wary but to remain innocent and peaceful. He goes on into detail about what to expect in this ministry that they would be caught and they would be handed over and beaten. That they would be sent to kings and rulers as a testimony. And he tells them not to worry about what they are to say. He promised that God would give them what to say in the very hour that they needed. Jesus from there goes on to paint a picture of what the lives of those who would believe and proclaim his name would look like. He said that their own members of their household would give them up and have them be put to death, that they would be hated. Then he says that the one who endures to the end would be saved. Now this obviously didn't mean their lives would be saved because they were going to be put to death.
Speaker 1:Now, when I read this, I found this message of Jesus to differ greatly from the message we hear today. And we hear so many times that no one can snatch us out of the hands of Jesus. And that's true. They say this is what guarantees our salvation in Christ. But isn't this Christ who's given us this warning? Should the words of the one who guarantees our salvation weigh in on what we believe?
Speaker 1:I found Paul said this in Hebrews, hebrews 10. And it says remember the early days when you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict In the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution, and other times your partners were those who did. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and more permanent possession, speaking to one that is in heaven. So do not throw away your confidence. It holds great reward. You need to persevere so that, after you have done the will of God, you will receive that which was promised For just in a little while. He who is coming will come and he will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith and if he shrinks back I will take no pleasure in him. But we are not those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Speaker 1:Jesus says this many times in his teachings. He says the one who is willing to lose his life would save it. The one who would save his life would lose it. Find that in Luke 17.33. All right, I'm going to end this one here. All right, we'll pick back up in verse 24 in our next podcast. Until then, love you guys. God bless.