16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Jesus has just commissioned his apostles to go out and preach the kingdom was near to all the Jews. Now He continues by telling them that persecution will come as they go out. As you read this section, you will realise that what Jesus predicted didn’t happen in that first missionary trip they took. It appears that Jesus was giving a more general warning that spoke of the full scope of missionary work that would and does continue today all the way up and through the tribulation. When you read through the book of Acts you see a lot of what Jesus predicted happening to the apostles. Almost all of the apostles died martyr’s deaths as Jesus predicted. Today we see many suffering for the gospel as Jesus predicted.
Verse 22 appears tricky at first glance. If we read it with salvation in mind then it says only those who persevere through persecution will be saved. But it’s important to know that the word “saved” in the Bible is not always talking about salvation to eternal life. In fact, more often than not, the word “saved” in the Bible is talking about physical salvation—being physically saved from physical death. So the one who endures is the one who stands firm in the face of persecution. The end most likely refers to the end of the tribulation when Messiah will return triumphantly and save the faithful as He ushers in the Kingdom.
But Jesus warning of persecution also contains many encouragements. When we find ourselves in a tough situation, like being hauled before authorities, then we need not be anxious because the Holy Spirit Himself will give us the words we need to say (in the context of proclaiming Him).
We are also told not to fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead we should fear God who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Our focus must be on God who has ultimate authority over body and soul, far more authority than any persecutor might have. Any torment a persecutor may inflict on us would pale into insignificance compared to what they would suffer if left to suffer at the hand of God. Today as we are faced with the Coronavirus this is quite pertinent. We need not fear a virus that at worst can kill the body, instead, we should be focussed on God who is the one ultimately in control. Jesus points to the sparrows which are essentially worthless, being sold for half a penny. And yet not one of them will die outside of God’s will. If God knows the number of hairs on your head, does that not show how infinitely more worth you are to Him than a sparrow. If He won’t let a sparrow die apart from His will, you can rest assured that nothing will happen to you outside of God’s will!