Matthew 45
A bible study in the truth (part 3)
The cost of Discipleship
Jesus plainly states what “will” happen to those that truly follow Him. Not weekend warriors or part-time believers, but true devoted followers. And again, taking the Bible in its totality helps us to understand and set the right expectations.
The problem with today's westernized loose form of Christianity is the cherry-picking effect, the way we concentrate on some, the good, easy feeling stuff in the Bible, and avoid the hard-hitting truths that we all need to hear, but we probably won’t pay to!
And because we build massive buildings with beautiful views, amazing coffee bars, book stores, and McDonald’s play places, we start to worry about overhead more than your salvation and we skew the truth to keep you comfortable! Aren’t you glad we don’t!
Matthew 10:34–42 (NIV)
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to turn“ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.
42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
The stage is set!
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
· The stage is set
· This is not a peaceful movement
· This is a battle. A battle for every soul on this earth
o And you are squarely in the middle of it
· Next week we celebrate the resurrection of the one true Son of God
o But there was a brutal death
o The Son of Man was put on trial, humiliated, beaten and hung on a cross for the sins of the world
o And we are His followers
· The thread of the new testament is we are at war with a worthy adversary
o He is cunning
o He is relentless
· But we serve a God that never fails us, never forsakes us and walks with us always!
The cost of discipleship is high!
35 For I have come to turn“ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
· We have sugar-coated the gospel so long we have forgotten what a radical change Jesus demands from us all
· We have made the gospel
o Too complicated
o Too wordy
o Too watered down
o And too easy
· Jesus clearly and emphatically makes it very clear
o The gospel and all it demands
o Will tear families apart
o Will divide friends
o Because there is a cost to following Jesus
· We need to get back to the simple truth of the cost
· We need to get back to the basics of discipleship
· We need a radical change in the way we view what it means to be adopted in the family of God
· To be a part of the body of Christ
Jesus wants you all in!
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
· Jesus is simply stating that He must come first
· Our relationship with Him must be the priority
· And when it is:
o Our relationship with our spouse gets better and more fulfilling
o Our relationship with our kids gets deeper and sweeter
o And our relationship with the world gets easier (we love understanding it WILL fail us)
o When we have the right identity, in Jesus, every relationship gets better
o Better relationships are a bi-product, Jesus doesn’t want you exclusively, He just wants to be your priority!
What is your cross?
38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
· Please stop using this verse wrong
o Your car breaking down is not your “cross to bear”
o You losing your job, not going on vacation this year, is not your cross to bear!
· Following Jesus means dying to self and truly following
o That means:
o Loving others not because they love you but because Jesus put them in your life
o Forgiving always
o Serving, not being served
o Giving and not receiving
o It means being Jesus with Skin on!
It’s all worth it, in the end!
39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
· Eternity is at stake
· The price for persecution is high but worth it
· The life we live today determines where we spend eternity
· There is a sacrifice when following Jesus, but it’s worth it
· There is love, peace, and Joy to be found in it!
Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.
But such commitment is well worth the price, for whoever loses his or her life for Jesus’ sake will find it(10:39). On the other hand, the person who tries to find life apart from such radical commitment to Christ will lose it. The price of persecution is a price worth paying.[1]
Crucifixion is a shocking metaphor for discipleship. A disciple must deny himself (die to self-will), take up his cross (embrace God’s will, no matter the cost), and follow Christ[2]
The spoils of following!
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.
42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
· This again is very misused
o It’s the quid pro quo effect
o Do for me and Jesus will do for you
o I see it a lot on Sunday morning television
o Give to me, the servant, and Jesus will give to you
o Nothing could be further from the truth!
· This is about loving God's Servants
· This is a message of hope, that following Jesus is not all suffering and persecution
o That there will be people that will welcome us
o That will help us
o That will give us rest
· God has chosen disciples and we should all be working to help those that are truly in God's Service!
Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)
10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
[1]Hahn, R. L. (2007). Matthew: a commentary for Bible students(p. 143). Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House.
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