Matthew chapter 10 I'm always
looking for a verse that will help me with the title I'm not
very creative about finding a title or a clever title But the title
I am using is found in verse 34 think not That I am come notice. I am I am the Lord I am That
I am Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth. I
came not to send peace, but a sword. Now, at first glance, looking
at that, you would think, well, that seems totally contrary to
what the epistles seem to teach, but not really. Not really. The literal interpretation with
a literal rending of that verse, you may not suppose or think
not that I came to put peace on earth. I did not come to put
peace on earth, but a sword. Now, at first glance, it seems
to be a contradiction to the gospel, because the gospel is
called the gospel of peace. We read that last week from Roman
chapter 10. Remember, the angel appeared
to Mary and told her that she would have that special Savior. The Lord is going to give a Savior,
Christ the Lord. And there was a heavenly host
declaring glory to God on the highest on earth, peace and goodwill
toward men. It doesn't say mankind. Now,
at first glance, you might say, well, that seems to be a contradiction
that the Lord did not come to bring peace on earth because
the gospel is called the gospel of peace. But we can be assured
that there's no conflict here. There's no contradiction here.
If there is a contradiction, it's just in our puny mind. God
cannot contradict himself because God is true. It's impossible
for God to lie. Now remember, chapter 10, Matthew
chapter 10, is what we're looking at. Matthew chapter 10, verse
34, down to verse 42. Remember the Lord is giving his
apostles, these 12 men, instructions, special instructions, before
he sends them out to preach the gospel of the kingdom. He tells
them that they will face fierce opposition. He said, they've
hated me, they will hate you. They will face fierce opposition. over the message of salvation
in Christ alone. But he also tells them that he
will care for them. He will provide for them. He
will protect them. And he gives that example of
a sparrow. Does not your Heavenly Father
take care of the sparrows? Yes. Aren't you much more valuable
than a mere field bird? Yes. Yes, God's people, they
are. When he sent them out, the risen
Lord, when he gave them the last instruction, he said unto them
in Matthew 28, and we'll see this in a year or two when we
get over there, he said, all powers given me in heaven and
earth, go ye therefore and preach the gospel. And remember this,
lo, I'm with you always. The Lord is always with his people. He said, I'll never leave you.
I'll never forsake you. Now let's begin with verse 34. Think not that I am come to send
peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but
a sword. Now there's another good reference
to this scripture. And if you look there in the
center reference, it's Luke 12, 51 to 53. And let me just read
Luke 12, 51. Suppose you that I'm come to
give peace on earth, I tell you, nay, but rather a division, a
division. There was a division because
of him. The true gospel of God is a message, is a message that
brings division among people. It brings unity among the sheep,
among believers, but it brings division among men in general. Paul talks about The unity believers
have, the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. And we
do, as believers, have unity. And we do, as believers, have
harmony and peace with God in Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ
is called the Prince of Peace, right? He's also called the King
of Peace, the King of Righteousness. There is that peace that the
Gospel of Christ does establish, that does bring to us everlasting
life as we believe the gospel. The gospel of God concerning
the Lord Jesus Christ gives us peace of conscience, knowing
that God's not angry with us in Christ Jesus. Nothing can
separate us from the love of God in Christ. The gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ not only gives us peace of conscience,
but peace of heart and peace of mind because we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel is called
more than one time the gospel of peace. In John chapter 14,
verse 27, when the Lord gives his apostles words of encouragement
on the eve of the cross, he said, peace I leave with you, my peace
I give unto you. Our Lord is called the God of
peace. And he's called the God of all
grace. He's called the God of peace. Now the God of peace,
that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great
shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of everlasting covenant,
make you perfect, make you complete. And then Peter said, but the
God of all grace, who hath called us to his eternal glory by Christ
Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, complete,
establish you, strengthen you, settle you. To him be glory and
forever and ever. Amen. So there is that peace
that God has established for us in the Lord Jesus Christ. But there's also a peace that
Christ does not establish and does not bring among men in general,
but rather a division, rather a sword. It says in John 7, verse
43, so there was a division among the people because of him. And what the Lord is teaching
His disciples here is the fact that His kingdom that He was
setting up was not a kingdom to be set up in this world or
established in this world, but a spiritual kingdom in the world
to come. We'll have a new heaven and a
new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. The Lord Jesus Christ did not
come to set up a temporary kingdom in great pomp and outward peace,
tranquility among men, His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, an eternal
kingdom, not a carnal one or earthly one. Look back at Matthew
chapter 9, verse 35. Matthew 9, 35. Jesus went about
all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness
and every disease. Matthew chapter 10, verse 7,
he said, as you go, preach saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
He's not talking about establishing an earthly kingdom. Those old
Jews thought in their perverted mind that when the Messiah would
show up, there would be peace on earth. When the Messiah showed
up, there was a division on earth, not peace. Even the resurrected
Lord, when he departs, it's recorded in Acts chapter 1, and these
men who had been with the Lord and were eyewitnesses to his
resurrection glory, they said this, will thou restore again
the kingdom to Israel? And he said, it's not for you
to know. They still had their minds wrapped around upon this
earthly kingdom about having a Messiah in this kingdom of
peace. And he said, I didn't come to
bring peace among men. The gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ is a message that divides. It divides the sheep from the
goats. The gospel sword is a sword that will bring division among
religious nations and religious people. The word of God is called
the sword of the Spirit. Notice what he says there, I
came not to send peace but a sword. In Ephesians chapter 6, it said
the sword of the Spirit is the word of God. And then the apostle
writing in Hebrews chapter 4 said the word of God is quick and
powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing asunder. soul
and spirit and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intent
of the heart. This is a God with whom we have to do. So our Lord
did not come as God manifest in the flesh to bring peace among
nations. That was not his purpose. There
will be turned to Matthew chapter 24, Matthew chapter 24. We're going to see when we get
over here in Matthew chapter 24, Matthew 24 verse 3, as he said
upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately
saying, tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be
the sign of the coming of the end of the world? And the Lord
answered unto them, said unto them, take heed that no man deceive
you, for many shall come in my name saying, I'm Christ, and
shall deceive many. Talking about the Antichrist.
The false Christ, the false gospel, you shall hear of wars and rumors
of wars, see that you be not troubled, for all these things
must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Nations shall rise
up against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines,
pestilence, earthquake, diverse places. All these things are
the beginning of sorrows. and they shall deliver you up
to be afflicted, shall kill you, you shall be hated of all nations
for my name's sake. Don't look for peace among men. All we're to expect is wars,
killings, all these different things that we see. You don't
think men are depraved, just turn on the evening news. There's
example after example of example how to pray. We are. There never
will be peace among men as long as there are sinners on this
earth. Much fighting, killing, and wars because of the wickedness
within the heart of every fallen son of Adam. And the real issue
is this, the carnal mind is enmity against God. The main reason
of our Lord coming to this earth was not to satisfy men, but rather
to satisfy and glorify God. The Lord came to save His people
from their sin. He didn't come to give peace
among men. He came to make peace for us
with His own blood and reconcile us unto God. This is a faithful
saying and worthy of all acceptation, the Lord Jesus Christ came to
save sinners. In the fullness of time, God
sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem
them that were under the law. And because you were the sons
of God, he hath redeemed you unto God. Our Lord said this
in John chapter 7. Let me just read it to you. Barely,
barely, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that
ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did
not hear them. I am the door. By me, if any
man enter in, he shall be saved and go in and out and find pasture. The thing cometh not but for
to steal, to kill, to destroy. I am come that ye might have
life. that you might have more abundantly. I'm the good shepherd. The good shepherd give us life
unto the sheep. So he reconciled us unto God
through his blood atonement, and we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord came to honor and satisfy
his own holy law. As we studied in Matthew chapter
5, he said, I didn't come to destroy the law and the prophets.
Matthew 5, 17, I came to honor the law of God. Christ redeemed
us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. There's
a prophecy given in the book of Daniel concerning the coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ that describes what he did for us.
Daniel 9, 24. He came to finish transgression,
to make an end of sin, to make reconciliation for iniquity,
peace with God. He came to bring in everlasting
righteousness. He came to seal up the vision.
He said, it is finished, and to anoint the most holy one. And he is the anointed Messiah,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ made peace for us with
his own blood before God. And that's where it counts, in
His sight, in His sight. He reconciled us unto God. Now I want you to find this in
your Bible. We read Colossians chapter 1,
but I want you to see in Ephesians chapter 2. So we have peace with
God. through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He came to establish that peace, to reconcile us unto God by the
shedding of his blood. In Ephesians chapter 2, look
at verse 11. He says, wherefore remember that
you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called
uncircumcised, that means ungodly. by them which are called the
circumcision, that is the Jews, they said the Gentiles are ungodly,
in the flesh made by hand. At that time you were without
Christ, being alien from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope without God in
the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who sometimes were
far off or made nigh by the blood of Christ. Now underscore this,
verse 14, you say it, for he is our peace. You see that? He is our peace, who hath made
both one, and hath broken down the middle wall partition between
us, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances, for to make in himself of two one
new man, so making peace, and that he might reconcile both
unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby,
and came and preached peace to you which were far off, and to
them which were nigh, for through Him we both have access by one
Spirit unto the Father." So we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ. That's the peace that He came
to bring. Now, go back to the text, Matthew
10, Matthew 10 at verse 36, 37, 38. Verse 35 rather. I am come, he
said, to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter
against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and
a man's foes shall be of his own household. He that loveth
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He that
loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. He that taketh not his cross
and follows after me is not worthy of me." Now he says here plainly,
a man's enemies shall be of his own household. This gospel of
God's grace brings sinners together around the banner and umbrella
of God's sovereign mercy, sovereign love, sovereign will in the Lord
Jesus Christ. But this same gospel message
will bring a separation between those who try to merit salvation
by their deeds, by their works, and those who look to Christ
alone. The gospel of God's grace divides. Amos asked this question
in the Book of Amos, can two walk together except they be
agreed? Two cannot walk together except
they be agreed. Now I think the prime example
of that is in the two brothers, Cain and Abel. They were both
taught the same thing, had the same father, same mother. They
were both taught the same thing, how to approach God through a
blood sacrifice. But we know the sad story. Cain
brought the deeds and works of his hand. Abel brought that firstling
lamb and offered his blood unto the Lord, picturing the way of
substitution and salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. And Cain
brought the work of his hand. And God did not have respect
under Cain's offering because it did not picture Christ. It
didn't point to Christ. What happened? Two can't walk
together except they be agreed. Cain rose up and murdered Abel. Over how God saves sinners, over
how God how a sinner approaches God only by the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, I'm the way, I'm the
truth, I'm the life. No man comes to the Father but
by and through me. Through me. He that loveth, verse
37, father or mother more, and underscore that word. Now we're
to love our father and we're to love our mother, but we don't
love them more than the Lord Jesus Christ. He that loveth
son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Now, we
love our children. He's not teaching us to hate
our children. That would be contrary to the Scripture, wouldn't it?
But we love the Lord Jesus Christ so much that it would appear
that we don't thank too much of our natural relatives, even
our children. Even our children. Now, what
does it mean to be And here's what he's teaching. What does
it mean to be a true believer, a true disciple of the Lord Jesus
Christ? Here's what's involved. Complete,
total surrender and sell out to the Lord. He must be the Lord
Jesus Christ, must be Lord of all, over all things in our life,
or no Lord at all. You cannot straddle the fence.
or seek some middle ground of compromise. The Lord Jesus Christ
is either all your Lord, all your salvation, or He's none
of it. You can't have a mixture. You can't try to straddle the
fence and say, well, you know, over here or over there, there's
no middle ground. Our Lord said, if you're not
with me, you're against me. Turn one page and let's read
that. In Matthew chapter 12, verse 30. He that is not with
me, you see it, Matthew 12, verse 30. He that is not with me is
against me. He that gathereth not with me
scattereth abroad. True saving faith involves total,
complete sell-out, surrender, and commitment to the Lord Jesus
Christ. Total surrender. Paul said, I
know whom I have believed, I'm not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ, I know whom I have believed, and I'm persuaded he's able to
keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. What
have we committed unto him? Everything. Everything. Total
sellout. Total sellout. Now, you cannot
serve the Lord, turn back to Matthew 6, you cannot serve the
Lord with a divided heart, with a divided affection. In Matthew
chapter 6, look at verse 24. You remember this? Matthew 6,
24. No man can serve two masters,
for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will
hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
mammon. You cannot serve God with a divided
heart. It's total surrender. It's total
sell-out to the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Alone. Always. Now look at verse 38 carefully.
Matthew 10, 38. He that taketh not his cross
and followeth after me is not worthy of me. Now what does this
mean to take up the cross and to follow the Lord Jesus Christ?
Remember in Matthew chapter 9 when Matthew the publican was called
and the Lord walked up in front of his table his tax collecting
table and said, Matthew, follow me. And he followed the Lord
Jesus Christ. So what does it mean to take
up the cross? I know what it doesn't mean.
It doesn't mean, as some people do on certain day of the year,
to drag a wooden cross, a physical wooden cross, around town as
some do, showing that I'm bearing the cross. Nor does it mean to
wear a piece of jewelry around your neck in the form of a cross. Those things are nothing but
idolatry. Idolatry. Saving faith is looking
to Christ with eyes of faith. Look over here in Matthew chapter
16. Matthew chapter 16, verse 24. Matthew 16, 24. If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow with me.
Whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever
shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a
man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his
own soul? What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? So
take up the cross and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Now back
to Matthew 10, 38. He said, he that taketh not his
cross, notice his cross. Let's see if I can help you here.
The cross in the days of the Romans, when the Romans were
in control of what we call Judea. When the Romans were in charge,
they had a cruel means of execution, and it was called crucifixion
on the cross. Crucifixion on the cross was
reserved for the most vile, vile criminals. So when they said,
to the cross you go, that was a symbol of suffering and shame.
During the French Revolution in 1792, their means of execution
was the guillotine. Remember? Give them the guillotine. That meant suffering, shame,
and death. In the days of the Romans, the
crucifixion by the cross meant a symbol of shame and suffering
and death. That is why the Lord Jesus Christ
was crucified. They said he was the most vile
offender, the most vile sinner, the most vile blasphemer. They said, he's Beelzebub, he's
the prince of demons. And they said away with him,
crucify him, we have no king but Caesar. Just as our Lord
was not persecuted for what he did, but for what he said, right? Turn
to John chapter 10. John chapter 10. So he's telling
these men that as they go preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ, there's going to be a cross of affliction over the gospel.
In John chapter 10, I want you to read John chapter 10 with
me, beginning at verse 30. And I said, the Lord Jesus Christ
will not crucify for what he did. They had no problem with
him feeding the multitude, is what he said. I and my father
are one, John 10, verse 30. Then the Jews took up stones
again to stone him. And the Lord said to them, many
good works have I showed you from my father, for which of
these do you stone me? The Jews answered him, saying,
for good work we don't stone you, but for blasphemy, because
that Thou being a man, you said, I and my father are one. So it's
what he said that got him in so much trouble. Here's what
I think it means for us as believers. It means to take up the message
of the cross the message of salvation through the crucified, risen
Lord Jesus Christ. It means to preach the message
of the gospel from the housetop. Do not compromise. Do not conceal
the gospel. Preach the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ. In Luke 9, it said, if any man
will come after me, let him deny himself, take up the cross and
follow me daily. Follow him daily. So when he's
talking here about affliction, having the cross of affliction,
it's over one issue. Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ. You remember in John 16, our
Lord said, These words have I spoken unto you, that in me you might
have peace. Remember? In me you might have peace. In
this world you shall have tribulation. cheer, because I have overcome."
So, it's being persecuted for one particular reason, over how
God saves sinners. And the afflictions come because
of the message of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The
Lord Jesus Christ. Now, I'll give you a good example
of this. Turn to 2 Timothy, 2 Timothy chapter 2, 2 Timothy chapter
2, Verse 10. You know, Saul of Tarsus,
he had a pretty easy life until he met the Savior on the road
to Damascus and was taught the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
After he heard the Gospel and learned the Gospel and God gave
him faith to believe the Gospel, what happened then? Affliction,
heartache, trouble, bearing, cross, affliction because of
the Gospel. Now look at 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy,
I told you chapter 2, didn't I? Well, I was wrong. It's 2 Timothy
chapter 3. Okay? 2 Timothy chapter 3. How did I get chapter 5? I don't
know. But look at verse 11. He said, persecution and affliction
which came unto me, 2 Timothy 3, 11. Persecution and afflictions
came unto me. Why was he persecuted? because
of the cross, because of Christ, because of the gospel, which
came unto me in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, what persecutions I endured,
but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, all that will
live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." The cross
of affliction because of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord said, in Philippians
chapter 1 is given to you on the behalf of Christ, not only
to believe on him, but to suffer for his name's sake. He that
taketh not his cross and followeth after me. There is a readiness and a willingness
put in the believer to endure anything for the gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ, even unto death. The martyrs were burned
to the stake because they would not deny the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ. When the Apostle Paul talks about
his affliction, he said, five times, five times I was whipped
with a lash, 200 lashes, 40 stripes saved one. Three times beaten
with rods. once stoned and shipwrecked many
times. This man had affliction after
affliction, heartache after heartache. They chased him out of one town
to another town to another town to another town. Why all this
affliction? The gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. It brings division among people
and men in general, but it brings revival in the heart of God's
sheep. Now what are we to do? Now here's
the key word. Look back at Matthew 10 verse
38. He that taketh not his cross,
and I mean by that afflictions over the gospel, and followeth
he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me is not
worthy of me. So here's the key. Following
him in the midst of all these afflictions. We don't compromise.
What are we to do when persecutions come over the Gospel? Follow
Him. Look to Him. He will give us
grace in the time we need it. He said, My sheep hear My voice.
I know them and they follow Me. Now, verse 39 down through verse
42. He that finds his life will lose
it. He that loses his life for my
sake will find it. Those who seek to persevere,
excuse me, those who seek to preserve temporal life, temporal
enjoyment by openly denying or compromising the gospel of God's
sovereign grace will be in the end eternal losers. Those who only live for self,
who only live for the enjoyment of the moment, at the expense
of the gospel, in the end, are losers. On the other hand, those
that are blessed to live under the gospel, giving up all things
for Christ's sake, shall find eternal life in Christ, utmost
happiness, forever to be with Him. Prime example. Saul of Tarsus, when he talks
about all the religious things that he had done in Philippians
chapter 3, I was this, I was that, I was a Pharisee of Pharisees,
a Hebrew of Hebrews. He said concerning touching the
law, I was blameless. And then he said this, I count
all things lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things. Count
them but dung, manure. that I may win Christ and be
found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is of the
law, but that which is through the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ,
His faithfulness. Now verse 14 following, and I'm
going to wind this up. He that receiveth you, receiveth
me. Now again, we're talking about
the apostles going out and preaching. Those who receive that message
of Christ alone for all salvation, they receive Him. And he that
receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a
prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward.
And he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous
man shall receive a righteous man's reward. Now, who is a righteous
man? Those in Christ Jesus. Our Lord
speaks a word of comfort and encouragement to his apostles.
There will be many who will not hear you or receive your message,
but there will be many who will hear and are blessed to receive
the gospel message by his sovereign, sovereign power. He that is of
God, heareth God's word, our Lord said in John 8, 47. And
you, some, hear him not because you're not of God. those who
receive and believe the message of the gospel delivered by His
servants, is to receive the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord said in
John 13, He that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth me. And he
that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. How important
it is to hear the gospel and to receive Christ. Receive Him
by faith. Verse 41, He that receiveth a
prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward.
What is a prophet's reward? Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our exceeding great reward.
He that receiveth a righteous man, that is a believer. Every
believer in Christ is a saint. He presents as holy, unblameable,
unreprovable in his sight. In the name of a righteous man
shall receive a righteous man's reward. Preacher, what are you
looking for? Christ. You mean, that's it? To the believer, Christ is all
and in all. In Him dwells all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Christ. Complete in Christ. Christ is
our reward. Christ is our righteousness.
Christ is everything in salvation. Whatsoever you do, do it heartily
unto the Lord, not unto men, knowing that you shall of the
Lord receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the
Lord Christ. Verse 42, Whosoever shall give
to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only
in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall no wise
lose his reward. And here's what the Lord is teaching.
What is done to His people is done unto Him. Done unto Him. What we do unto God's people
is what we have done unto Him. You remember when the Lord met
Saul of Tarsus on that road of persecution? And he said, Saul,
Saul, why have you persecuted me? Now, who was Paul, Saul of
Tarsus persecuting? Believers. What is done to God's
people is done unto Him. When we serve His people as we
love one another and serve one another, we serve Him. When we
persecute God's people and afflict God's people, we persecute the
Lord Jesus Christ Himself. God's people are motivated by
love to serve Him. And to something so insignificant,
a cold cup of water, There's life in that water. You can't
live without water. Christ is that water of life.