If Anyone Rejects You

By Mary Vee
Matthew 10

From Matthew's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee

My name is Matthew. I am a disciple, a follower of Jesus. I and the other disciples have listened to Jesus teach for a while. After teaching the crowds, He always took us aside to explain special meanings in his message to us. Today I learned why He only explained the meanings to the disciples.

Jesus met with the twelve of us. He wanted us to go in teams to cities in Israel He hadn't visited yet. He asked us to teach the people what He'd taught. Do what He showed us. Have compassion like He had for us. 

He then said, "Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person and stay at his house until you leave. Then, as you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it. If it is not deserving, let your peace return to you. If anyone in that home will not welcome you, leave and go to another. And if anyone in the city will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet as you leave. You know how the cities Sodom and Gomorrah have been judged, right?"

We answered yes.

"On the day of judgement, Sodom and Gomorrah will bear what happens easier than any home or city that rejects you."

While the crowds stood in the distance waiting to hear Jesus speak, He gave us more instructions.

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. You must be shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

"Be on your guard against the men you meet. They will hand you over to the local councils and have you whipped in the synogogues for your words. Because of me, you will be brought before govenors and kings as witnesses to share what I've taught you. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

I thought about his warnings. What all could happen to us while we were gone. The assignment seemed scary in a way. Exciting in another. Jesus didn't send us just yet. He taught us more before we left. I'll share that next time.

 Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.