Matthew 10: Sent with Authority

MATTHEW 10 STRUCTURE
    │
    ├─ vv. 1-4    DELEGATION     → Authority given to the Twelve
    │   └─► Same power Jesus demonstrated
    │
    ├─ vv. 5-15   FOCUS          → Strategic boundaries
    │   └─► Lost sheep of Israel (for now)
    │       Travel light, depend on provision
    │
    ├─ vv. 16-25  EXPECTATION    → Persecution is coming
    │   └─► Like sheep among wolves
    │       They'll hate you like they hated me
    │
    ├─ vv. 26-31  COURAGE        → Do not fear (3x)
    │   └─► Nothing hidden that won't be revealed
    │       God knows every sparrow, every hair
    │
    ├─ vv. 32-33  LOYALTY        → Confess or deny
    │   └─► What you do on earth
    │       Jesus does in heaven
    │
    ├─ vv. 34-39  DIVISION       → Not peace, but a sword
    │   └─► Family will turn against family
    │       Love Jesus more than closest kin
    │
    └─ vv. 40-42  IDENTIFICATION → To receive them is to receive Jesus
        └─► Cup of cold water = eternal reward

JESUS' AUTHORITY → DISCIPLES' AUTHORITY
    │
    ├─ Ch. 8-9: Jesus demonstrates
    │   ├─ Over demons
    │   ├─ Over disease
    │   ├─ Over nature
    │   └─ Over death
    │
    └─ Ch. 10: Jesus delegates
        │
        ├─ v. 1: "Authority to drive out impure spirits
        │         and to heal every disease and sickness"
        │
        └─► Same power
            Different agents
            Extended reach

THE TWELVE
    │
    ├─ Simon Peter + Andrew (brothers, fishermen)
    ├─ James + John (brothers, "sons of thunder")
    ├─ Philip + Bartholomew
    ├─ Thomas + Matthew (the tax collector)
    ├─ James son of Alphaeus + Thaddaeus
    ├─ Simon the Zealot (anti-Rome radical)
    └─ Judas Iscariot (who betrayed him)
        │
        └─► Unlikely team
            Political opposites (Zealot + tax collector)
            Diverse personalities
            One traitor included

THE AUTHORITY GIVEN (v. 1)
    │
    ├─ "Authority over impure spirits"
    │   └─► Drive them out
    │
    └─ "Heal every disease and sickness"
        │
        └─► Same scope as Jesus (9:35)
            Not partial power
            Full delegation

THE SIGNIFICANCE
    │
    ├─ They don't have this authority inherently
    │   └─► It's GIVEN by Jesus
    │
    └─► They operate under His name
        His authority travels through them
        │
        └─► Like the centurion understood (8:9)
            Delegated authority still carries weight

GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES (vv. 5-6)
    │
    ├─ "DO NOT go among the Gentiles"
    ├─ "DO NOT enter any town of the Samaritans"
    │
    └─► GO: "to the lost sheep of Israel"
        │
        └─► Why the restriction?
            │
            ├─ Covenant sequence: Israel first (Rom 1:16)
            ├─ Prophetic fulfillment: Messiah to His people
            └─ Practical: They're not ready yet
                │
                └─► After resurrection: "all nations" (28:19)

MESSAGE (vv. 7-8)
    │
    ├─ PROCLAIM: "The kingdom of heaven has come near"
    │   └─► Same message as Jesus (4:17)
    │
    └─ DEMONSTRATE:
        ├─ Heal the sick
        ├─ Raise the dead
        ├─ Cleanse lepers
        └─ Drive out demons
            │
            └─► Word + deed
                Proclamation + demonstration
                │
                └─► "Freely you have received; freely give"

PROVISION PHILOSOPHY (vv. 9-15)
    │
    ├─ TRAVEL LIGHT (vv. 9-10)
    │   ├─ No gold, silver, copper
    │   ├─ No bag, extra shirt, sandals
    │   ├─ No staff
    │   │
    │   └─► Why? "The worker is worth his keep"
    │       │
    │       └─► Dependence on God through others
    │           Not self-sufficiency
    │           Vulnerability as trust
    │
    ├─ STAY STRATEGY (vv. 11-13)
    │   ├─ Find a "worthy person" in each town
    │   ├─ Stay in ONE house (don't trade up)
    │   └─ Give your peace / withdraw it
    │       │
    │       └─► Your presence carries blessing or judgment
    │
    └─ REJECTION PROTOCOL (vv. 14-15)
        │
        ├─ "Shake the dust off your feet"
        │   └─► Physical act of separation
        │       "We're done here"
        │
        └─► "More bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah"
            │
            └─► Greater light = greater accountability
                To reject the gospel is worse than
                rejecting conscience alone

THE SETUP (v. 16)
    │
    └─► "I am sending you out like SHEEP among WOLVES"
        │
        ├─ Not: "like lions among sheep"
        ├─ Not: "like wolves among wolves"
        └─► IS: vulnerable among predators
            │
            └─► Therefore:
                "Be as SHREWD as snakes
                 and as INNOCENT as doves"
                │
                ├─ Shrewd (φρόνιμοι) = wise, prudent
                └─ Innocent (ἀκέραιοι) = pure, unmixed
                    │
                    └─► Cunning without corruption
                        Strategic without sin

WHAT'S COMING (vv. 17-23)
    │
    ├─ LOCAL PERSECUTION (vv. 17-18)
    │   ├─ Handed over to local councils
    │   ├─ Flogged in synagogues
    │   └─ Brought before governors and kings
    │       │
    │       └─► "On my account"
    │           Not for crime
    │           For confession
    │
    ├─ FAMILY BETRAYAL (v. 21)
    │   ├─ "Brother will betray brother to death"
    │   ├─ "Father will betray child"
    │   └─ "Children will rebel against parents"
    │       │
    │       └─► The gospel divides households
    │
    ├─ UNIVERSAL HATRED (v. 22)
    │   └─► "You will be HATED by everyone
    │        because of me"
    │       │
    │       └─► "But the one who stands firm
    │            to the end will be saved"
    │
    └─ PERSECUTION RESPONSE (v. 23)
        └─► "When persecuted in one place,
             flee to another"
            │
            ├─ Not: "stand and fight"
            ├─ Not: "compromise to survive"
            └─► IS: keep moving, keep proclaiming
                │
                └─► "You will not finish going through
                     the towns of Israel before
                     the Son of Man comes"

THE ENCOURAGEMENT (vv. 19-20, 24-25)
    │
    ├─ WHEN ARRESTED (vv. 19-20):
    │   "Do not worry about what to say or how to say it"
    │   │
    │   └─► "It will not be you speaking,
    │        but the Spirit of your Father
    │        speaking through you"
    │       │
    │       └─► Promised articulation under pressure
    │
    └─ STUDENT = TEACHER (vv. 24-25)
        │
        ├─ "The student is not above the teacher"
        ├─ "Nor a servant above his master"
        │
        └─► "If the head of the house has been
             called Beelzebul, how much more
             the members of his household!"
            │
            └─► They called Jesus demon-possessed (9:34)
                Expect the same treatment
                │
                └─► You're in good company

JESUS → DISCIPLES
    │
    ├─ They rejected Him → They'll reject you
    ├─ They accused Him → They'll accuse you
    └─ They killed Him → They'll kill you
        │
        └─► Not: "Maybe it won't be that bad"
            IS: "This is the path"

THREE "DO NOT FEAR" COMMANDS
    │
    ├─ v. 26: "Do not be afraid of THEM"
    │   └─► "There is nothing concealed
    │        that will not be disclosed"
    │       │
    │       └─► Truth comes out
    │           Their accusations won't last
    │           Your vindication is coming
    │
    ├─ v. 28: "Do not be afraid of those who
    │           kill the BODY but cannot kill the SOUL"
    │   └─► "Rather, be afraid of the One who can
    │        destroy both soul and body in hell"
    │       │
    │       └─► Fear Hierarchy:
    │           │
    │           ├─ Man: Can kill body (temporary)
    │           └─ God: Can destroy soul (eternal)
    │               │
    │               └─► The greater fear cancels the lesser
    │
    └─ v. 31: "So DON'T BE AFRAID"
        └─► "You are worth more than many sparrows"

THE SPARROW ARGUMENT (vv. 29-31)
    │
    ├─ "Two sparrows sold for a penny"
    │   └─► Cheapest, most common birds
    │       Nearly worthless economically
    │
    ├─ "Yet not one of them will fall to the ground
    │    outside your Father's care"
    │   └─► God tracks every sparrow death
    │       Nothing escapes His notice
    │
    ├─ "Even the very HAIRS of your head
    │    are all NUMBERED"
    │   └─► Not just counted
    │       NUMBERED
    │       Individually catalogued
    │
    └─► THEREFORE: "You are worth more
                     than many sparrows"
        │
        └─► If God tracks worthless sparrows,
            how much more valuable humans?
            │
            └─► A fortiori argument:
                Lesser to greater
                If that, then how much more this

THE MIRROR PRINCIPLE
    │
    ├─ "Whoever ACKNOWLEDGES me before others..."
    │   └─► "I will also ACKNOWLEDGE before my Father in heaven"
    │
    └─ "But whoever DISOWNS me before others..."
        └─► "I will DISOWN before my Father in heaven"
            │
            └─► What you do on earth
                Jesus does in heaven
                │
                └─► Your confession = His confession
                    Your denial = His denial

THE STAKES
    │
    ├─ ACKNOWLEDGE (ὁμολογέω):
    │   ├─ Public identification with Jesus
    │   ├─ "Yes, I follow Him"
    │   └─ Risk: social cost, persecution, death
    │       │
    │       └─► Gain: Jesus identifies you before Father
    │
    └─ DISOWN (ἀρνέομαι):
        ├─ Public denial of Jesus
        ├─ "I don't know Him"
        └─ Gain: safety, acceptance, survival
            │
            └─► Loss: Jesus denies you before Father

THE SHOCKING CLAIM (v. 34)
    │
    └─► "Do not suppose that I have come
         to bring PEACE to the earth.
         I did not come to bring peace, but a SWORD."
        │
        ├─ Not: the Messiah brings peace (true, but not yet)
        ├─ Not: follow me for a peaceful life (false)
        └─► IS: the gospel creates division
            │
            └─► Before final peace comes division
                Before unity comes separation
                Before reconciliation comes conflict

THE DIVISION (vv. 35-36)
    │
    └─► "I have come to turn"
        │
        ├─ "a man against his father"
        ├─ "a daughter against her mother"
        ├─ "a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law"
        │
        └─► "A man's enemies will be
             the members of his own household"
            │
            └─► Quoting Micah 7:6
                Prophecy of end-times division
                │
                └─► The gospel doesn't unite families
                    It divides them
                    │
                    └─► Because it requires ULTIMATE allegiance

THE PRIORITY (vv. 37-39)
    │
    ├─ v. 37: COMPARATIVE LOVE
    │   │
    │   ├─ "Anyone who loves father or mother MORE than me
    │   │    is not worthy of me"
    │   │
    │   └─ "Anyone who loves son or daughter MORE than me
    │        is not worthy of me"
    │       │
    │       └─► Not: "don't love family"
    │           IS: "love Jesus MORE"
    │           │
    │           └─► Comparative, not absolute
    │               But still absolute priority
    │
    ├─ v. 38: CROSS-BEARING
    │   │
    │   └─► "Whoever does not take up their cross
    │        and follow me is not worthy of me"
    │       │
    │       └─► Cross = instrument of execution
    │           To carry your cross = walk to your death
    │           │
    │           └─► Following Jesus = dying to self
    │               Not metaphor, ACTUAL cost
    │
    └─ v. 39: LIFE PARADOX
        │
        ├─ "Whoever FINDS their life will LOSE it"
        │   └─► Preserve self → lose self
        │
        └─ "Whoever LOSES their life for my sake will FIND it"
            └─► Die to self → gain true life
                │
                └─► The upside-down kingdom
                    Loss = gain
                    Death = life

BEFORE GOSPEL: Family unity
    │
    └─► One member believes → Division
        │
        ├─ Believer: Jesus > family
        └─ Family: "You've abandoned us"
            │
            └─► The sword has fallen
                │
                └─► Not because the gospel is mean
                    But because it demands supremacy

THE IDENTIFICATION CHAIN (vv. 40-41)
    │
    ├─ "Anyone who welcomes YOU welcomes ME"
    │   └─► Disciples = Jesus' representatives
    │
    ├─ "Anyone who welcomes ME welcomes
    │    the ONE WHO SENT ME"
    │   └─► Jesus = Father's representative
    │
    └─► Therefore:
        │
        └─► Disciple → Jesus → Father
            │
            └─► To receive one = receive all
                To reject one = reject all

THE REWARD STRUCTURE (vv. 41-42)
    │
    ├─ "Whoever welcomes a PROPHET as a prophet
    │    will receive a PROPHET'S REWARD"
    │   └─► Receiving based on recognition
    │
    ├─ "Whoever welcomes a RIGHTEOUS PERSON
    │    will receive a RIGHTEOUS PERSON'S REWARD"
    │   └─► The reward matches the recognition
    │
    └─ "If anyone gives even a CUP OF COLD WATER
         to one of these little ones who is my disciple..."
        │
        └─► "That person will certainly not lose their reward"
            │
            └─► Even the SMALLEST act
                │
                └─► Cup of water = minimal hospitality
                    But done for "one of these little ones"
                    (disciples) = eternal significance

THE PRINCIPLE
    │
    └─► Small acts + right motivation = eternal weight
        │
        └─► Not the SIZE of the act
            But the OBJECT of the act
            │
            └─► A cup of water given to a disciple
                = recognized by Jesus
                = rewarded by Father

MATTHEW 10: THE SENT LIFE
    │
    ├─ DELEGATION: You carry Jesus' authority
    │   └─► Not your power, His through you
    │
    ├─ FOCUS: Strategic boundaries matter
    │   └─► Israel first, then all nations
    │
    ├─ EXPECTATION: Persecution is guaranteed
    │   └─► Sheep among wolves, student like teacher
    │
    ├─ COURAGE: Fear God, not man
    │   └─► He counts sparrows and hairs
    │
    ├─ LOYALTY: Public confession required
    │   └─► Your confession determines His
    │
    ├─ DIVISION: Gospel brings sword first
    │   └─► Jesus > family, cross-bearing, life paradox
    │
    └─ IDENTIFICATION: To receive you is to receive Jesus
        └─► Even a cup of water = eternal reward

SENT LIFE PARADOX
    │
    ├─ You have AUTHORITY → but go as SHEEP
    ├─ You bring PEACE → but cause DIVISION
    ├─ You face DEATH → but gain LIFE
    └─ You give WATER → but earn ETERNAL reward
        │
        └─► Upside-down kingdom
            Weakness = strength
            Loss = gain
            Suffering = glory

EXPECTATION VS REALITY
    │
    ├─ I expected: "Go equipped to win"
    │
    └─► Jesus said: "Go as sheep to be eaten"
        │
        └─► But here's the thing:
            │
            └─► Sheep with Shepherd > Wolves without one

THE COST I FEEL
    │
    ├─ Before Jesus: Family unity (false peace)
    │
    └─ After Jesus: Family division (true position)
        │
        └─► Not because I chose division
            But because I chose Jesus
            │
            └─► The sword isn't in my hand
                It's in the gospel itself

ETERNAL WEIGHT FROM SMALL ACTS
    │
    └─► Cup of water = smallest hospitality
        │
        └─► Given to "one of these little ones"
            │
            └─► NOT LOST
                │
                └─► The Father tracks it
                    Jesus remembers it
                    Eternal reward attached

WHAT I FEAR
    │
    ├─ Man's opinion
    ├─ Man's rejection
    └─ Man's violence
        │
        └─► All temporary
            All limited to body
            All seen by God

WHAT I SHOULD FEAR
    │
    └─► The One who holds my soul
        │
        └─► But here's the paradox:
            │
            └─► The One I should fear
                is the One who counts my hairs
                │
                └─► Fear becomes trust
                    Terror becomes security

HAVE I?
    │
    ├─ Privately: Yes
    ├─ In church: Yes
    │
    └─ At work? In my neighborhood? On social media?
        │
        └─► This is where the cost shows up
            │
            └─► Public confession = public target
                But also: public identification
                │
                └─► If I deny Him here
                    He denies me there

THE LOGIC
    │
    ├─ Hold your life → lose it
    │   └─► Self-preservation = death
    │
    └─ Lose your life → find it
        └─► Self-sacrifice = life
            │
            └─► Not masochism
                Reorientation
                │
                └─► Life found in Him
                    not in self-protection