Mat 10:17-39 | TNotes

Summary for Matt 10:19-20: 10:19-20 ^a As God gave Moses a spokesman in Aaron (Exod 4:10-17 ^b), so God would give Jesus’ disciples the right words at the right time through the Spirit (John 14:26 ^c; Acts 4:8 ^d).
Summary for Matt 10:21-22: 10:21-22 ^e Jews regularly associated family strife with the last times (see 24:9-10 ^f). Jesus experienced such conflicts as well (12:46-50 ^g).

• Everyone who endures to the end refers to those who remain faithful to Jesus, to the point of death or until his return (10:23 ^h).

• will be saved: Though some have taken this phrase to mean temporal deliverance from persecution (such as release from prison), the idea here is eternal salvation for those who remain faithful.
10:23 ⁱ will return: Scholars are divided as to whether this refers to the second coming of Christ for his church or an earlier coming in judgment—namely, the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (see 16:28 ^j).

• before you have reached: Jesus meant either “before you have fled through all the towns” or “before you have evangelized all the towns.” The focus on persecution in the context (see 10:17-39 ^k) favors the former, suggesting that the towns were like cities of refuge (Num 35:9-32 ^l). The emphasis is on how widespread the rejection of the message will be—i.e., “not until the whole nation has run you out of town.”
10:25 ^m In Jesus’ day, Satan was often called prince of demons. The Greek term is Beelzeboul, from the name of an Old Testament pagan deity, Baal-zebul (“lord, the prince”). The Latin version reads Beelzebub, which is a transliteration of a Hebrew phrase meaning “lord of flies,” which was most likely a Jewish insult of Baal-zebul (see 2 Kgs 1:2 ⁿ).
10:28 ^o Jesus’ disciples are to fear only God by obeying him and testifying of him; in contrast to human authorities, God’s authority and judgment are unlimited.

• hell: See study note on 5:29.
Summary for Matt 10:29-31: 10:29-31 ^p Because God cares about every sparrow, and because Jesus’ disciples are much more valuable, certainly the disciples need not fear—God will providentially care for them.
Summary for Matt 10:32-33: 10:32-33 ^q God accepts the one who acknowledges Jesus publicly in the context of trial and persecution (10:16-25 ^r). These verses pertain to a person’s pattern of life (see 7:13-27 ^s) and not to a single confession or a single denial. For example, Judas acknowledged Jesus in individual instances yet was damned (26:23-24 ^t), whereas Peter denied Jesus (see 26:69-75 ^u) yet was saved.
Summary for Matt 10:34-39: 10:34-39 ^v Allegiance to Jesus has priority over allegiance to family. 10:34 ^w Jesus did bring peace (John 14:27 ^x), but not of a social and political kind. Instead, Jesus calls humans to make a decision about him, which brings a sword—i.e., division (see Matt 8:21-22 ^y; 12:46-50 ^z; Luke 12:51 ^aa).
Summary for Matt 10:37-39: 10:37-39 ^ab The cross was a Roman instrument of torture and execution (27:27-55 ^ac). To take up your cross and follow Jesus involves loving him above all other things and being willing to follow him regardless of the physical or social consequences.