Things need to pay off when becoming a disciples

Matthew 10:34-42 (New International Version)

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 -
³⁶a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'^[a]

³⁷"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; ³⁸and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

⁴⁰"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. ⁴¹Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. ⁴²And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

I. Core Message

Content:

1. Conflicts occur between believe or not believe since Jesus is coming. (v34-36)
2. Talking about three kinds people who don’t deserve to follow Jesus (v37-38)
3. Jesus talks about life from the point of view of winning and losing (v39)
4. Jesus said people who treat god’s servants good with receive rewards (v40-42)

Theme:

1. Things need to pay off when becoming a disciples
2. Rewards of being a disciples

II. Who are God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit?

1. Jesus Christ who brings conflicts to the society (v34-36)
2. Jesus Christ who is worthy for our devotions (v37-39)
3. God who is worthy for us to receive and worship
4. God who send Jesus Christ (v40)
5. God who send his servants (v41)
6. God who gives rewards (v41-42)

III. What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations, and warnings?)

1. Sources of Conflicts

This script is harder to be understood. It brings up misunderstanding easily. People often wonder why Jesus Christ does not bring peace to the world; instead, he brings conflicts. In fact, Jesus Christ does not bring conflict. He still brings love and peace to the world. The problem is that Satan is powerful. He always tries to make people resist the truths. Thus, when a person is making a decision regarding faith, there must exists an opposing force. This force often comes from people who are close to you. For example, from parent, family, and friends. This sometimes even break the relationship between two parties. We can see that Satan is the one who actually brings the conflict.

Reflection: Have I received pressures after I follow Jesus? Have I faced any conflicts

2. Order of Love

In the scripture, Jesus talked about three kinds of people who do not deserve to follow him. First kind is people who love their parents more than Jesus. Second is who loves his son or daughters more than Jesus. Third kind is who does not take cross and follow Jesus. Jesus does not tell us not to love our parents, son and daughter. He is just saying that we should love him more than we love our parents, son and daughters. By doing so, we are worthy to follow him, and become his disciples. According to Jesus teaching, we are not choosing between him and “parents, and son and daughter.” He is teaching us that we need to do both, but there exist the order.

Reflection: How much do I love Christ? Do I love my parent, brothers and sisters, and friends more?

3. What we need to pay off when we follow Christ

In the scripture, Jesus talked about three kinds of people who do not deserve to follow him. First kind is people who love their parents more than Jesus. Second is who loves his son or daughters more than Jesus. Third kind is who does not take cross and follow Jesus. We all know that, at the time of Jesus, it was harsh to take the cross. These people may even loss their lives. Thus, Jesus is teaching us, people who decide to follow us need to prepare their heart that they will suffer for Christ. In other words, we need to pay for following Christ.

Reflection: How many years have I followed Jesus? Have I sacrifice anything for him?

4. Talking about Christ from an angle of winning and losing.

Jesus said, “. ³⁹Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” What Jesus is teaching us is that, people who hold tight to his life will loss the rewards coming from God. This is telling us that if we take what are from the world seriously, we will feel empty in our heart. On the other hand, If we do not take what we have in the world seriously, we will be able to follow Christ more seriously. And we will feel that our lives are more abundant. Thus, people who are willing to follow Jesus for all cost, their lives is abundant, and they will receive eternal life.

Reflection: What do I live for? What does life means to me? Will I find my life? Or Will I lose my life?

5. Power of Pleading

Jesus said, “⁴⁰"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. ⁴¹Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. ⁴²And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Jewish believe that when they receive the prophets of someone, they are receiving who send them as well. Thus, when you show respects to the prophets, you are showing respects to the person who send them. Jesus used this concept to point out that: Due to God, people who receive his servants will receive rewards from God. Even though the person he receives is the little one, he will still receive rewards.

Reflection: Have I ever received anyone? Do I receive pastors or people who are on missions? Have I ever helped any brothers and sisters? Have I ever received Christ?