QT 11/01/2024 Thursday Matthew 10
QT 11/01/2024 Thursday Matthew 10
http://www.esvbible.org/matt10
Jacob is also known as Israel (Gen 32:28). Old Israel has 12 tribes (Gen 35:23-26). The twelve tribes of Old Israel came out of natural descent, rivalry and competition (see Genesis 29-30 account).
New Israel, however, has 12 disciples (Matt 10:2-5), chosen by Jesus' personal CALL, primarily not by family relations nor social pedigree. The backgrounds of the Twelve are diverse and querky at best, extreme & obiang at its worse.
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Jesus' CREDENTIALS (Matt 1-4) are the proofs of the AUTHORITY which He has been exercising (Matt 5-9). In Matt 10, this AUTHORITY is given to The Twelve to preach with the same accompanying validating SIGNS (Matt 10:1; Matt 8-9).
The language of their message is also similar: And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (Matt 10:7) JESUS HIMSELF had used a similar phrase (Matt 4:17), so did John the Baptist (Matt 3:1). These similar phrases link the authority and message of Jesus, now given to The Twelve, to preach repentance in view of the kingdom's coming.
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In Matt 10, we see that this AUTHORITY to preach repentance IS RADICAL in many areas and OVERRIDES many things in priority:-
The manner of scant equipping for the messenger is RADICAL but HONOURABLE (Matt 10:9-10). Atas personal accessories are OUT;
The message, if not accepted, receives a DECISIVE response from the messenger - "shake off the dust from your feet" (Matt 10:14);
This Authorisation to preach OVERRIDES personal liberty and comfort (Matt 10:17);
It OVERRIDES mere maintaining of personal "reputation" (Matt 10:18-19);
In fact, the "Spirit of your Father" will be "speaking through you"! (Matt 10:20) Your own preferences of what and how to talk might be overridden somewhat.
It OVERRIDES loyalty even among siblings, parents and men (Matt 10:21-22);
If Jesus was slandered (Matt 10:24-25), how much more His followers (Be prepared!);
Putting Jesus first over family (father, mother, son, daughter) and taking the cross DEFINES one's worthiness of being identified with Jesus (Matt 10:37-38).
Are you fearful of the radical task? Do not be! "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt 10:28).
APPLICATION: Be a disciple! Fear God, even as you preach repentance courageously to the world in a "wise" and "innocent" manner (Matt 10:16).
星期四 2024年1月11日 今日读经：马太福音10章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Mat/10/
雅各也叫做以色列(创32:28)。旧以色列有12个支派(创35:23-26)。这旧以色列的12个支派都是出自于自然的血统，存在着自然的对抗和斗争(见创世记29-30章的叙述)。
新以色列有12个门徒(太10:2-5)，是耶稣亲自挑选的，不关乎家世关系或社会地位。这12个门徒的背景各异，有的极其怪异、极端、有的则俗不可耐。
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耶稣的印证(太1-4章)就是祂所执行的权柄的有力证据 (太5-9章)。在太10章，这同样的权柄也给了那12个门徒，让他们在传道时也能应证同样的奇迹(太10:1;太8-9)。
他们信息的语言也是很接近的：你们要一边走一边宣扬说：‘天国近了。’(太10:7)耶稣祂本身也用了类似的一句话(太4:17)，施洗约翰也一样(太3:1)。这些类似的语句把耶稣的权柄和信息连接在一起，现在给了12门徒，去传扬悔改的信息因天国快来了。
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在太10章，我们看到这传讲悔改的信息的权柄在很多方面是带着改革的而同时也在优先顺序上取代了许多的事情：-
1.传讲信息的人虽然穿戴朴素却是体面的(太10:9-10)。高格调的个人饰物则不被接受；
2.那信息若不被接受，传讲信息的人却可做出这决定性的回应---“要把脚上的灰尘跺下去”(太10：14)；
3.这种传道的权柄取代了个人的自由和安逸(太10:17)；
4.它取代了个人“名誉”的维护(太10:18-19)；
5.事实上，“你们父的灵”会“在你们里面说话”!(太10:20)。你自己想说什么、该怎么说都会被取代。
6.它也会取代弟兄之间、父母之间和人与人之间的忠诚(太10:21-22)；
7.倘若耶稣会被诽谤(太10:24-25)，那祂的跟随者也同样会被诽谤(预备好自己!)；
8.把耶稣摆在家庭之上(父亲、母亲、儿子、女儿)并背起十字架的将因为跟随耶稣而为自己重新定义自己的价值(太10:37-38)。
你害怕那带着改革的任务吗？不要害怕！“那些杀身体却不能杀灵魂的，不要怕他们；倒要怕那位能把灵魂和身体都投入地狱里的。“(太10:28)
应用：做一个门徒！敬畏神，并勇敢地向世界传讲悔改的信息，带着既“机警”和“纯洁”的态度。(太10:16)
