DBG - October 8 - Matthew 10-11

In this chapter Christ sends out the Twelve.

vs. 1-42 - This parallels Mark 6:6-13 and Luke 8:41-56. Christ sends out the Twelve, who are listed in verses 2-4, to preach throughout Galilee.  The disciples go forth as the Messiah’s emissaries, empowered to do miracles.  This is a public offer of Christ to the Jews to be their Messiah.  Christ’s instructions spend a lot of time on fact that many will reject Him and the dangers they will face.  Serving God is rarely without opposition and heartaches.

In this chapter John sends messengers to Christ.

vs. 1-19 – This parallels Luke 7:18-35.  John the Baptist is still imprisoned by Herod Antipas (see Matthew 4:12) and is months away from his execution.  There are two theories as to why he sends his disciples to Christ.  First, that he was having doubts as he languished in jail.  Second, that he was trying to get his followers to turn to Christ.  I prefer the latter.  Christ’s response is that He was fulfilling the prophecies of Isiah 35:4-6 and 61:1.  He was saying that, yes, He was the true Messiah.  After John’s disciples leave. Christ speaks about John the Baptist’s role as forerunner of the Messiah.  He declares that John fulfilled Malachi 3:1.  Sadly, the hardness of men’s hearts caused them to refuse both John and Christ.

vs. 20-30 – We see here the frustration of Christ as the hardness of men’s hearts.  They had rejected John the Baptist and Himself, as discussed in the previous section.  Now He calls out the cities in Galilee that He had labored in.  Despite all the miracles and sermons, men refused to repent.  He compares them to some of the most wicked cities.  He ends with repeating the offer of salvation and hope.  Some had accepted this.  Others would. 

I believe that when the lost stand before God they will have no excuse. They cannot say that they would have repented if only God had done this or that. They cannot say that they would have accepted the Gospel if the right person had reached out to them. No, they will have no one to blame but themselves. They chose sin over salvation. Those who know the sweetness of salvation have a difficult time comprehending just how hard hearts are. A loving God has done everything He can do to sway human hearts, only to see them reject and hate Him.

Our hymn today is “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” written by Horatius Bonar in 1846.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
Come unto me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon my breast.
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad,
I found in him a resting-place,
And he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one
Stoop down and drink, and live;
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream,
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
I am this dark world's light;
Look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
And all thy days be bright.
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In him my Star, my Sun.
And in that light of life I'll walk,
Till traveling days are done.