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Forgiveness & eternal life are FREE GIFTS from our gracious God, but following Jesus IS going to COST US time & effort to take the Gospel to others, & a willingness to be made fun of…or worse. 

Following Jesus means Facing Persecution to Get the Gospel to Others.‌ 

Followers of Jesus are commanded to carry the good news to others, but the Gospel message will not always be embraced. 

Counting the Cost means Following Jesus & Facing Persecution to Get the Gospel to Others.

These disciples of Jesus are referred to as “the twelve apostles.” Apostles means “sent out” as an ambassador/messenger. Matthew makes sure to include himself as well as the one who ultimately betrayed Jesus. 

• Note: This authority was NOT given to every disciple of Jesus, but only to these 12 at this time.

Jesus gives them incredible authority - HIS authority to do what they had seen Him do - to drive out demons & heal all kinds of sickness. (Jesus later sends out 72 disciples with the same authority to prepare the people for Jesus’ upcoming visitation to their towns - Lk 10:1, 17). Jesus sent them out in pairs (Mark 6:7). WHY? Everybody needs another brother/sister! 

The 12 disciples are going to the 12 tribes, whom Jesus calls “the lost sheep of Israel”.

• Note: This is NOT a command for us to go ONLY to the Jews to share the gospel, but it was a command for these 12 at that time. The gospel was to go to the Jews first (Rm 1:16), and then to the Gentiles (as seen in Acts). 

Their message: “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” The disciples of Jesus were to act as heralds preparing people for a glimpse of heaven on earth. To back that up, the miracles of healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers, and driving out demons would demonstrate that the message was true.  

This is NOT a command for all short/long term missionaries. Jesus wanted to show the 12 how He would provide for their needs through people, because what they are doing is worth it. 

• Paul later quotes Jesus regarding providing for pastors who teach & lead the church of Jesus (1 Tim 5:17-18). 

God will provide places to stay and to be fed by worthy people - those who respond to the Kingdom message. The disciples were to bless those people with the age-old Jewish greeting - shālôm -  peace - meaning wholeness & favor with God.

However, not every home would be deserving to listen to their message and provide for their needs. This is the first time that resistance to the disciples’ gospel message is referenced, but, as we’re about to see, it will not be the last.

Jews made it their practice to shake the dust off their feet when reentering the Holy Land from a Gentile land - a picture of leaving the pagan practices & ideas in the dust behind them. Now Jesus commanded his disciples to respond this way, when their message was rejected by Jews (Matt 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5). These people who would not welcome nor listen will be more responsible for their rejection of God’s message - backed up by the miracles, than the people of Sodom and Gomorrah would be in the future day of judgment. 

• Christians never judge? The first followers of Jesus were to walk away from those not willing to listen, while warning them of God’s future day of judgment.

Jesus didn’t sugar-coat what His disciples would face. The Gospel message is dangerous because it is divisive (read the rest of the chapter on your own this week). Followers of Jesus are sent into enemy territory, like sheep among wolves. 

The apostles & fellow believers would sometimes be arrested & other times invited to testify about their message. The apostle Paul faced this many times, even flogged by the Jews five times (2 Cor 11:24) (the other apostles were flogged as well - Acts 5:40). Despite the difficulties that awaited them, Christians were/are to be tactical, shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 

• We are to be shrewd (wise ESV, NET) like snakes - known for their cunning intellect. They know when & where to set up to catch their prey. They know how to read the signs that it’s time to get away.
• Jesus was shrewd when asked about whether Jews should pay taxes to Caesar (Go read about it - Mt. 22:15-22).
• Doves are known for their purity & innocence, never bringing harm to anyone. Believers are to follow the example of Jesus as “holy, blameless, pure” (Heb 7:26), not returning evil for evil (1 Pet 2:23; Rm 12:17; 1 Cor 4:12-13).

We might be sheep among wolves, but we need to be smart sheep - tactical, wise, pure, & innocent, as we carry the gospel. 

While the Gospel would first go to Jews, Jesus would command His Jewish disciples to take the Gospel to Gentiles…people like you and me! Followers of Jesus spilt their sweat, time/talent/treasure, and even their blood…to get the gospel to us!

• Aren’t you GRATEFUL for their sacrifice!? Are WE WILLING to do the same for others? Jesus has not called us to a life of comfort, but a life of investment in eternal matters.

Why would we do that? We believe the Gospel message: God-Man-Sin-Jesus-Judgment. The first generation Christians went through the tough times because of the eternal hope that awaited them!

This doesn’t mean Christians shouldn’t prepare to share their faith and just rely on God’s help. Disciples of Jesus were trained by JESUS in how to minister and speak to others. 

• We should prepare to share & pray for God’s help.

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

› Don’t you hear the practice of being wise as snakes, but harmless as doves in what Peter writes?

• Believers aren’t to have APATHY, but neither should believers have ANXIETY (worry) about sharing with others, because the Holy Spirit will speaking through us!
• Read about Peter & John, brought before the very men who led the Sanhedrin to put Jesus to death (Acts 4:8-12).

The SPIRIT won’t leave you on your own; He speaks through believers who stand for Jesus!

• This is one of the greatest moments in life…when God gives you insight & answers; when you KNOW that He is WITH you!
• If you never share the Gospel, 

1. You might not face persecution, but you also won’t experience the privilege of being filled by God’s Spirit.
2. You will never know the joy of helping others come to Jesus.
3. You are disobeying your King’s command to take the Gospel to others.

1. Turn from sin and Follow Jesus.
2. Read Matthew 10 this week. Write down the insights you gain & questions you have. Share with another this week.
3. Ask God for & take the opportunities to SERVE others & SHARE the Gospel with them.

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

1. Read Matthew 10:16-17. Why is the Gospel of Jesus so divisive in our culture & what dangers do we face for sharing the Gospel with others?
2. Today’s BIG TRUTH: Counting the Cost means Following Jesus & Facing Persecution to Get the Gospel to Others. What would Jesus say to the person who claims Jesus but isn’t willing to follow Jesus nor share the Gospel with others? 
3. Have you ever faced persecution for serving/sharing Jesus? If so, how did that persecution impact you? How does the persecution we face compare to what the first followers of Jesus faced?
4. What does it mean to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves”?
5. Read Matthew 10:19-20 & 1 Peter 3:15. What encouragement does this give you in sharing the Gospel with others? Why must we not give in to apathy (e.g. “I don’t have to prepare to share. I’ll just let God work through me.”) or anxiety (worrying about how we will do or how others respond)? 
6. Share about a time that you sensed God using you to serve others and share the Gospel. 
7. What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching? What does God want YOU to do with what we studied today? 
8. Share prayer needs and pray for one another.