Peter Barnes | Matthew 10:17-26
SERMON NOTES
UNDERSTANDING PERSECUTION
Psalm 35; Matthew 10:17-26
1. Christians will be opposed by Jews, Gentiles and even family
– 10:17-18, 21-22a; do not suffer for the wrong reasons (1 Pet.4:15-16)
– the Jews (10:17; John 16:2; 2 Cor.11:24); the Gentiles (10:18; Acts 17:7-8); family (10:21, 37; can mean death in a Muslim society); by all (10:22a; Luke 6:26)
2. Persecution will simply be for being Christian.
– 10:22a; John 15:25; 1 Pet.4:16
– the Christian is not to be hard to get on with (Rom.12:18)
3. Like Christ, like Christian.
– 10:24-25; 2 Tim.3:12
– Charles Spurgeon: ‘If the Master of the family is likened to Beelzebub, the fly-god of the Philistines, and named after the prince of demons, by what names will they call us? Doubtless malice will quicken wit, and sarcasm will invent words which pierce as daggers, and cut like knives …. God was slandered in Paradise, and Christ on Calvary, how can we hope to escape? Instead of wishing to avoid bearing the cross, let us be content to endure dishonour for our King’s sake.’