MONDAY- 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B
Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1: It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword.
I Reading: Isaiah 1:11-17: Make yourself clean. Take your wrong-doing
out of my sight.
The Cost of Being the Lord’s Disciple, Mt 10:34-42
In
this passage Jesus is exact and uncompromising. He lays some heavy demands upon
his disciples. He states clearly what it will cost a person to be his disciple,
and he describes the cost by using four illustrations.
1. Jesus’ purpose (v.34)
a.
Not
to bring peace
b.
To
bring a sword
2. Illustration 1: a person’s family
(v.35-37)
a.
The
fact: Christ sets the believer against his family
b.
The
demand: must love Christ supremely
c.
The
reward: counted worthy vs. unworthy
3. Illustration 2: the cross (v.38)
a.
Demand:
die-follow
b.
Reward:
counted worthy vs. unworthy
4. Illustration 3: a person’s life
(v.39)
a.
Demand:
give up life
b.
Reward:
lose life vs. find life
5. Illustration 4: welcoming and
ministering to others (v.40-42)
a.
Demand:
welcome a believer and minister to him
b.
Reward:
an equal reward
1)
The
presence of Christ and of God (v.40)
2)
The
equal reward
3)
Strongly
asserted: the smallest ministry will not lose its reward
Thought: The
world is full of hurt, pain and suffering-not peace. The truth cannot be
denied. However, we can be of good cheer, for Christ has overcome the world.
His word,
sharper than any two-edged sword, pierces the soul and spirit of a person,
discerning the thoughts and intents of his heart. It convicts the person to become
a follower of God and His righteousness (Heb 4:12).
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