The Dangers That They Will Face In The Future.
Having declared the positive side of what their experiences will be Jesus now turns to the problems that they will face. For while they go trusting their heavenly Father for His provision, and as representatives of the Coming One, they must not thereby think that they will be immune from men's hatred. For just as John's teaching, and His own teaching, have produced hatred in men, so will theirs. They must therefore expect the worst. They will find themselves up against both religious and civil authorities, and will have to cater with family divisions caused by the attitudes of people towards Him. This had already been seen in what had happened to John the Baptist under the very ‘king' who ruled Galilee (Mark 6:14-29). It was to be seen in the attitude displayed by the Scribes and Pharisees towards Him (Matthew 9:3; Matthew 9:34; both serious charges). It was to be seen in such attitudes as that of Nazareth (Luke 4:28-30). And it was as clear as day from what was promised in the Old Testament that it would happen to all righteous people who sought to walk with God, often expressed in extreme terms as here (e.g. Micah 7:5-6; Isaiah 66:5; Ezekiel 22:7; Zechariah 7:10-12; Zechariah 13:7-9).
We may see in Jesus' words an element of deliberate exaggeration in order to bring out the significance of what He is saying, for this was a regular feature of Jesus' teaching (compare Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 5:22-26; Matthew 5:29-30; Matthew 6:2; Matthew 7:3-6). His words are to be thought about and not all to be taken literally. They are not all aimed at pedantic minds. (Although He does also awesomely provide for pedantic minds as well).
Analysis of Matthew 10:16-23.
a “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
b “But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you (Matthew 10:17).
c “Yes and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles” (Matthew 10:18).
d “But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious how or what you shall speak, for it will be given you in that hour what you shall speak (Matthew 10:19).
c For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:20).
b “And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death” (Matthew 10:21).
a “And you will be hated of all men for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).
Note that in ‘a' the sheep go among the wolves, and in the parallel they are to be hated of all men. In ‘b' they will be delivered up to face the Jewish courts, and in the parallel they will be delivered up to them by their own families. In ‘c' they will be brought before even the highest authorities, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles, and in the parallel it will not be their testimony but the testimony of their Father in Heaven Who speaks in them. Centrally in ‘d' God will give them the words that they are to speak.