They Are To Preach Boldly, Remembering Whose They Are, And Are Not To Be Afraid For Three Reasons (10:23-33).
Having warned His disciples of the opposition that they will face, Jesus now puts everything in the light of eternity. They are to consider everything in the light of eternal realities, and recognise that there is nothing more important than proclaiming His message to the world, remembering also the watchfulness of their heavenly Father over them.
Analysis of Matthew 10:23-33.
a “But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for truly I say to you, You will not have gone through the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come” (Matthew 10:23).
b “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!” (Matthew 10:24).
c “Do not be afraid of them therefore, for there is nothing covered, that will not be revealed, and hid, that will not be known” (Matthew 10:26).
d “What I tell you in the darkness, speak you in the light, and what you hear in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops” (Matthew 10:27).
c “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28).
b “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall on the ground without your Father, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).
a “Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).
Note that in ‘a' their mission is not finally to end, and will not be completed, until ‘the Son of Man be come', and in the parallel that is when men will either be confessed before the Father, or denied before Him by His Son, the Messiah. In ‘b' disciple and servant have a close relationship with their teacher and master, and must expect similar treatment, and in the parallel they need not be concerned because of their heavenly Father's watch over them because they are members of His household. In ‘c' they need not be afraid because in the end what they do will be revealed in its true light, as will what their opponents do, and in the parallel they need not be afraid because the One to fear is the One Who has power over the eternal future, and knows the truth about both, and will deal with them accordingly. Centrally in ‘d is the necessity to widely proclaim Jesus' words.