Matthew 10:24-39 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Further Sayings on Persecution.

Matthew 10:24-25 a would hardly be intelligible to the disciples till after Matthew 16:21; Matthew 10:25 b connects with Matthew 12:22-32. Beelzebub: Mark 3:22 *.

Matthew 10:26-33. From Q (cf. Luke 12:2-9): Matthew 10:26 is found in Mark 4:22, though the application is different both there and also in Luke 12:2. Here and in Matthew 10:27 the thought is that Jesus-' influence in His lifetime is small compared with what it will be later. The destroyer in Matthew 10:28 b is God (cf. Wis_16:13, James 4:12), though some argue from Luke 12:5 mg. that it is the devil. But the usual exhortation is to fight the devil rather than to fear him. soul (psuche) is variously used in the Synoptists; here it is all that makes up the real self. But they that fear the Lord are to trust in the Lord (Psalms 115:11); hence Matthew 10:29-31. Even if they suffer martyrdom it will be with God's knowledge and loving care.

Matthew 10:32 f. sums up the thought of faithful endurance elaborated in Matthew 10:17-31. confess, i.e. acknowledge, range oneself with. Some think Lk., the Son of Man (will confess him), preferable to Mt.'s I. Mark 8:38 seems to distinguish between Jesus and the Son of Man; Mt. by his pronoun declares them identical.

Matthew 10:33 should be read not as a threat but a statement of inevitable law.

Related Commentaries of Matthew 10:24

Matthew 10:24-39

24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub,d how much more shall they call them of his household?

26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthinge? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.