Matthew Chapter 10

WOMEN"S BIBLE STUDY CHAPTER 10
As we sat together on Thursday night, we discussed what we would use to remember this chapter. I admit, I was a little stumped. We decided to use 10 SENDS OUT THE 12. 
In this Chapter Jesus gives His disciples authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and the ability to cleanse and heal all manner of illness and sickness . He tells them to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons. He says " freely you received, freely give" 10:8. He told them not to gather money for their journey. Not to take a backpack or even a change of clothes. He tells them to go only to the cities of the children of Israel. No gentile cities, no Samaritan cities. He says to shake off the dust from their feet of any cities that do not receive them. Then He says that It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for those cities that do not receive them. The story of what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah is in Genesis 19:1-29. Read those verses if you are not familiar with that passage.

He goes on in verses 16-42 to say some of the most important verses of our faith while speaking also of things that were to happen to the disciples in the future.
If I had been one of them, I would have been afraid. They were told of persecution and rejection and even told that they were not to fear death. (10:28). Some day we may be called to face death rather than denounce our savior. Many people around the world are. But, I think that most of us face fear of rejection, fear of embarrassment, fear of our lives changing if we share Christ as we should. A lot of times we are "paralyzed by fear" but not in the way we see it portrayed in the scary movies. I mean that our Christian lives become stagnant, shallow, cut off from a fresh water source like a stagnant pond. Jesus in our lives is meant to flow from us like "rivers of living water" (John 7:28)  

Martin Luther Said:
Let goods and kindred go
This mortal life also
The body they may kill
God's truth abideth still
His kingdom is forever

 They were also told that they were worth much more to God than any of the little sparrows that crowd in my barn for warmth in the winter. I'm not sure that that would have been a comfort to me in their situation. He also told them that the hairs on their heads were all numbered (10:30) Not counted, numbered. There is a hair #240, on your head. I find this idea positively amazing.                                                                              

I don't want to go on and on but there are a few more things I want to mention. This was a group of 12 men listening to Him. I'm sure some had probably zoned out by now and missed some of what He was saying. They were people just like us remember . This group included Judas, who betrayed Jesus. I have wondered about the miracles they performed and if any were performed by Judas. But I digress. The  verse I actually want to point out is 10:38. We are so familiar with this verse that we don't give it a second thought. But, think about this verse from the perspective of the 12 men that were standing there listening to Jesus tell them how to get ready for their journey. He says " And he who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me". This verse means a lot to us, but it didn't mean anything to them. Jesus had not taken up any cross at that point. I am sure that they did not know what He meant by those words. I consider it a miracle that Matthew remembered Him saying those words and wrote it down for us. By the time Matthew recorded those words , it meant a lot to the disciples too. 

One  last thing about this chapter, I believe that verse 10:39 is a promise. Nothing better than losing your life,as you know it, and being right where God wants you. The day we got the call from the state of Vermont asking us to become parents for our daughter Hannah, was the day that this verse became real to me. As I spoke on the phone with the placement coordinator for Child protective services I could hear the Lord saying to me "lose your life","lose your life" over and over again . Well we lost our lives as we knew it that day. The next day we were the scared parents of a very sick infant. Our lives have never been the same. We have seen and continue to see miracles on behalf of this little "fatherless child". The Lord has taken very tender care of her and we have been privileged to watch Him work.

So, for this chapter we will remember 10 SENDS OUT THE 12. If you want to, you can also remember that if you DOUBLE THE 12 , YOU GET 24. In chapter 24, Jesus is again speaking to the disciples and He says many things that are similar to some of the things He says in this chapter. But you don't have to remember that because we will eventually get to chapter 24.

Chapter 9 we are remembering VERSE 9:9  JESUS CALLS MATTHEW, DOUBLE THE 9 AND YOU GET18, in verse 9:18 we start the story of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood and Jesus bringing the little girl back to life.

Chapter 8 verse 8:8 I AM NOT WORTHY FOR YOU TO COME UNDER MY ROOF, BUT JUST SAY THE WORD AND MY SERVANT WILL BE HEALED. Story of the faithful centurion, also remember, LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR OWN DEAD AND PIGS OVER A CLIFF.

Chapter 7, JUDGING , plank in the eye and Prophet, fruit inspection.

Chapter 6, PRAYER, Lord's prayer is here and Worry,Jesus says not to worry.

Chapter 5, BLESS YOUR HEART, The beatitudes are here and the "adultery in your heart" verse is here.

Chapter 4, THINK FAST, Jesus fasts for 40 days and 40 nights, He appoints 4 APOSTLES, Peter Andrew, James and John.

Chapter 3, H2O, John the Baptist baptizes Jesus and we see the TRINITY as Jesus comes from the water.

Chapter 2, JESUS TURNS 2, THE WISE MEN COME AND HEROD SLAUGHTERS THE 2 YEAR OLDS.
Chapter 1, first 17 verses are genealogy and TURN THE 18 ON IT'S SIDE AND IT LOOKS LIKE A SWADDLED BABY. It's the Christmas story.

So, keep reading! Move on to Chapter 11. Remember to read it as many times as you can and practice the memory tools we are using. Pray for remembrance, and start sharing what you remember with your family. Your kids are bound to be impressed. !!!God bless you.
Love
nancy