Daily Devotional For Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Good morning Southside. We are making our way through Matthew’s Gospel and we are going to pick up where we left off yesterday. Look at Matthew 10:21-23:

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. (22) You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. (23) “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes” (NASB).

Just before sending His disciple out in pairs, Jesus empowered them to share the Gospel and do miracles, He warned them of dangers to anticipate. One of the consequences of becoming a disciple of Jesus is this relationship to Christ may be an oppositional issue for your family members. Jews held this belief that denunciation by family members was a possible indicator that the end was near. They based this on Micah 7:6, “For a son treats his father contemptuously, a daughter rises up against her mother, Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; A man’s enemies are the men of his own household” (NASB)..

In referencing the end times, Jesus affirmed that as the end approached, being a disciple of Him would be disruptive and devastating to family relationships. Faith in Christ over faith in family would be divisive. Jesus’ point is as we share Jesus’ authority to share the Gospel, we will also share in His sufferings.

In verse 22, Jesus talks about those disciples who endure to the end. Unfortunately, many have falsely interpreted Jesus’ words to imply the following:

1. Those who endure to the end would avoid physical suffering based on a “hedge of protection” around them. This is FALSE. It's a LIE.  By the time Matthew wrote His Gospel many Christians had already suffered persecution and even martyrdom due to their faith in Christ. 
2. Those who endure to the end would avoid spiritual suffering based on their good deeds. This is FALSE. It's a LIE.  One problem with this false belief is that it is based on “works.” When we read Ephesians 2:8-9 we see that salvation is not based on works nor do our works protect us from suffering.
3. Those who endure to the end would avoid emotional suffering.  This is FALSE. It's a LIE. As we read above, having faith in Christ would be divisive in family relationships, which are much of the time, the most emotionally charged relationships.
4. Those who endure to the end would avoid eternal suffering based on their endurance.  This is FALSE. It's a LIE. Perseverance does not save us but is evidence we are saved. Persistence is not a means to salvation, but a by-product of salvation. 

Roman historian Tacitus writes this about Christians in Nero’s day: “Besides being put to death they [Christians under Nero’s persecution] were made to serve as objects of amusement; they were clad in the hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified; others set on fire to serve to illuminate the night and games because they claim to have the Light of the world. Others were flayed (had their skin removed) and rolled in salt beds because they claim to be salt in this world.”

Jesus told His disciples that when persecution came, do not toy with it or ignore it. He told them to flee from it to another town. In this case they were not to dirty the pearl of the Gospel, which sounds like Jesus’ words to them in Matthew 7:6. “Don’t cast your pearls to swine and do not stop their ministry due to fear. This is where they needed to be shrewd as snakes (Matthew 10:16). Almost immediately persecution and martyrdom came to the early church (Acts 4:1-12, Acts 5:17-42, Acts 7, Acts 8:1-2, and we see this with Paul just as soon as he began his ministry (Acts 9:20-25). We see how the Apostle Paul, after being stoned and left for dead in Lystra, got up and went to Derbe (Acts 14:19-20).

Persecution did not stop the Gospel, but it may have forced it to go outside to other parts of the Roman Empire (Acts 11:19). When we read the very last part of Matthew 10:23, this statement by Jesus has caused all kinds of misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Here are a few given by New Testament scholar Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” pp. 209-210)”

1. Some have understood this to focus on the immediate context of verses 5–16. The disciples would not have time to go through all the towns before Jesus would catch up with them. This interpretation is too simple, however, given the language in the text that refers to events after the resurrection of Christ. At the time of Matthew’s writing, the disciples had completed the mission, so Jesus obviously was referring to something else.
2. Some suggest that the coming of the Son of Man refers to His coming judgment against the Jews, fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. But it is an unlikely interpretation to connect the destruction of Jerusalem with the return of the Son of Man.
3. Albert Schweitzer made this the key to his interpretation of Jesus, explaining that Jesus expected the end of time to happen before the disciples finished this mission. When it did not happen, said Schweitzer, Jesus switched to a more active role and tried to force it to come through His crucifixion. This view misinterprets Jesus’ words to apply only to the immediate context (as does number 1 above).
4. Still others explain that the “coming” refers to Jesus’ appearance in triumph after His resurrection.
5. Because of the events of the book of Acts, it seems more likely that Jesus was referring to events after His resurrection. The meaning of His words would be that the task of the mission to the Jews would be so great and so difficult (for many would refuse to believe) that it would not be accomplished even by the time of His second coming.

In Matthew 10:17, Jesus spoke of religious persecution. In Matthew 10:18, Jesus spoke of political persecution. And In Matthew 10:21-23, Jesus described domestic and cultural persecution. Jesus’ words are meant to be an encouragement, not just a warning. He was not saying if a believer persevered to the end, He would save that believer. He was saying, “Keep persevering to the end, even if they kill your body, your soul is eternally saved.” This reminds of Jesus’ words in Revelation 2:10. So, the last part of verse 23 is Jesus telling His disciples that the Gospel will not fully reach Israel until the end (Romans 11:25, Romans 11:15, and Romans 11:26-27). Even though Israel would reject the Gospel, this was no excuse to abandon sharing it with them. 

Assignment: Who would you say you are the closest to in life? Who can you count on when family and friends think your faith in Christ is wrong or misguided or too much? Who demands first place in your life? Who can work miracles in the hearts of your family and friends? If your answer is “Jesus” to all four questions, then you know who loves your family and friends more than you? Will you trust the Lord with this and continue to share the Gospel with others? Why or why not?

Scripture To Meditate On: James 1:12, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I accept that my relationship to You will be divisive and disruptive to the people I love deeply. I will trust You to work in their hearts when this happens. And as you do, I will continue to share the Gospel and grow in maturity in You. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly