Daily Devotional For Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Good morning Southside. Thank you for taking the time to read this devotional and prayerfully meditate on it as well. We are making our way through the Gospel of Matthew, and today we come to Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:24-27:
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. (25) It is enough for the disciple that he becomes like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! (26) Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. (27) What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops” (NASB).
Let’s unpack this passage for a few minutes. Jesus used comparison here to make a point. He compared a disciple or student to his/her teacher and a slave to his/her master. His point is there is a hierarchy in relationships. In Judaism, a disciple shared in the daily routines of life just like a slave or servant fought beside his or her master. Both receive the same treatment.
Jesus then used a term you may be unfamiliar with – Beelebul. This term literally means “lord of the dwelling.” In the Old Testament Beelzebub was the god of Ekron (2 Kings 1:2-3, 2 Kings 1:6 and 2 Kings 1:16. The word “Zebul” means “exalted dwelling.” Over time this came to be a term used for satan or devil in Judaism. Over a couple chapters the religious leaders accused Jesus of using the power of Beelzebub to cast out demons (Matthew 12:24). Now think about the logic here. If Jesus, who was perfect, was called evil, how much more sinful and evil are we? Jesus said His followers should expect the same treatment (Matthew 10:22).
When I was a child we used to sing this song: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Are you laughing with me? Of course words hurt and many times they hurt more than physical wounds because you cannot forget what has been said to you. Jesus said that as a disciple of His, we will, will be slandered, maligned, insulted and persecuted. And when we are, we need to keep our temper, words and attitude in check. When we trade insult for insult, we do not extinguish the fire, we intensify it.
When we come to verse 27, when we are being insulted or maligned Jesus says not to fear such people. There is coming a day when everything said and thought will be revealed on the day of Judgment. Though it seems that the truth is hidden, that reality will be short-lived. In some way, Jesus was referring to His own ministry. Right now the house of Israel was rejecting Him but there was coming a day when He would be Resurrected and walk the streets of Jeruslaem and appear to so many that what was “hidden” His Messiahship would be well known and revealed. At this time Jesus’ own disciples did not understand everything about Him nor where they were going. Even with those doubts, they had a responsibility and mission to share the Gospel, teach others what they did know and had learned from Jesus.
So, what can we learn from this? I like to share six points from New Testament scholar Kent Hughes on this (Source: Kent Hughes, Preach The Word Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” pp. 285-289).
- First, our motive for missions is compassion. We saw this in Matthew 9:35-38. We are not to go share the Gospel in an attitude of condemnation but compassion.
- We do not have to be great to reach the least. The apostles’ mission is to “the lost sheep” of Israel (Matthew 10:6), a term used in Jeremiah 50:6 to refer to the people who were under the leadership of ungodly “shepherds.” Here we might say that “the crowds” (9:36) were similarly under the scribes and Pharisees. Or, put differently and more precisely, the apostles’ mission was to those to whom Jesus has thus far been ministering—the crowds but also and especially (reread Matthew 4-9) the social and religious outcasts.
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- The mission is to the least, and by the world’s standards the missionaries aren’t exactly the greatest. Look at the twelve names of these ordinary men in Matthew 10:2-4. And look at the slight additions, those extra long nametags on a few of them. Judas, the last listed (quite intentionally), gets that diabolical addition, “who betrayed him.” A few other tags are added to those who share the same first name, so as to distinguish this James from that James or this Simon—the Zealot—from the other Simon—Peter—who is intentionally listed first (Matthew 10:2). But only one man gets his occupation added. It’s not Andrew the fishermen, Thomas the dental hygienist, or Philip the used car salesman. It’s “Matthew the tax collector” (Matthew 10:3)..
- We do not see men with outstanding theological degrees and experience. Just common, everyday working men who were uneducated but loved Jesus and His compassionate mission to the world. What the church and missions need today is the same kind of people. We need just your ordinary person in the pew who loves the Lord and His compassionate mission to the world and the lost. See 1 Corinthians 1:25-29.
3. Gospel goers depend on gospel givers. Put more fully, gospel goers depend on God’s providential provision through Christian giving and hospitality. Notice here the two groups involved in the mission. There are the goers (here the apostles, who are to bring nothing with them, in Matthew 10:8-10 and the givers (whom Jesus describes as “worthy” in Matthew 10:11), those who welcome the goers into their homes, providing food and lodging and perhaps travel expenses.
- Thus, as much as this passage commands that the goers can’t be greedy and must sacrifice much, it also commands sacrifice for the givers. I know a Christian man, a retired millionaire, who chose to live in a trailer park so he could pay for the college educations of all his relatives and give generously and sacrificially to Christian missions.”
- If you’re not going to go, you must give, and if you’re not going to give generously, then you’re going to go where the Sodomites went. With the closed-door and close-fisted, God will shake off the dust from His feet (Matthew 10:14). The world is at war with Christ. This is no time for cowards and half-hearted hospitality. Either we go or we give to the goers … or else.
4. Our character commends Christ. When we read Matthew 10:8-10 we see that those who share the Gospel cannot be motivated by money or greed. We are not to be beggars or think we are better than others because we are not. We are sinners first and then saved sinners second.
5. Like the original Gospel givers, we are to share the exact same Gospel without changing it as stated in Matthew 10:7. The day of repentance is at hand (Mark 6:12) and failure to do so can result in being judged by God (Acts 17:31). So, repent now and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ or be judged, damned to hell forever.
6. The Gospel is not only dangerous, but it is also divisive. This is the whole point of the last part in Matthew 10:16-42. It is meant to be that due to its exclusive nature.
To shout from rooftops as verse 27 states was an easy thing to do since most rooftops were flat. It was the perfect platform to do this. In other words, whenever we have an opportunity, take advantage of it and use it to share the Gospel.
Assignment: Based on all you have read today, are you a coward to share the Gospel or courageous? Do you fear the opinions of others and desire to be liked and accepted even if it means not sharing the Gospel? Do you bring our Lord joy or a broken heart? Does your heart well up with compassion for the lost or is your heart cold towards the lost? How would the Lord Himself answer these questions about you and why?
Scripture To Meditate On: 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, “God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, (28) and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, (29) so that no man may boast before God” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, please forgive me when I am reluctant to take advantage of an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone. Please forgive me when I want what I perceive to be the conveniences of my faith but am unwilling to pay the cost of it. I commit from that point on to pay that cost so that others can come to Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly