Matthew 10:22 - Enduring with Christ!
Mat.10:22: Enduring with Christ!
Mat 10:22 (NLT) And everyone will hate you because of your
allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved.
DEVOTIONAL PEARL
Two frogs fell into a bucket of cream. They thrashed around and
tried to hop out. But they couldn't make it. Finally one of the
frogs got tired and quit. "What's the use?" he said. So he flipped
his flippers one last time and then sank to the bottom in despair.
He failed. However, the other frog was tougher. He said, "I may
not make it out of this bucket either. But I'll go down kicking."
So he kept on kicking. And soon, to his surprise, the cream turned
to butter. With his feet on a chunk of it, he jumped out. Both
frogs could have failed. One did, and one didn't. Why? Do you
sometimes feel like one of these frogs? What do you think you could do to
make sure you keep "kicking" and don't give up? [source unknown]
THE FOLLOWING FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE DEEPER STUDY:
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Mat 10:22 (KJV) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's
sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:22 (NLT) And everyone will hate you because of your
allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved.
Mat 10:22 (CWR) Don't be surprised if you're hated for my sake,
but do your work faithfully and stand firm to the end, and you'll
have a place with me in my kingdom.
Hated of all men. Those whose lives testify to the power of
Christ and the truth of the gospel are often hated, but they must
beware lest they repay hatred in kind. All who live godly lives may
expect persecution (see John 16:33; 2 Tim. 3:12), the reason being that
those whose works are evil resent the condemnation of their ways
implicit in the godly lives of Christ's representatives (see 1 John
3:12). Those whose lives are deliberately out of harmony with
principles they know to be right generally avoid associating with those of
upright character. [SDA Commentary]
"Stands firm"--the verb hypomeno does not signify active
resistance so much as patient endurance. [Expositors Bible Commentary]
Standing firm to the end is not a way to be saved but the
evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus. Persistence is not a
means to earn salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life.
[Life Application SB]
Endures: Some common ways to translate [endures] in this context
are "remains faithful (to me)," "continues to trust in me," "stays
strong in his faith (in me)," "doesn't stop serving me." (UBS
Translator Handbook Series)
Endureth to the end. Obviously, the one who falls out of a race
before reaching the goal can never expect to receive the prize. To
enter the race and to remain in it are both essential to winning the
race. It is not sufficient to begin in the Christian way, we must
remain in it "until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). We must
"stedfastly set" our faces to the completion of the course marked out for us
by God, even as did Jesus, "the author and finisher of our faith"
(see Luke 9:51; Heb. 12:2). [SDA Commentary]
"Saved": The word "saved" is used here, not in the sense of the
salvation of the soul but of deliverance out of persecution. [Scofield
SB]
These words have received a variety of interpretations. (1) The
one who endures to the end of persecution (that is, keeps the faith
through suffering) will be delivered from physical suffering. This we
know can't be true because some have been martyred for their faith.
(2) "The one who endures to the end" of life's trials will be saved
into eternal life. That person will not face spiritual harm. This
view tends to support a "salvation by works" viewpoint. (3) The one
who endures until the end (meaning wholly, completely) will enter
into Christ's kingdom. This view is more likely because standing firm
to the end is not a way to be saved but the evidence that a person
is really committed to Jesus. Persistence is not a means to earn
salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life. Jesus' point was
that persecution will come and his followers must be patient and
faithful through it. Their reward is certain. (Life Application
Commentary Series)
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Jesus commissioned the Twelve (10:1-4). He instructed them on an
immediate preaching mission (vv. 5-16), and spoke of future challenges
(vv. 17-31). Jesus explained what He expects of disciples (vv. 32-39)
and the disciple's reward (vv. 40-42). A demoralized John was
encouraged (11:1-6) and praised (vv. 7-19) by Jesus, who damned the cities
that refused to repent despite His miracles (vv. 20-24). Yet the
weary who come to Jesus will find rest (vv. 25-30). [The 365-Day
Devotional Commentary]
Chapter Topics
1 Christ sendeth out his twelve apostles, enabling them with
power to do miracles, 5 giveth them their charge, teacheth them, 16
comforteth them against persecutions: 40 and promiseth a blessing to those
that receive them. [SDA Commentary]
Chapter Summary
Jesus sends His twelve disciples out to teach and preach. He
equips them for this ministry with power over demons and diseases
(10:1-5). Their powers, however, were not to be used for selfish purposes.
Like Christ, they were to travel in poverty, dependent on the
willingness of those to whom they ministered to meet their basic needs for
food and lodging (vv. 6-15). Jesus warns them to expect hostility as
well as welcome--something believers throughout the ages have known.
Their goal, as ours, is not to be successful or popular, but to live
humbly as Jesus did, taking His trust in the Father as our example, and
refusing to fear man (vv. 16-31). The message the disciples carry is the
most critical in the world. It's not a message intended to bring
earthly peace, for it will stir up opposition. Yet its acceptance or
rejection determines each person's eternal destiny (vv. 32-42). [Victor
Bible Reader's Companion]
Section Headings
Jesus Warns His Apostles
Persecution Will Come (10:16-25)
Jesus prepares the disciples for persecution (10:17-42)
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Matthew 5:11 (KJV) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you
falsely, for my sake.
Matthew 10:39 (KJV) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and
he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 24:13 (KJV) But he that shall endure unto the end, the
same shall be saved.
Mark 13:13 (KJV) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's
sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Luke 6:22 (KJV) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and
when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach
you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Luke 8:15 (KJV) But that on the good ground are they, which in
an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring
forth fruit with patience.
Romans 2:7 (KJV) To them who by patient continuance in well
doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Galatians 6:9 (KJV) And let us not be weary in well doing: for
in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Hebrews 3:14 (KJV) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we
hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
James 1:12 (KJV) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation:
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the
Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Rev. 2:7 (KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to
eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of
God.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart.
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
How can it improve my relationship with Jesus.
Here it is again! A description of a job nobody wants.
I mean, who wants work as a sheep among wolves? (10:16) Who
wants to be handed over to local councils to be flogged? (v. 18) Who
wants family conflict? (v. 21) Who wants to be hated? (v. 22) Who
wants to be persecuted? (v. 23)
It's fine to say things like, all this happened to Jesus first
(vv. 24-25). And, hey, they can only kill your body, can't they? (v.
28) But no matter how you cut it, this business of being a disciple
doesn't look all that attractive. Try putting this kind of ad in the
paper, and see how many applicants you get.
But then, at the end of Matthew 11, Jesus added something that
makes it all worthwhile. He invites us, "Take My yoke upon you and
learn from Me" (11:29). The yoke, which rested on the shoulders of
oxen hitched to a plow, was used to distribute the burden of work.
The oxen pulled together, and neither was overwhelmed.
Being yoked to Jesus doesn't so much mean that we take on His
burdens, but that He, pulling alongside us, takes on ours. Yes, it's
tough to be a disciple. It's a challenging and disciplined life. Yet
the disciple by the very fact of his commitment is yoked to Jesus.
And in that relationship, with Jesus taking on most of the load, we
find not added burdens but an amazing inner rest.
Despite all appearances, the disciple of Jesus knows the truth.
Jesus' "yoke is easy and My burden is light." [The 365-Day Devotional
Commentary]
Endurance grows out of commitment to Jesus Christ. Jesus
predicted that his followers would be severely persecuted by those who
hated what he stood for. In the midst of terrible persecutions,
however, they could have hope, knowing that salvation was theirs. Times
of trial serve to sift true Christians from false or fair-weather
Christians. When you are pressured to give up and turn your back on Christ,
don't do it. Remember the benefits of standing firm, and continue to
live for Christ. Standing firm to the end is not a way to be saved
but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus.
Persistence is not a means to earn salvation; it is the by-product of a
truly devoted life. [Life Application SB]
Christ will lead us through sufferings, to glory with Him.
[Matthew Henry Commentary]
The underlying principle here is timeless: God cares for those
who seek to serve him. [New Bible Companion]
Jesus promised hard times, but he also promised comfort. Are you
experiencing opposition for being a Christian but neglecting to accept his
comfort? Look forward to the day when you will no longer be persecuted
but will be rewarded for persevering. Let the reality of that reward
encourage you. [Inspirational SB]
Things to remember about persecution:
* There is an end to persecution. It is only temporary; it will
end.
* Endurance is possible. A believer can endure. God will bear
him up through the persecution.
* Persecutors cannot kill the soul.
* The body will soon die anyway.
* The persecutors are mere men who shall die themselves. And
then they shall face the eternal judgment of God. [Preacher's
Outline & Sermon Bible]
Two frogs fell into a bucket of cream. They thrashed around and
tried to hop out. But they couldn't make it. Finally one of the
frogs got tired and quit. "What's the use?" he said. So he flipped
his flippers one last time and then sank to the bottom in despair.
He failed. However, the other frog was tougher. He said, "I may
not make it out of this bucket either. But I'll go down kicking."
So he kept on kicking. And soon, to his surprise, the cream turned
to butter. With his feet on a chunk of it, he jumped out. Both
frogs could have failed. One did, and one didn't. Why? Do you
sometimes feel like one of these frogs? What do you think you could do to
make sure you keep "kicking" and don't give up? [source unknown]
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live
by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
me. Galatians 2:20
SUBSCRIBER TESTIMONIES
My great-grandmother always told me there is light at the end of
the tunnel. So, in many ways I can relate to the second frog --I
keep going--I keep thriving because there is darkness (hard times) in
life. There are times when I feel like I am sinking--I keep going
because of faith and knowing that there are better days at the end of
the tunnel. KINE4U@aol.com
My name is Rosa. I have a disease called Lupus. After reading
the passage about the frog I must admit I am like the second frog
who struggled until the end. In my life I have had many chances of
giving up but the Lord has given me the strength and power to keep
going and focus in what I need to do. I have not given up and will
not do so until the Lord takes me in his arm and tell me you have
fought a good battle and have accomplished all. I am human and have my
weaknesses but through it all I have been strong and have lived 9 years
with Lupus. I was told not to marry for I could not have children.
Well having faith brings a lot to your life. I am now happily
married for 8 years; I have a beautiful 2 year old daughter and have
been happily married with a wonderful man who cares about me and
stands strong next to me. Thank-you for your Scriptures and please
keep in touch. If you would like to share this with someone else
please do so. I have other testimonials that can help others in life.
Sincerely, Rosa Pomales; PEDRO2382@aol.com
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