Exposition of the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 10:12-16)

January 12, 2021

(The Kingdom)

Questions we are to answer in today’s study:

Introduction

1. What were the three main points of our last study?
2. What are the four parts of the method of sharing the Gospel?
3. If the church is not an organization, what is it?
4. What is the Christian approach to the Gospel?
5. What is the Gospel?
6. What is the one vital assurance we have when we witness?
7. What is the meaning of peace in reference to God?
8. What are the seven parts of the armor of God, and what is the spiritual significance of each?
9. What is our most outstanding defense against the unseen evil powers all around us and the onslaught of the devil?

In Matthew 10, Jesus is teaching his disciples concerning His future Kingdom. The nation Israel is moving toward rejecting Jesus as their Messiah under the leadership of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus knows what is to come, so He turns His attention to the twelve disciples to teach them to become the church’s future leaders. Although the Kingdom is in the future, it is to become the church’s mission, which continues to be until this day as citizens of the Kingdom are added through evangelism.

In Chapter 10 of Matthew, we see the beginning of the Kingdom program as Jesus begins to teach His disciples to oversee it through the church. Last week I gave you the first three points on Jesus preparing His disciples, the Mandate, the Message, and the Method. The method Jesus gave His disciple was in four parts, using Spiritual gifts, giving out the message as we go, trusting God in all things, and making practical preparation. Today will take up the next two of the final three points concerning sharing the Gospel, beginning with the Approach.

Matthew 10:12-15, “And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13And if the house be worthy, let your Peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”

God’s methods and Approach are different from the world’s; His church is not an organization that operates like General Motors with a CEO. The church is not orchestrated through advertisement and salesmanship; therefore, the results are different. The church is an institution founded by Jesus Himself and directed by the Holy Spirit.

Notice the Approach in verse 12; the Approach Jesus offered: “And when ye come into an house, salute it.” That means to offer your greeting. Here are a few practical tips on sharing the faith:

1. Pray for God to open doors.
2. A greeting is our first Approach.
3. Be friendly and show respect.
4. Have your pocket New Testament handy with the appropriate verses marked.
5. When someone responds to your greeting by saying, how are you, respond differently by saying, “better than I deserve;” this will arouse the curiosity of others and allow you to tell them why.
6. Share your own testimony/experience.
7. Do it and depend on God’s leadership.

The Gospel means good news. In actuality, the Gospel is Christ, His crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. The vital assurance we have when we witness is that the Holy Spirit has already been at work. So, we are to present the Gospel and observe calmly. We are not to rush ahead to tie it up in a confession from our prospect. We are to watch for signs on how to continue. The Holy Spirit is the one who is in the lead. We are to look for open doors when a person opens up to hearing what we have to say. We can start with a casual conversation such as, are you interested in spiritual things? Or, have you thought about what happens when you die? Each Approach may differ depending on the person to whom you are witnessing. They may be going through a difficult time, and you offer prayer or verses from the Bible. A wrong approach might be to ask a person if they are a Christian since people have different ideas about what that means. Or if they are saved.

Here is Evangelism Explosion’s Approach (a ministry teaching Christians how to share the Gospel): If you were to die today and stand before God and He asked you why He should let you into heaven, what would you say? Then you can proceed if the answer does not fit the Biblical plan of salvation. Not everyone you witness to will be saved. Even when the apostles preached about Jesus, not all responded positively, but the good news is some did. You can expect the same.

Discover the best Approach for you, which may differ with each person. When you share the Gospel or as you share the Gospel, be attentive to the response you are getting. If the answer is positive, Jesus says in verse 13, give that person a blessing of Peace. In other words, ask that person to receive Christ and the Peace He offers. In Hebrew, the Word for Peace is shalom, meaning a spiritual birth has taken place; someone has been born again; this is what the Bible says: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Rom. 5:1 (KJV). Our responsibility does not end when a person responds and receives Christ; They need to understand that the next step is baptism. Volunteer to help them arrange that. We also follow up with an invitation to church or a Bible study to disciple the person.

Evangelism is about finding the lost sheep, caring about them, and trying to help them become disciples. If possible, you can offer to help them get into a church or Bible study. Now notice verses 14-15:

Matthew 10:14-15, “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”

It is the saddest thing when someone rejects salvation and dies in that condition. They are indeed without any hope and face the judgment and eternal separation from God. If there is rejection, we are not to try to persuade the person, walk away and shake the dust from our feet. We have done our part. Even if our message has been rejected, it does not necessarily mean failure. We have planted a seed, which may germinate at a later time in a person’s life. When rejection comes, it does not mean there is something wrong with your offer or you; it means that the Holy Spirit was not working in that person because of their attitude toward Christ. Therefore, as the verse says, peace returns to you. In Luke 14, Jesus gave a parable about a king who sent out invitations to a wedding feast, and everyone made excuses why they could not come; so, the king ordered his servants to go elsewhere and invite others. The king is Jesus, and the servants are His disciples. We are to do the same when people reject the Gospel; go on to someone else.

In the past lesson, I asked you to do what our Lord commands you to do, to become a witness for our Lord as you go about your daily life. That is the challenge from the Gospel of Matthew. Whether you obey or not is between you and God. Chose a way that best suits you, whether it is gospel tracks, which are available online, or a personal business card with the question: “If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity. The Bible says it would be either heaven or hell.” Since there is no room on a business card for the steps to salvation, you need to direct them to a website to follow the steps. There are a lot of places on the Internet where this information is listed. You are welcome to use my website: www.otobefree.com, where step-by-step instructions are available on becoming a Christian.

Do you have someone in mind to give your greeting and invite to be a part of God’s eternal Kingdom? If not, pray that God will lay someone on your heart to add to your prayer list. I don’t think there is any doubt about what Jesus expects us to do after several weeks of study concerning His teaching of His disciples. We should now understand the Mandate Jesus gave to His disciples, His message to the lost, the method of presenting the Gospel, and the Approach. We have talked about who is worthy to receive our time to explain the Gospel, and some are not worthy by their actions. No one is worthy of the Gospel itself; the grace of God freely gives it, but some are at least willing to listen. Our responsibility is to plant the seed of the Gospel. We are not to be high pressured salesmen or use persuasion to get people saved. It is the Holy Spirit’s work to convince a person of their need to accept Christ. We are only His messengers. We are to be decerning of the Spirit’s involvement with another person. When someone rejects, argues, or walks away, it is time to move on. Here was the Apostles method 2 Corinthians 5:20 (PJV): “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg [implore] you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 

That brings us to the second major point of the final three, “the Attitude,” which is found in verse 16:

Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.”

We are, “as we go,” to go with the attitude of Christ with wisdom and innocence of spirit, also realizing we are facing Satan’s opposition—the wolves or the enemy. We will encounter enemies, those who hate us, and the cause of Christ-inspired by Satan himself. It is not primarily the human enemies we face; it is the forces of hell and evil. According to Ephesians, it is a different world: Eph. 6:12 (KJV), “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

We know the enemy is Satan and the demonic forces of hell. How do we withstand an enemy as powerful as Satan? Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV), “Finally, be strong in the LORD and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the LORD’s people.”

I want to spend the rest of the study on how we are to withstand the enemy:

We are to put on the whole armor of God each day. It is our preparedness to meet the enemy and stand our ground. God supplies all we need to stand firm: the belt of truth; the breastplate of righteousness; the feet shod with the Gospel of Peace; the shield of faith to extinguish the flaming darts of Satan; the helmet of salvation; the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; and finally, pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert, and always keep on praying for all the saints, Eph 6:13-18.

Let’s consider each piece of armor and see the effects: First, there is “The belt of truth.” The belt of the Roman soldiers was for more than holding up their clothes; the belt went around their middle and extended down their lower body for protection. To be an effective witness for the Lord, we must live our lives according to the truth. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” John 8:32 (KJV). Others must see the truth in us before they are willing to trust us and follow us in Christ Jesus.

Second, there is “The Breastplate of Righteousness:” It covers the body’s torso and protects all of the major organs, including the heart. The Bible uses the metaphor “heart” to be the seat of righteousness. In a spiritual sense, according to Paul, the heart is also the seat of faith and love: It can also be the “breastplate of faith and love,” 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (KJV), Jesus said, “…you are to “Love the Lord” your “God with all” your “heart and with all” your “soul” and with all your “mind” and with all your “strength,” Mark 12:30 (KJV). Both good and evil come from the heart of man: “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks,” Luke 6:45 (KJV).

Each day, we must draw on the righteousness imputed to us by Jesus if we are to live a holy and righteous life. Living a righteous life means living a life of faith and love, which is what makes our daily witness effective, You don’t wake up each day overflowing with faith and love; it must be claimed daily as we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our defense against the attacks of Satan is Faith and love, propagated by prayer.

Third, there is “The Shoes of Readiness:” The feet are fitted with readiness, which results from the Gospel of Peace. The sandals Roman soldiers wore protected and supported their feet and ankles. Paul tells you we are to wear “shoes of readiness,” always prepared and ready to share the Gospel with others. Our preparation is in the Lord; Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my Peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” John 14:27 (KJV).

Four, there is “The Shield of Faith:” The shield of faith extinguishes Satan’s fiery darts, Eph 6:16 (KJV). The security of the Roman soldier was extensive and covered most of the body and was lightweight, and could be carried by one hand. Faith and trust in God reinforced by prayer are our most significant protection against Satan. “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him,” Heb 11:6 (KJV). “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith,” Rom 1:17 (KJV).

Five, there is “The Helmet of Salvation:” The Apostle Paul calls the helmet “the hope of salvation,” 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (KJV). There is no hope outside of salvation. The head is the body’s controlling headquarters as salvation is the point when we turn control over to almighty God. We become His, bought with the blood of Jesus. Our safety and our protection become His responsibility.

Six, there is “The Sword of the Spirit:” The sword is the soldier’s primary weapon for defending himself and winning the battle, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, Eph 6:17. A good offense is a good defense. Satan is no match for the Word of God, but it is useless to the soldier of the Lord until he has learned to master it. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV). “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (KJV).

Seven, there is “The prayer in the Spirit:” “Finally, the most important thing we must do to stand firm against the enemy is to pray, “prayer in the Spirit.” “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints,” Ephesians 6:18 (KJV). The greatest weapon we have to use against the enemy is keeping a solid relationship with God through prayer. If we don’t keep in constant communication with God, all the rest is in vain, faith, righteousness, peace, knowledge of the Word, etc. Prayer is where we receive the strength to do battle. Prayer for other Christians throughout the world is the way we fight for and defend them. We will not be effective as a warrior without a consistent, constant prayer.

Job 42:10 (KJV): “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” 

 1 Timothy 2:1 (KJV): “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men.”

 James 5:16 (KJV): “Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Prepare yourself as a soldier for the Lord and be willing to go into battle for Him, with Him at your side.