Our Scripture today is from the Gospel reading from this past Sunday, the last one in June. In this passage from Matthew’s Gospel today, the Lord has several things for us to learn and let sink into our head and hearts. Let’s take a quick look at what God wants us to understand.
As Jesus begins in our Scripture, He reminds us of our correct position with Him, that of the Teacher and the disciple, the Master and the servant (vs. 24-25). Naturally, we are the disciples and servants, and Jesus is our Teacher and Master. Throughout His ministry, Jesus was continually attacked, first verbally, and then later physically, by the Pharisees and other Jewish religious leaders. Sometimes people think that once they become a Christian their lives will then be problem-free. However, the Savior instructs us that if the Teacher, the Master has suffered and was attacked, so will His disciples. If He was persecuted, so will we be, as well (John 15:20). The Master, the Teacher is not treated one way, and then the disciple and servant treated better. Satan hates Jesus, and he certainly hates His followers, and will go after them, just as he did the Savior.
One thing that the Pharisees and religious leaders called Jesus was Beelzebub, and they said that He performed His miracles and received His power from Beelzebub (vs. 25). Beelzebub was a pagan Philistine god, and meant “Lord of the flies”. It is also a name of the prince of demons. The Pharisees accused Jesus of using Beelzebub’s power to drive out demons (Matthew 12:24). I don’t know of anyone who likes flies! They are nasty, filthy creatures, and we don’t like them in our house. Flies are attracted to decaying food, dead animals, and also other filthy waste. Who in their right mind would worship flies, or a demon who is lord of flies?! As a deep insult, and rejection of Jesus, His enemies called Him Beelzebub, and that His power came from a major satanic demon, or from Satan himself. Today we often see that God and His power, His Word, is called evil. If Jesus was called evil, His followers should expect the same. If you are a follower of Jesus, and maintain a consistent Christ-like walk and behavior, you must expect to experience persecution and rejection. If we are more like Christ, we will be more hated by His enemies.
Jesus goes on to tell us to not be afraid, but to continue to preach His message to others (vs. 27). Just because we know that we have enemies out there, enemies who want to hurt us, we should not hide, but need to keep preaching the Gospel. In the last number of years, Christianity and the Bible has been coming under even more attack in many countries, including my own and others that were once stalwart defenders of the Faith. Speaking out for Jesus and the Bible can sometimes bring very harsh backlash, and even become dangerous. Some believers may be afraid, and choose to stay quiet for their own safety. The Lord Jesus, though, told us that we do not need to be afraid of those who come against us and attack us. What is the worst that our enemies can do? As Jesus said, they can kill our body (vs. 28). Our enemies are only able to take our physical lives. They cannot touch our souls. We do not need to fear them. We should not refrain from speaking from God’s Word, the Bible, just because our enemies don’t like it. We are not to fear them. Instead we need to fear and obey God. He, alone, has the authority over the soul as well as the body, and He alone can bring both to eternal condemnation in hell.
This statement is quickly followed up with some words of Jesus to assure us of God’s love and care for His Blood-bought children, those who have trusted His Son as Savior (vs. 29-31). Jesus pointed out how God is aware of everything that happens. He controls the timing and circumstances of everything, even insignificant events, including such things as the death of a sparrow. We are far more valuable to God than they are. Since He takes care of them, He can be trusted to take care of us. God even has each and every hair of our head numbered. Since He controls the smallest details and mundane matters in our life, we can trust that Jesus will take care of everything about us.
In closing, the Lord Jesus tells us that we should not be afraid to stand up and be counted as a Christian, as a follower of His (vs. 32-33). When anyone, including enemies, ask if we are Christian, we should never fear or be ashamed to openly state that we are, that we believe in and love the Lord Jesus. The person who acknowledges Jesus in life or death is the one whom the Lord will acknowledge before God as His own.
Do not be surprised when opposition and persecution comes. Jesus endured it, and so will we. Don’t be afraid to proclaim that you’re a Christian, as Jesus will then acknowledge you. Remember, God cares about even the tiniest details about us. He will take care of you!
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