Matthew 10:29 says, Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Jesus was still talking about God providing for the needs of the disciples while they were out sharing the gospel. Jesus said that not even a sparrow could fall to the ground without God knowing it. Verse thirty adds, But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Jesus then told the disciples that God even knew the number of hairs on their head. Verse thirty-one then declares, Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Jesus then told the disciples to not be afraid to go as God directed them, because they were more valuable than many sparrows. We today can be certain that when we are doing what God calls us to do as followers of Christ that He will meet our needs everyday. Verse thirty-two proclaims, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Jesus tells us that if we declare Him before men, which would happen after we accepted Him as our Savior and Lord, then He would confess for us before the heavenly Father. Verse thirty-three adds, But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Jesus then states that if we do not accept Him and declare that to the world that He will deny us before the heavenly Father. Verse thirty-four declares, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Jesus said that He didn't come to bring peace in the world, but to bring a sword. We are called on to live at peace with the world as much as possible, but we need to realize that proclaiming the truth of God is always going to put us at odds with the world. Jesus is not the cause of the world being at war with Him, but it is their actions toward those who follow Him that cause the problem. Verse thirty-five declares, For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. If we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and our family members have not, then Jesus tells us that we will be at variance with them. Our values will no longer be the same as theirs. Verse thirty-six adds, And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. Jesus said that if we follow Him and members of our household do not, then they will be our foes. Verse thirty-seven continues, He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Jesus tells us that He must come first in our lives, above even the closest family relationships. Verse thirty-sight declares, And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. The cross brought the death of Jesus in this earthly body, and we are to likewise die to the flesh by placing our life on the line for Jesus daily. We are to die to the earthly desires and to live by faith in Jesus. Verse thirty-nine adds, He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. If we place our life above a relationship with Christ, then we will ultimately lose our spiritual being, or our soul. If we put our relationship with Christ first, then we will have everlasting life with Him. Verse forty states, He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. Jesus told the disciples that if someone received them as they were sharing the gospel that they received Him as well. I believe that this is because those who did not believe in Christ would not accept those who were witnessing for Him. Verse forty-one adds, He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. Again. I believe this means that if they accept the disciples, those made righteous because of their faith in Christ, then they too would have the reward of the righteous. I believe this is more than just accepting the disciples into their homes, but also means accepting Jesus as their Savior and Lord and acting from faith in their belief. Verse forty-two concludes, And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. Jesus did not nor does not expect us to make those who proclaim His word, or even those who have simply put their faith in Him, to be made rich, but He does expect us to give what we can to help spread the gospel.
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