(Matthew 10:22-25)…..And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
Jesus wants His sheep (disciples) to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. That we understand that our enemy (satan) is very cunning (subtil) (Genesis 3:1) (Ephesians 6:11. We need to be even more so – walking in wisdom – knowing we have an enemy (Ephesians 5:15) (Colossians 4:5). All the while be as gentle as doves (Philippians 2:14-16). Another way to act as sheep amongst wolves is seen in (Romans 16:19) (1 Corinthians 14:20).
We saw and heard that the Lord’s intended purpose was to bring His disciple before governors, kings, for His sake as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. They would be – hunted – hounded – beaten – imprisoned – and some would even die – for their faith in Jesus Christ that they professed and preached. This is seen all trough out Scripture (Acts 9:22-25) (Acts 14:19-22) (Acts 16:19-24) (Acts 18:12-17). These verses are a sample of the kind of persecution that rocked the early church. This persecution would find them in every city they visited – (10:23)For a disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. That is, if they would treat Jesus this way, shouldn’t they expect the same? Shouldn’t we? They were calling Him – Beelzebub – (lord of the flies), a Philistine diety associated with satanic idolatry (2 Kings 1:2) (Luke 11:14-15).
When they called Jesus Beelzebub it was the equivalent of referring to Jesus as satan, or a demon. If they would refer to the Lord this way, what do we think the sinner and the world think of us (John 15:18-21)?
Why did the disciples receive such treatment from the religious Jews and from secular government? Jesus tells them that they will be hated for His Name’s sake (10:22). The reason the world hates the believer is because the world hates Jesus. This world is energized and controlled by satan, after all, he is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). This world is filled with unregenerate sinners that exist to fulfill the will of the devil, their father (John 8:42-47) (Ephesians 2:1-3). Since the devil hates Jesus, he causes all those under his power to hate Jesus too.
They received this treatment because the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a direct threat to organized religion and to corrupt human government. The Gospel, which calls men/women to repenting of their sin, and to faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, challenging everybody who hears it. Why? Because His word exposes the sin and ungodliness of this corrupt people and world system
When the system is confronted by the Gospel, the system reacts by seeking to silence the Gospel. It has been this way since the beginning of the church and it will continue this way until Jesus returns. But listen, as we draw nearer to the end, and the return of Jesus Chris draws nearer, we can expect persecutions against believers to increase.