The Commitment / Undivided

The book of Matthew is traditionally attributed to the Matthew, sometimes called Levi (see Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27), who was one of the Twelve. Prior to Jesus’ call to follow Him, Matthew was a Jewish tax collector, a despised occupation by the Jewish population. As a tax collector, though, He likely had training in scribal techniques, which played a great role in his ability to write. As a Galilean Jew, Matthew was raised to understand and follow the Old Testament. He utilized these two abilities to write his book somewhat as a defense of the Messianic identity of Jesus. With a Jewish audience in mind, Matthew set out to provide evidence that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.

In the context of this passage, Jesus was sending His disciples out to do His work and was giving them final instructions. That Jesus had a following of disciples was not uncommon in New Testament times. Rabbis often had followers who attached themselves to particular teachers. However, Jesus’ instructions to these men differentiated Him from the rest. He not only spoke of God as His Father but also equated Himself with God by insisting the men love Him above everyone and everything else: Only God deserved such love (see Matthew 10:33,37). Jesus was the Messiah, and His disciples would face distractions along their journey. Jesus wanted them to know that following Him would require their full devotion.

Matthew 10:37 In the preceding verses, Jesus informed His disciples that persecution and hardship would certainly be a part of their lives as they followed Him and participated in His mission. This persecution would come as a result of their ties and allegiance to Him. Loyalty to Christ will inevitably cause His followers to make difficult choices about their priorities and devotion “because the message of God’s kingship is one which always has and always will lead to violent response from those who are threatened by it” (France, 407). In fact, Jesus stated that His purpose was not to bring peace to the world but rather to bring a sword (see Matthew. 10:34). The metaphor of a sword in this verse gave Jesus’ disciples the message that Jesus was not a peaceful Messiah in the way they thought. Many Jewish people at the time thought the Messiah would come as a rescuer—to defend God’s people from the evils of the current political world and restore their nation geographically and politically to a time of peace. Jesus would not bring this kind of peace though. He began to tell His followers that even the closest of relationships might result in turmoil because of Him.

Jesus was not stating that a disciple should instigate conflict with one’s family as a way to prove loyalty. He did not intend for anyone to think that conflict is a virtue in and of itself (France, 409). Rather, this was an issue of priorities. Jesus addressed the closest of family relationships with this idea in verse 37. Loving one’s family, particularly one’s parents, was one of the highest duties of Jewish culture (Keener, Matthew 10:37). Yet a devoted follower of Christ should love Him above everyone else and will not allow even one’s closest relationships to compromise his or her devotion to the Lord. Because Jesus was God, He was able to demand this type of loyalty and love. As stated previously, “The only one who could rightfully demand greater love was God himself” (Keener, Matthew 10:37).

The idea of Jesus’ use of the word worthy carried the idea of being deserving. In this context, it gave the picture that only those who love Jesus in this way are deserving of Him. He would accept those disciples into His kingdom who served Him above all costs because this was evidence of their genuine relationship with Him (Blomberg, 181).

Matthew 10:38 The mention of crucifixion would have brought a great shock to Jesus’ listeners. Although it was a Roman method of execution, the people of the day were familiar with it, and most Jews considered it horrendous. In Roman Palestine, crucifixion was often the chosen form of execution for slaves and political rebels; it gave great social disgrace to any free person who experienced it. Crucifixion brought great physical suffering and indescribable shame. This shame could not be hidden, as the execution was a public display for all to see (France, 410). Part of the very public nature of crucifixion was the practice of making the condemned persons carry the horizontal beam of the cross to the location of the actual execution. Usually a loud, taunting mob would surround the paths through which the condemned walked with the cross beam (Keener, Matthew 10:38).

It is this horrendous picture that Jesus’ disciples would have imagined when they heard His words to take up their cross and follow Him. Jesus clearly spelled out a life that could quite possibly contain a violent martyr’s death and great public shame. In fact, this was precisely the death that Jesus Himself faced. His followers should expect no easier road. Although not all followers of Christ will endure such circumstances, only those willing to follow Him to whatever end He may lead, whether it be filled with suffering or even death, is deserving of being a disciple.

The word often translated “follow” or “follow after” can literally be translated “follow behind me” (Louw, 200, 717). Proper etiquette of the time dictated that a disciple physically walk behind his teacher (France, 147). In this verse, it gives the picture of following Jesus as leader into whatever and wherever He leads.

Taken together with the whole teaching of Scripture, the idea of taking up a cross and following Christ gives a complete picture of not only being willing to literally die for Christ but replacing one’s own self-focused purpose and concerns in life with Christ’s mission and purpose—every day (see Luke 9:23). It is through this sacrifice that someone is truly identified as a disciple. He or she has given control of his or her life to Christ.

Matthew 10:39 The phrases “whoever finds his life” and “whoever loses his life” (the first half of each clause) are literal commentary on saving and losing a person’s physical life (Blomberg, 181). Similar to taking up one’s cross, though, the imagery can easily extend to other sufferings that come about as a result of following Jesus (France, 411). The phrases “will lose it” and “will find it” (the second half of each clause) indicated a spiritual aspect of life and death. Therefore, one who seeks to preserve his or her life by renouncing Christ or chooses comfort and self-gratifying pleasures instead of discipleship is not a true follower of Christ; he or she will receive eternal death (see Matthew 13:1-23; John 15:6; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; Hebrews 10:39). Conversely, one who endures death or suffering on behalf of Christ will receive life that cannot ultimately be taken away: eternal life (Blomberg, 181). Again, this statement is one of priorities. The true disciple will be more concerned with the “invisible reward” of pleasing the Father instead of the visible threats or temptations of this world (France, 411).

Knowing that salvation is available to all people, we have often unintentionally tried to make it more palatable for those who aren’t actually interested in following Jesus. As a result, we now have many people who echoed a prayer at one point in life while never intending to make any sacrifices to follow Christ. They were interested in “eternal insurance,” not a relationship with the Lord. A gospel that has been watered down to require no repentance or life change is not the gospel, and those who follow this “easy believism” are not disciples, according to Scripture. Jesus was not on a recruiting trip when He came to earth. He wasn’t interested in marketing the gospel. Rather, He often turned away followers by making seemingly strange statements. And, when sending His disciples out on mission, He assured them of persecution and probably death. He didn’t open an invitation; He laid out a challenge.

Most people will never have to literally choose between life and following Jesus, but that choice is and has been a reality for numerous believers around the world. Yet the lack of physical persecution is not an excuse to think that the Christian life will be easy. We cannot greet new believers with a rosy view of Christianity that is not biblical. Yes, following Christ is the greatest decision in life, and it brings much joy and happiness, but we must be careful to challenge new believers the same way that Jesus did His disciples. He did not invite people to simply believe in Him but go on with their lives as usual; He called people to follow after Him with undivided affection. The path of Christ is difficult and requires us to sign all of our lives over to Him. Being a disciple means that we follow Jesus wherever He leads, not just where it is popular or trendy to go.