FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
BACKGROUND TO Mat_10:1-42
A. The newly chosen disciples are sent out on a mission trip which was foreshadowed in Mat_9:37-38. Jesus also sent, at a later time, a larger group of seventy disciples (cf. Luk_10:1 ff).
B. This passage is paralleled in Mar_3:14-16; Mar_6:7-13; and Luk_9:1-6. There may have been several of these kinds of mission trips.
C. Jesus' message to the Twelve has three divisions marked off by the recurrent phrase "Truly, I say to you" Mat_10:15; Mat_10:23; Mat_10:42.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.
1. Why did Jesus limit Himself mostly to the Jews? Can you list the exceptions?
2. Why do Matthew, Mark, and Luke differ in their accounts of Jesus' life?
3. Are there degrees of reward and punishment? Based on what?
4. What is Mat_10:23 referring to?
5. Why is public acknowledgment of faith in Jesus so important?
6. Why does Jesus cause such controversy?
7. What does it mean to take up one's cross and follow Him?