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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_10:16-20
16Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Mat_10:16 "I send you out as sheep" Sheep were a metaphor for the new faith community which was fragile, helpless, and in need of constant care and protection, see Luk_10:3 and John 10. This the first of four metaphors from the animal kingdom that characterize humanity.
▣ "in the midst of wolves" Wolves represented those who prey on the new community of faith, see Mat_7:15-27; Luk_10:3; Joh_10:12; Act_20:29; 2 Peter 2.
▣ "shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves" Believers must be wise but innocent (cf. Rom_16:19). They were to avoid conflict when possible, but remain bold proclaimers of the gospel.
Mat_10:17 "Because of. . ." This is a present active imperative (cf. Mat_7:15; Mat_16:6; Mat_16:11). Even with the dawn of the new age (Romans 5-6), the old age remains (Romans 7)! This is the tension of " the already" and the "not yet" of the overlapping (i.e., two comings of Christ) of the two ages. See Special Topic at Mat_12:31.
▣ "the courts" This referred to local Jewish synagogue courts (cf. Mat_23:34). It is interesting to note that some of Mark's eschatological discourse (cf. Mar_13:9-13) of Jesus is repeated here instead of Matthew 24. Therefore, this mission assignment of the Disciples takes on eschatological implications (as does Mat_10:23).
▣ "scourge" This referred to Jewish flogging (cf. Deu_25:3), which consisted of one less than forty lashes, one-third on the front of the body and two-thirds on the back (cf. 2Co_11:24).
▣ "in their synagogues" See parallel at Mat_23:34. This was the local place of worship, education, and welfare relief.
Mat_10:18 "you will even be brought before governors and kings" This referred to the future universal spread of the gospel (cf. Mat_28:18-20; Luk_24:46-47; Act_1:8). It is important that the narrow exclusiveness of Mat_10:5 be balanced by this verse. Gordon Fee (How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth, p. 133) makes the assertion that Mat_10:5-12 relate to the sending out of the Twelve new apostles, but Mat_10:10-20 are instructions for a much later time (i.e., governors, kings, Gentiles) because at first Jesus came only to the lost sheep of Israel. This illustrates how the Gospel writers "selected, rearranged, and adapted" Jesus' teachings to meet the needs of the early church.
Another example of this is Mat_10:23 "until the Son of Man comes" (see note at Mat_10:23). Obviously this could have several meanings depending on the historical period.
▣ "governors and kings" If this refers to (1) Jesus' day, then Pontius Pilate or (2) Paul's mission activities then
1. " governors" could be the Roman governors of Felix (Act_23:24) or Festus (Act_24:27)
2. " kings" could be Agrippa I (Act_12:1) or Agrippa II (Act_25:13)
They basically stand for governmental authority of any kind.
Mat_10:19 This speaks of special illumination and grace during persecution (cf. Mar_13:11; Luk_21:12). This is not a proof-text for preachers and teachers not studying before proclaiming! This verse and Mat_10:26 are aorist subjunctives with the negative particle which meant never start an action. Mat_10:28; Mat_10:31, which also deal with fear, are present imperatives with the negative particle which usually meant stop an act in process.
Mat_10:20 "it is the Spirit of your Father" Here the Holy Spirit is linked to the Father (cf. Rom_8:11; Rom_8:14). In Rom_8:9; 2Co_3:17; Gal_4:6; and 1Pe_1:11 the Spirit is linked to the Son. There is a fluidity between the persons of the Trinity. They all participate in the acts of redemption. See hyperlink at Mat_3:17.