Reassurance for believers

Matthew 10:24-25 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; (25) it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they malign those of his household.?”

If they had already labelled Jesus as belonging to the Devil, then it must be obvious that His followers and disciples are not in for a better treatment. They will be branded and hated in the same way. The disciples must be made aware of this and be inwardly prepared for the hardships ahead. They will be ostracised, persecuted because people will believe that they had a right to. After all they belonged to the devil. Away with them!

In the way of most human beings, it is much easier to attack and persecute and even kill once they have justified to themselves the sub-humanity of others. If their master was of the devil, they too who are his children must also be and in that case in their thinking they are justified in putting them in prison. This was a warning to His disciples to be aware of the very difficult road ahead and to not to let it take them too much by surprise.

Matthew 10:26-27 “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. (27) What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops.”

The effect of the Power of the Light is to expose human beings in such a way that their true colours become known. All that clings to an individual in the way of faults and weaknesses, even if the individual or others are not aware of it will come to light once exposed to the Power of God. These characteristics are strengthened and must manifest in an active form.

An individual who harbours a murderous tendency within his soul and has so far not committed this crime because in one way or the other the earthy circumstances have favoured him will be placed in situations where indeed he will show his true colours. These faults had been hidden in the past but are now for all to see. This is the effect of this Power.

This is the effect that the Word of Jesus has. Those who had hitherto considered themselves to be your friends and whom perhaps you trusted implicitly will because of your allegiance to the Word reveal how they truly stand towards you and indeed in regard to the Word of Jesus. If they are true friends, then they will wish you well but if on the contrary have never really loved you, their hatred against you will be intensified. It will be impossible for them to hide their true feelings anymore or indeed to hide their faults and weaknesses. This effect actually applies to everyone and it will first have its effect on those who are followers of Jesus’ Message so that these learn to know themselves and purify themselves in time.

Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The consequences of not adhering to the Laws of God are those of spiritual death. What this means is that one’s personality is torn to pieces and one ceases to be. This is the most horrible thing that can befall a human spirit and should be avoided at all costs. It is better to continue to adjust to the Will of God than to allow ourselves to deviate from the path due to threats from our adversaries. The worst that these people can do is kill the physical body. They will never be able to touch the soul.

If, however, one allows oneself to be deviated from the right path then we would have allowed ourselves to serve the darkness and we will share in the fate of evil doers, which is spiritual destruction. We should never allow a short brief span on earth to determine our entire existence, which goes far beyond this. We should never allow the threats of physical sufferings or death push us into making decisions that must lead to the far greater suffering of an eternal damnation. We should remember that Jesus did not deny His origin and His Teaching when He was threatened with the same. It is always the last trump card of the darkness but we should never allow it to triumph. The consequences of giving in are far more disastrous and longer lasting.

Matthew 10:29-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. (30) But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

The values that God places on every human life is revealed here. Just like the lilies in the fields, no one will be allowed to harm us as long as we have faith in God. If God could care for apparently smaller things like lilies and sparrows, how much more then will He care for us human beings. It is our lack of faith that makes us doubt His Omnipotence. Our ignorance of the Laws in this Creation and how they really operate has further made matters worse.

Matthew 10:32-33 “So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; (33) but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

In the face of all trials we should never deny God. Even at the threat of physical suffering, which is the ultimate weapon that can be used against one. As Jesus mentioned in the earlier verses, it is better to fear God who is capable of destroying both body and spirit than to fear those who can only destroy the body. The sufferings will only be temporary and release comes with physical death. The suffering brought on by the process of spiritual disintegration, however, which is the lot of those who do not follow the Laws of God are far more severe and permanent, culminating in the loss of the personality.

To deny God is one of the gravest sins that we can commit. There is only an either or with God. We are either for Him or we are not. We deny Him through acting in ways that are not in accordance with His Will. Other people will want to see examples in us and expect that we act in ways that they have come to expect of children of God. To act contrary is to confuse these people and to deny God and His Will. We pay lip service to God but we do not act in ways pleasing to Him. Refusing to acknowledge the Almighty in public is not the only way that we can deny Him. Not acting according to what is expected of children of God is, as mentioned above another way.