Matthew 10:16-25

Matthew 10:16-25

[16] Behold,  I  forth  as  sheep  in  the midst  of wolves:  be ye  therefore  wise  as  serpents,  and  harmless  as  doves.  [17] But  beware  of  men:  for  up  to  the councils,  and  they will scourge  in  their  synagogues;  [18] And  ye shall be brought  before  governors  and  kings  for my  for  a testimony  against them  and  the Gentiles.  [19] But  when  up,  no  thought  how  or  what  ye shall speak:  for  it shall be given  in  that same  hour  what  ye shall speak.  [20] For  not  that speak,  but  the Spirit  Father  which  speaketh  in  [21] And  the brother  shall deliver up  the brother  to  death,  and  the father  the child:  and  the children  shall rise up  against  their parents,  and  them  to be put to death.  [22] And  be hated  of  all  men for  name's sake:  but  he that  endureth  to  the end  shall be saved.  [23] But  when  they persecute  in  city,  flee ye  into  for  verily  I say  have gone over  the cities  of Israel,  till  the Son  of man  be  come.  [24] The disciple  not  above  his master,  nor  the servant  above  his  lord.  [25] It is enough  for the disciple  that  he be  as  his  master,  and  the servant  as  his  lord.  If  the master of the house  Beelzebub,  how much  more  shall they call them of his  household? 

What does Matthew 10:16-25 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus proceeded to elaborate on the dangers the apostles would face and how they should deal with them.
In His descriptions of the opposition His disciples would experience, Jesus looked beyond His death to the time of tribulation that would follow. Then the disciples would have the same message and the same power as they did when He sent them out here. The narrow road leading to the kingdom led through a period of tribulation and persecution for the disciples. They did not understand that Jesus would have to die and experience resurrection before the kingdom began, even though this is what the Old Testament revealed. Jesus was beginning to prepare them and their successors for these events and the persecution they would experience as His followers. If Israel had accepted her Messiah, He still would have had to die, rise from the grave, and ascend into heaven. Seven years of tribulation would have followed. Then Jesus would have returned to the earth and set up His kingdom. As it happened, Israel rejected Jesus, so the period of Tribulation, His return, and the kingdom are all still future.
"The King performed His ministry according to the Old Testament Messianic calendar of events. According to the Hebrew Scriptures the Messiah, after He appeared, was to suffer, die, and be raised again ( Daniel 9:26; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53:1-11; Psalm 16:10). Following the death and resurrection of Christ there was to be a time of trouble ( Daniel 9:26-27; Jeremiah 30:4-6). The Messiah was then to return to the earth to end this tribulation and to judge the world ( Daniel 7:9-13; Daniel 7:16-26; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 12:1; Zechariah 14:1-5). Finally, the Messiah as King would establish His kingdom with Israel as the head nation ( Daniel 7:11-27; Daniel 12:1-2; Isaiah 53:11-12; Zechariah 14:6-11; Zechariah 14:20-21)." [1]
Part of the tribulation that Jesus prepared His disciples for took place when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and scattered the Jews all over the world, in A.D70. Yet the destruction of Jerusalem then was not the full extent of the tribulation the prophets foretold for Israel. This becomes clear as one compares the prophesied tribulation for the Jews with the events that surrounded the destruction of Jerusalem.