Matthew 10:24-25

Matthew 10:24-25

A disciple is not above the teacher.  Neither is a slave above his lord.  It is sufficient for the disciple in order that he should become like his teacher and the slave to become like his lord.  If they called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call the members of his household!

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The disciple is not above the teacher.  The slave is not above the lord.  Jesus uses these words here as a teaching on hierarchy.  We are His disciples.  If we follow the example of Paul – and I do – we are also His slaves.  We are under Him.  We are not His equal.  We are certainly not better than Him!  We are under Him, and it is important to know our place.  We do His wishes, not the other way around.  We aspire to His ways, not the other way around. 

When are you most aware that you are the disciple and He is the teacher?  When are you most likely to get this relationship backwards in your head and try to be the master in your own life?

Second Thought:

Our job is to become like Him.  This passage couldn’t be clearer on this point.  It is sufficient for us to become like Him.  Now, that doesn’t mean we all need to be carbon copies of Jesus – and therefore carbon copies of each other.  Unity does not automatically mandate uniformity.  But we are to be like Him.  We are to be transformed by His Spirit.  We are the ones who need to change!

In what ways have you become more Christ-like?  Are there any places in your life where you are resisting becoming more like Him?

Third Thought:

Keep in mind that there is a double-edged sword here.  The world came to Him and used Him as a spectacle but then walked away from Him when things got tough.  Many people wanted to be healed by Him or watch Him argue with the religious leaders, but few wanted to pick up their cross and actually follow Him.  Even worse, the world rejected Him.  When we get down to brass tacks, the world crucified Him.  Jesus is absolutely saying that if the world treated Him that way then we should expect similar treatment.  After all, it is enough for the disciple to be like His teacher.

Why do we run away from persecution when we know full well that Jesus was persecuted?  Why is it so easy to embrace the concept that Jesus was persecuted but so hard for us to embrace our own persecution?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 10:26-28