What Jesus Did! 'Warned and Supported' — Matthew 10:17-20

Sunday, May 4, 2025

[Jesus continued his warning to the apostles when he sent them out:] "But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking — it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
— Matthew 10:17-20 NLT

Key Thought

While opposition and persecution are real possibilities for followers of Jesus, he does not leave us unequipped for such circumstances:

  1. He does not paint a rosy picture. He wants us to know the truth about what lies ahead and does not want us to be caught off guard.
  2. We must practice caution because there are those wanting to do us harm. We are not trying to get into trouble; it may happen because of what we do, but it is not our goal.
  3. Jesus reminds us of our purpose of appearing before others for the sake of the Good News: We are to be witnesses to the world.
  4. We are not to worry exactly how to defend ourselves, for the Spirit of God will help us know what to say.

Jesus makes it clear that we may suffer for our faith, but he wants us to know that we will not be unequipped or abandoned when we do! His words are a careful and practical balance of warning, assurance, mission, and support.

Today's Prayer

Holy and righteous God, I pray now for believers all over the world who are facing persecution and harassment for their faith. Please bless them and fill them with your Spirit to give them words to say to make a lasting redemptive impact on the hearts of those who oppose them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Acts 6:8-10
  • Acts 4:5-12
  • 2 Timothy 1:7-8

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1 Related Resource by Heartlight

Hope of the World
Article by Phil Ware
What can this old story powerfully say to our geopolitical messes of today? Phil Ware shares his series for December 2015 on welcoming Jesus and focuses on the Magi from the gospel of Matthew and lets that story remind us our need to reach out to the lost and foreigner and alien and refugee among us.

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 10:17-20 NLT — "But beware!"

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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