Matthew 10:31 - 11:1 31 So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. 34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and one's foes will be members of one's own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 40 "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward." Matthew 11:1 Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.
1. Christian commitment may separate friends and loved ones. Jesus is not encouraging disobedience to parents or conflicts at home, rather he was sharing that his presence demands a decision, because some will follow others will not.
2. As we take up our cross and follow him, different values, morals, goods will set us apart from the goal. Do not neglect your family but remember that your commitment to God is even more important than they are. God should be our first priority.
3. Christ calls us to a higher mission than to find comfort and tranquility in this life. Love of a family is a law of God but even this love can be self-serving and used as an excuse not to serve God or do his will.
4. The more we love this life’s rewards (leisure, power, popularity, financial security) the more we will discover how empty they really are. The best way to enjoy life is to loosen our greedy grasp on earthly rewards so that we can be free to follow Christ.
5. Gospel of peace first brings warfare into the soul. It cuts through old habits. It opposes daily sins. It sets up a new standard at variance with what was loved in the past.
As followers of Christ, if we get only praises and appreciations all the time, we should start analyzing our conduct to see whether we are really faithful to Christ. We could be sometimes making several compromises to have an ease and comfortable life. Jesus does not want followers who live on compromises but want disciples who live with convictions.
Reference
The Pulpit Commentary
Life Application Study Bible
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