Overview:
From the very beginning, Jesus emphasized that following Him is no easy stroll in a park. As the world was hostile toward Him, it will be toward us. Because we are sheep among wolves, Jesus told us to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves. In this exposition of Matthew 10:11–31, Pastor Chuck Swindoll gives straight talk about living in a treacherous world. Learn how the presence and power of Christ frees us from fear.
Message Summary:
In this message centering on Matthew 10:16–31, Chuck Swindoll prepares believers for the harsh reality of living out their faith in a hostile world. Drawing an analogy from Captain David Marquet’s book Turn the Ship Around, Swindoll explains that Jesus shifts His disciples from a “leader-follower” dynamic to a “leader-leader” model. After training them, Jesus sends the Twelve out on their own, no longer just observers of His miracles but active participants in His mission [8–10].
Swindoll focuses on Jesus’ jarring warning: “I am sending you out as sheep among wolves.” He describes the vulnerability of sheep—who are defenseless and prone to wandering—versus the vicious, pack-oriented nature of wolves. To survive this “combat,” Jesus commands His followers to maintain a difficult balance: they must be shrewd as snakes (discerning, cautious, and smart) yet harmless as doves (gentle, pure, and without guile) [12–15].
The sermon outlines three specific types of persecution the disciples—and modern believers—can expect: religious persecution (courts and scourging), governmental persecution (trials before governors and kings), and family betrayal. Despite these grim warnings, Jesus commands them three times, “Don’t be afraid.” Swindoll concludes by emphasizing the necessity of becoming “deeper Christians” rooted in Scripture to withstand the “savage times” of the last days, illustrating this need with the testimony of Charlie Costa, a missionary in Beirut who warns that persecution is not just a distant threat but an encroaching reality [17–20, 27–29].
Message Key Facts:
- Leader-Leader vs. Leader-Follower: Swindoll cites Captain David Marquet of the USS Santa Fe, who turned the worst-performing submarine into the best by empowering his crew to take responsibility rather than just following orders. Swindoll applies this to Matthew 10, where Jesus sends the disciples out to do the work He had been doing [8–10].
- The “Sheep Among Wolves” Strategy: Swindoll notes this is a “reverse strategy.” Usually, wolves invade the sheep pen, but here, the Shepherd sends the sheep into the wolf pack. He illustrates the pack mentality of wolves by comparing them to “roaches in Houston”—where there is one, there are many [12–13].
- Snakes and Doves:
- Shrewd as Snakes: Believers must be wide-eyed, alert, and discerning to avoid being gullible.
- Harmless as Doves: Believers must remain gracious and pure, avoiding abrasiveness or retaliation. Swindoll quotes Kent Hughes, noting that men must live godly lives in a “Corinthian pornotopia” culture [14–16].
- Religious Persecution: Swindoll points out that the disciples, who were Jews, would face persecution from their own people in synagogues, including the “scourge” of 39 lashes.
- Governmental Persecution: The prediction of standing before “governors and kings” refers to figures like Pilate, Felix, Herod Antipas, and the Agrippas. This trial becomes an opportunity for testimony.
- Divine Ventriloquism: Regarding Jesus’ promise that “it is not you who will be speaking,” Swindoll clarifies this is not an excuse for students to skip studying for exams. It is a promise for those facing arrest and interrogation that the Spirit will provide the necessary words.
- Savage Times: Swindoll connects Matthew 10 to 2 Timothy 3, where Paul warns of “difficult” times. Swindoll notes the Greek implies “violent” or “savage” times, characterized by people who love only themselves and money—a reality Swindoll sees in today’s headlines [22–23].
- Charlie Costa: Swindoll shares the story of a magistrate and missionary in Beirut whose study is riddled with bullet holes. When asked if such persecution could come to the West, Costa immediately answered, “Absolutely” [27–29].
Message References:
- Matthew 10:16: “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves; so be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves” [3–4].
- Matthew 10:17: Warning of being handed over to courts and flogged in synagogues.
- Matthew 10:19–20: The promise that the Spirit of the Father will speak through believers when they are arrested.
- Matthew 10:26, 28, 31: The threefold command: “Don’t be afraid” [4–5].
- Isaiah 6:3: The seraphim crying “Holy, Holy, Holy”—referenced as the biblical background for the need for depth and purity.
- John 15:18–19: “If the world hates you, remember it hated me first”.
- 2 Timothy 3:1–5: A description of the “last days” characterized by selfishness, pride, and a lack of self-control [22–23].
- Acts 20:29: Paul’s warning to Ephesian elders about “savage wolves” entering the flock.
