Missional Jesus was rejected; missioners of the missional Jesus will be rejected too. So Matthew 10:17-25. (Just make sure the rejection is due to being a missioner of Jesus.) Missioners of the missional Jesus, like Jesus, hang on until the end.
1. Missioners are extensions of the missional Jesus — this is the logical ground of everything in this passage and it is found in the bold-faced words below (from 10:24-25).
2. Missioners will experience rejection because of their overt, clear fellowship with Jesus.
3. Missioners remain missioners during times of rejection.
4. Missioners will be sustained by God’s strength and Spirit during rejection times.
5. Missioners may encounter bitter betrayals by family members.
6. Missioners must hang on — endure — persevere. Those who do “will be saved.” (Disputes on this ignored today.)
7. Missioners can flee rejection and persecution — they are shrewd (10:16), not foolish.
Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but those who stand firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
“Students are not above their teacher, nor servants above their master. It is enough for students to be like their teacher, and servants like their master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!“