Conversation in Faith

Jesus told his disciples:

“I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

“They will hand you over…”

“You will be hated by all…”

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth…”¹

I can imagine that after hearing Jesus say this, the disciples would have had some questions.

“Why would people hate us?” “Why would we be dragged before governors and kings?

“Why would healing people, casting out demons, and raising the dead bring division rather than peace?”

“Why would people hate us for loving God and loving our neighbor?”

Why indeed?

Jesus sends the twelve disciples out on their own with a few instructions and with a longer set of warnings. This week’s text is more of the longer discourse. (To see all of Jesus’ instructions in chapter 10, read them here.) It’s troubling and perplexing to read. Jesus warns the disciples will face persecution and even death.² Jesus concludes his instructions and warnings with these words.

“A disciple is not above the teacher nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

“Everyone, therefore, who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven, but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword.

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, and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

“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 and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:24-39 NRSVue

What is going on here? Jesus has sent the disciples to “proclaim the good news- ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’³ Why does Jesus expect the good news to make enemies and create opposition?

To answer that question, we need to think seriously about what the “good news” actually is.

All too often, Christians reduce Jesus’ good news to be only about what happens after death. You may have been asked the question, “If you were to die tonight, where would you spend eternity?”

And while what happens after we die is a serious question, do you think the Roman Empire, or any empire cares about that?

If the good news is about being a “good” person or about being a “good” citizen, do you think the Roman Empire, or any empire cares about that?

If, however, the good news is that the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, that might be a problem for the Roman Empire or for any empire.

Jesus’ teachings upset the status quo of the empire. Jesus’ actions upset the status quo of the empire. Jesus upsets the entire practice and meaning of empire by his life of service, of healing, and reconciliation. Jesus challenged and continues to challenge the systems that keep people poor, sick, and competing for scarce resources. In the kingdom of Heaven people are healed. In the kingdom of Heaven the hungry are fed. In the kingdom of Heaven divisions that are designed to keep people restricted and limited and afraid are erased.

Jesus challenged and continues to challenge the powerful and the wealthy. He challenged and continues to challenge unfair and unjust systems and ways of life. Jesus by his teaching, his actions and his example, explains and enacts the kingdom of God.

Jesus undoes the hierarchy and the patriarchy that the empire needs to rule as he values the lives of women, and fellowships with “sinners” and “outsiders”. Jesus teaches the first shall be last and the last first.

Richard Rohr explains,

“During this time, Christianity was not so much about doctrines or eternal salvation, but about how to live a better life here and now, within the ‘reign of God.’

From the perspective of occupying Roman powers, the Christian sect was radical because it encouraged alternative behaviors that were both attractive to those at the bottom and threatening to the worldview of empire. Rather than acquiring wealth, this new sect shared possessions equally. Followers of the Way lived together with people of different ethnicities and social classes rather than following classist and cultural norms.”⁴

No wonder Jesus warns his disciples. Matthew’s readers and we know that Jesus was crucified as “The King of the Jews”. Not because Jesus himself claimed it, but because more and more people proclaimed it. To claim that Jesus is Lord was to declare that the Emperor and the Empire are not Lord. More and more people wanted the kingdom of Heaven, not the Empire of Rome.

Jesus warns his disciples to expect opposition from the elites. Jesus is honest about the dangers and costs of challenging the empire and proclaiming the reign of God. Those who benefit from the power of the empire will not give up without a fight. The empire always strikes back.

To proclaim and live in the kingdom of heaven on earth requires the disciples full allegiance. That allegiance can cost family ties. That allegiance does not guarantee success and safety. It is true that not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father. But the sparrow, nevertheless, falls to the ground.

Following Jesus was not easy for the twelve disciples. It was often dangerous. Following Jesus is not easy for disciples in any time or place. It’s not easy for us today.

And yet, people listened and followed. Why? Perhaps because lives were changed. Christians loved people across and in spite of cultural barriers and social boundaries. Christians abandoned striving for power and wealth and in doing that they discovered joy in true community.

Jesus by his teaching, his actions, and his example challenges every empire of domination and power in every time and place. Following Jesus, means we are clear about where our allegiance is. Not to any empire. Not to any nation. Not even to those closest to us. In following Jesus we live lives of joy, love, peace, and hope, despite the challenges. We, find our lives and as Francis de Sales wrote, “Live Jesus”.

1. Selected verses from Matthew 10, last week’s and this week’s gospel texts. ↩︎
2. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the gentiles.
   When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Sibling will betray sibling to death and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
   When they persecute you in this town, flee to the next, for truly I tell you, you will not have finished going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”Matt 10:17-23 NRSVue ↩︎
3. Matthew 10:7 NRSVue ↩︎
4. “The Way of the Early Church: A New Way of Living” https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-new-way-of-living/ June 14, 2026 ↩︎