Mt 10:16-23
Familial betrayal: Jesus speaks about persecution, which was taking place in Matthew’s church at the time of the writing of this Gospel. As the church began to spread after the resurrection, those who professed belief in Jesus experienced hostility and rejection. Matthew characterizes their situation as being “like sheep in the midst of wolves” (v 16).
Familial betrayal: Jesus speaks about persecution, which was taking place in Matthew’s church at the time of the writing of this Gospel. As the church began to spread after the resurrection, those who professed belief in Jesus experienced hostility and rejection. Matthew characterizes their situation as being “like sheep in the midst of wolves” (v 16).
Persecution for the members of Matthew’s community took various forms. Early believers were accused of being traitors to the state in the courts. Jewish-Christians were expelled from their own synagogues. Others were paraded before governors and kings and suffered such cruel deaths as being burned alive and used as lion fodder and dog food.
Belief in Jesus was a cause for division in families. Brothers and sisters as well as parents and children betrayed each other to the authorities in order to save their own skins. The betrayal theme will be fully explored in Matthew’s account of the passion and death of Jesus. In the betrayal and tragic death of Jesus, Matthew declares, one must not lose sight of the resurrection. God does not wipe away human tragedy and death; God participates in it, ultimately overcoming it, and this gives it its redeeming quality.
Therefore, those who suffer persecution, betrayal, and tragedy are being conformed to the likeness of Jesus, according to Matthew. When they are handed over, they are not to worry about what they are going to say or how they are going to defend themselves. The Spirit of the Father will speak through the persecuted members of the community.