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William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 10:34-39

10:34-39 "Do not think that I came to send peace on earth: I did not come to send peace, but a sword. I came to set a man at variance against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies shall be the members of his own household. He that loves father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me: He who finds his life will lose it; and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 10:34-39

(iii) Jesus offers a cross. People in Galilee well knew what a cross was. When the Roman general, Varus, had broken the revolt of Judas of Galilee, he crucified two thousand Jews, and placed the crosses by the wayside along the roads to Galilee. In the ancient days the criminal did actually carry the crossbeam of his cross to the place of crucifixion, and the men to whom Jesus spoke had seen people staggering under the weight of their crosses and dying in agony upon them. The great men,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 10:38

And he that taketh not his cross ,.... By the "cross", which was a Roman punishment, whereby malefactors were put to death, are meant all sorts of afflictions, reproaches, persecutions, and death itself; and particularly the ill will, hatred, and persecution, of near relations and friends, which must be expected by such, who bear a faithful testimony for Christ. Every minister of Christ, or professor of his name, has "his" own cross, his own particular afflictions, appointed by God, and laid... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 10:38

He that taketh not his cross - i.e. He who is not ready, after my example, to suffer death in the cause of my religion, is not worthy of me, does not deserve to be called my disciple. This alludes to the custom of causing the criminal to bear his own cross to the place of execution; so Plutarch, ΕκαϚος των κακουργων εκφερει τον αυτου Ϛαυρον . Each of the malefactors carries on his own cross. See John 19:17 . read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 10:38

Verse 38 38.He who doth not take up his cross From particular cases he proceeds to general views, and informs us that we cannot be reckoned his disciples unless we are prepared to endure many afflictions. If we are vexed and tormented by the thought, that the gospel should set us at variance with our father, or our wife, or our children, let us remember this condition, that Christ subjects all his disciples to the cross Yet let us also bear in mind this consolation, that, in bearing the cross,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 10:1-42

The "commanding" of the twelve. This was a grand historic occasion indeed. The honoured but ever-comparatively feeble and now dimmed, dying, or dead schools of the prophets are to be succeeded by a scion of Christianity that marks at one and the same time its noblest and most amazing human institution, and Heaven's most condescending gift and human trust. Now begins "the great company of preachers" of the New Testament. They began with twelve;. they very soon grew to seventy; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 10:16-39

The internal conditions of conveying Christ ' s message. The subdivisions of this section are after Matthew 10:23 and Matthew 10:33 (cf. Matthew 10:5 , note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 10:24-42

General rules for all the Lord's disciples. I. THE CONFLICT . 1 . They must be patient , looking unto Jesus. He is our Example, our Master, our Lord. He is in all things above us immeasurably and beyond comparison—in his Divine power and majesty, in his transcendent holiness, in his perfect love. "He was despised and rejected of men." His people must expect the like. We are his disciples, his servants. The great aim of our life should be to be like him; to draw nearer and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 10:34-39

Fellowship with me will involve separation from the dearest upon earth , yet the reward is great. (Cf. Matthew 10:5 , note.) The progress of thought in these verses seems to be as follows: Do not be surprised at the contradiction that appears between my teaching and the immediate result; I allowed for this when I began my work ( Matthew 10:34 ). There will, indeed, be separation in the closest earthly ties ( Matthew 10:35 , Matthew 10:36 ). But my claims are paramount ( Matthew... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 10:34-42

The mission of the gospel. These verses conclude the charge which Christ gave to his disciples when he commissioned them as evangelists. Having instructed them how they were to behave ( Matthew 10:5-15 ), warned them of the hostility they should encounter ( Matthew 10:16-23 ), and encouraged them to be fearless ( Matthew 10:24-33 ), he now enlightens them concerning the mission of their message. I. IT WAS DESTINED TO DISTURB THE OLD FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIETY . 1... read more

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