17 “Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.” (Matthew 10:17–18 (ESV)
Today’s text continues Jesus’ instructions when He sent out the Twelve Disciples as apostles to the Jewish community (Matt. 10:1-15). He instructed them what, and what not, to do as they served. It was at this point that the Lord told them what to expect; persecution.
As previously noted, persecution is hostility and ill treatment. It is also persistent annoyance or harassment. In the context of today’s text, it is persecution because of the Gospel and being an ambassador of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21). It can come from the government, culture and personally from unbelievers; some of whom may be members of one’s own family.
Today’s text prophecies what many believers in Christ have experienced through the centuries for their commitment to the Gospel; political and governmental persecution.
Jesus warned His disciples to beware of men. Beware (προσέχω; prosecho) is a present, active imperative verb. It means to pay attention to and to be alert for people antagonistic to the truth of the Gospel. Jesus told the twelve, and us, these individuals would certainly do things against them. What did Jesus say that these opponents would do?
First, they will deliver you over to courts. Followers of the Lord would be arrested and stand trial in a court of law. In the historical context, Jesus referred to local courts, or councils deciding cases. They were officiated by local elders or priests before a.d. 70. Thereafter, rabbis came to staff them, with a minimum of three judges per court. Peter and John encountered this type of persecution (Acts 4:1-22).
Second, they will…flog you in their synagogues. To be flogged (μαστιγόω; mastigoo) means to be whipped and scourged. Synagogues were not only places of public worship but also public discipline.
“Synagogues were the local places of public assembly, and thus provided the natural location for hearings and public discipline. Sometimes discipline was administered in the form of flogging; under second-century rules, Jewish flogging consisted of thirteen harsh strokes on the breast and twenty-six on the back. These words would have struck Jewish Christians as particularly painful, because they signified rejection of their preaching among their own people,” explains commentator Craig Keener.
Third, you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake. “Governors” are Roman overseers in the provinces. There were three levels: propraetors, proconsuls and procurators. “Kings” may refer only to Rome’s vassal princes, like Herod, but probably includes others. The Apostle Paul experienced such harassment (Acts 21:27-26:32).
The reason for these difficult circumstances was not because of punishment. Rather, it was for the opportunity to witness before these leaders the biblical truth of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
“To be a Christian is to imitate Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). If many have persecuted Him, so also will many hate us for preaching His Gospel. We who follow Him cannot expect to escape the tribulation our Lord also endured (Matt. 10:24–25). Let us embrace this truth,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Soli deo Gloria!
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