Matthew 10 Misunderstood: What Jesus Really Meant About Peace, Division, and Rejection

Jesus taught a lot in the three years of full ministry he had. So much so that we have 4 volumes of these teachings, and according to John, this barely scratches the surface. Most scholars point to 50 core teachings of Jesus, and that is not even isolating them out, but just looking at themes. There is a lot for us to learn, study, and try to imitate in our lives. And because of this, we often end up missing the bigger messages, or the heart of what Jesus is truly calling us towards. 

Today, I want to look at three common examples of this out of Matthew 10, and how we not only can understand these better, but how quickly our message can change when we get the meaning wrong.

What is Happening in Matthew 10

Jesus had called his 12 Disciples earlier on in Matthew, but up until this point, they were primarily just observers, rarely getting involved outside of casual mentions and narrative setups. But they had been present for some of the most important events. They were there as he began to preach about the Kingdom of God, the Sermon on the Mount, and watched numerous miraculous healings. But now in Matthew 10, responsibilities shift. 

The disciples were no longer to be mere observers, but instead they were now supposed to be active participants in the ministry. They are given authority over demons, told where to go and what to say, and told to go without provisions but instead to trust in God to provide. They are told to proclaim the gospel they had heard and then do the same work they had seen. The Kingdom of God was preparing to go out in force into Israel, and for free. The dead were going to be raised, the sick healed, and the demons of the land driven out. But Jesus also gave them another set of commands, as far as how they were to respond when the Kingdom of God was resisted and opposed. And this section of commands is where the most common misunderstandings begin to appear.

Matthew 10:14 - What does it mean to dust off your sandals?

"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town."

This phrase is one that we see thrown around a lot, typically as a way to avoid furthering discussion or interactions with those they disagree with. Much like we saw with “Pearls before Swine.” But the reality of what Jesus is calling us to do here is much more serious than simply cutting someone off. It represents a full rebuking of a community that rejects the message and mission being delivered. This is not something that anyone should take lightly or even desire to do. Those who have had to do this know this. This is a heartbreaking action, not a tool to win an argument.   

How Do We Know This?

Verses 11-15 give us a much clearer picture of what Jesus is commissioning his followers to do. The Apostles were to go out on their mission, carrying nothing, and relying fully on the hearts of those who would hear the message to provide for them. They were going and bringing with them a message of Peace and freedom in the midst of uncertain times. If the community welcomed this message, then they were to be blessed with the peace the gospel brought. But when the community rejected the message, peace was to be removed, and the community was left to its own destruction. This is not something to be taken lightly. This isn't just someone not wanting to listen to you talk. This is about a community of people who refuse to accept the peace that comes from the Gospel, and so they are left to their own destruction. This, like what we see with Abraham and Lot in Genesis 19, is something that, while necessary, should break our hearts and cause us to mourn a loss that could have been avoided.

Matthew 10:16 - What does it mean to be shrewd as a serpent?

“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.”

Much like the dust discussion, this phrase is used oftentimes as a way to get out of further interactions with someone they disagree with. We like the idea of being shrewd. We often take it as an excuse to be demeaning, sassy, and dismissive of others. We begin to see the world as wolves about to devour us, rather than as fellow sheep needing a shepherd. And we ignore the rest of the verse, which tells us to be harmless. 

How Do We Know This?

There are a couple of layers to how we should understand these verses. As we said already, just finishing the phrase provides us with the context needed to show the hear of what Jesus is calling us to. But what about the idea of being sent out “like sheep among wolves”? Verses 17-31 are able to help us with this. 

In 17-31, Jesus lists off a large number of scenarios that the apostles were to be prepared for. Persecution was coming, and it was going to be widespread. But notice how Jesus tells them to prepare for it. He tells them not to. They are told not to fear. Not to plan. But to just go and proclaim the message boldly without reservation. Why? Because the message they were bringing was one of peace and not harm. They had nothing to fear because the message they were bringing cast out fear. The call to be shrewd was not one of attack, but awareness, awareness of how those who heard the message may react, and a reminder that in those reactions, we are still supposed to bring peace rather than harm.

Matthew 10:34 - What sword is Jesus bringing?

"Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

This is a phrase we have thrown around often when we have the nonviolence discussion. We read Jesus bringing a sword and seemingly being anti-peace, and turn it into an entire theology around how to face the world. But Jesus wasn't advocating for violence or division, but was providing a warning about what will come for those of us who follow Him fully.

How Do We Know This?

Much like what we saw in Matthew 5, Jesus clarifies what this supposed enemies list looks like in verses 35 and 36. Here, Jesus makes it clear that what he is describing is not violence, but broken relationships. Relationships that become broken because of the message that we are bringing. Family relationships are torn apart, not because of a divisive nature by either party, but because following after Jesus and delivering the message of peace will not be accepted by everyone.

This is a concept many people have come to realize over the centuries across the globe. Coming to faith in Jesus led to being marked as an outcast by their families and societies. We see this happen as early as John 9, when the formerly blind man is ostracized again by his parents and the community as a whole. Here in the US, many of us have experienced this truth as well, as following Jesus over political ideology has led to broken relationships and lost societal status. 

What do all these have in common?

All of these verses are being misused and misunderstood in the same way. All of them are used as an excuse to exclude others, to dismiss others, or to cut them off completely. And this ultimately is the irony as well. Because all of these verses, in the context of the commission as a whole, are meant to do the opposite. The message that the apostles were being commissioned to bring was one of peace, blessing, and redemption for all, rather than the select few. It seeks to give everyone a feeling of dignity, worth, and freedom to live as God intended. A message that unites communities to care for one another in service. These verses, picked out and weaponized, are the very ones warning of what happens to those who reject that message. 

As with all of Jesus teachings, the lesson we should receive is one that causes us to look inward. 

Are we willing to accept the full picture of what Matthew 10 calls us to?

Are we willing to internalize a message of peace in the midst of chaos? 

Are we willing to go into a world that may not be able to accept that peace? 

Are we ready to make ourselves vulnerable enough to rely on others to survive? 

Are we willing to accept the responsibility, heartbreak, and guilt for having to see communities reject the message, persecute you, or cut you off from the relationships you care about?

Matthew 10 is a message of peace in the midst of trial, but it also is a reminder that cost of following Jesus, often can lead to heartbreak as well. But the conclusion of this chapter reminds us that it is worth it. 

 “The one who welcomes you welcomes Me, and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. Anyone who welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple—I assure you: He will never lose his reward!”

Jesus is our peace. Jesus is our reward. Jesus is worth it.

If we read Matthew 10 correctly, we don’t walk away with permission to dismiss people; we walk away with a call to carry peace into places that may reject us anyway. The Kingdom of God is at hand, and it heals, calms, and freely welcomes those who desire to participate. 

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This post was written by Andrew Fouts. The founder and main content creator for Ministry Misfits. He also serves as one of the directors and writers for KFM Broadcasting Network.

This post was edited by Joseph Dea. Joe is a writer for his own blog at https://kfmbroadcasting.wixstudio.com/buddywalkwithjesus and is one of the directors and writers for KFM Broadcasting.

This blog is being crossposted to our network blog at www.kfmbroadcasting.com/blog. If you have found this or other Misfits Resources helpful, check out the network of resources available through KFM!