Matthew 10:18 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 10:18 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.”

And you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. The reach of the persecution extends beyond the synagogues to the Roman governors and the client kings — the same authorities who threatened Jesus in chapter 2 (Herod) and who will condemn him in chapter 27 (Pilate). The dragging before governors and kings is simultaneously persecution and opportunity: the disciples' testimony will be heard by the powers that cannot be reached by ordinary preaching. Acts 24–26 records Paul before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa — each a fulfillment of this verse.

Church Fathers on Matthew 10:18

Having removed all care and anxiety from the Apostles, and armed them with the miraculous powers, He proceeds to foretell the evils which should befal them. First, that they might know his knowledge of the future; secondly, that they should not think that these things befel them because of the want of power in their Master; thirdly, that they might not be amazed if these things had come upon them unexpectedly; fourthly, that after hearing these things, they might not be…
Chrysostom · 4th century · Hom. 33

For he who undertakes the office of preacher ought not to do evil, but to suffer it, and by his meekness to mollify the wrath of the angry, and by his wounds to heal the wounds of sinners in their affliction. And even should the zeal of right-doing ever require that He should be severe to those that are placed under Him, His very severity will be of love and not of cruelty, outwardly maintaining the rights of discipline, and inwardly loving those whom He corrects. Too many,…
Gregory the Great · 6th century · Hom. in Ev., xvii. 4

He calls the Scribes and Pharisees who are the clergy of the Jews, 'wolves.'
Jerome · 4th century

Read all 20 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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