Reflective Bible Study.
Being Like Jesus: Matthew 10:16-42
Focus Passage: Matthew 10:16-42 (GNT)
During Jesus’ first big message directed at His closest twelve followers, Jesus shares some interesting ideas. As Jesus’ followers many centuries and generations later, focusing on what Jesus told His first followers has incredible relevance if we want to be as dedicated to Christ as they were after His resurrection.
Matthew, who was present for this big message as one of the twelve, wrote down this message, and included is a really significant statement: “No pupil is greater than his teacher; no slave is greater than his master.” (v. 24)
In every area of life, this principle holds true. Teachers are responsible for their students, employers are responsible for their employees, masters are responsible for their servants/slaves, and parents are responsible for their children. The word “greater” in this context doesn’t necessarily mean that they are just responsible for someone else, but that the nature of each role places one person in a more significant position than another.
This principle sounds obvious, but when we place Jesus in the role of teacher and master, things seem to get tricky. While we are quick to point out the obvious truth that no one can be more important or significant than Jesus, when He tells us things that we don’t agree with, too often we discount or ignore Him as though He doesn’t know what He is talking about. We love the places that Jesus makes us feel good about His acceptance, but we shy away from the places He challenges us to obey and live differently.
Jesus follows this principle up with another statement that helps explain this idea further. Jesus continues by saying, “So a pupil should be satisfied to become like his teacher, and a slave like his master.” (v. 25a)
This statement is the key for this entire concept. If someone called the master a horrible name, those under that master will also get horrible names thrown at them. This simple example emphasizes the point that as “students” and “slaves” of Jesus, there is no way we should think we could be greater than He is. Instead, we should focus on simply becoming like Him.
The role of a disciple was to become like the teacher. By following and living with the teacher, the disciple would learn all the details and nuances of how the teacher lived and incorporate those things into his/her life. Simply modeling Jesus should be enough to satisfy us. While Jesus hinted at His disciples doing even greater works than He did, this shouldn’t be our focus for joining the Christian movement.
Instead, the Christian movement should be filled with students who are simply trying to become more like Jesus, who is our Teacher and our Master – not with people who have a point to prove or a statement to make against someone else. Non-Christ-like actions have no place among those who call themselves Christians, Christ-followers, or disciples. If Jesus loved those who society, religion, and culture have rejected, then we are called to love them as well – regardless of whether they return love towards us. At its core, this is what it means to be like Jesus.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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