St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse:25a, Teacher, Pupil relationship.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Disciple not above his teacher) Part 2.  

Christ continues to explain to his disciples the principals of pupil and teacher.  In the previous verse he has told them that no disciple is above his teacher nor is a servant above his master.  What he is indicating is that if one calls himself a disciple then he/she is accepting the position of being under a teacher.  And vise versa if one is a teacher then there are pupils under him.  So if Christ is calling his students disciples it means that they are accepting that they are not above their teacher.  These principles are earthly ideals because Christ is of divine nature and everyone is under his teachings.  But Christ is indicating here, the principal of student/teacher relationship.  He is clarifying spiritual relationship.  This is important for the disciples to know because just as they are being trained as disciples to do combat with the dark forces of evil, there are also disciples of the evil one. 

He says to his disciples,  "It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and for the servant to be like his master."   It is sufficient for the pupil to take on the principals taught to him by his teacher thereby becoming like him.   Also it is enough for the servant to accept the mindset of his master thereby becoming like his master.   But the classic human struggle of, freedom vs servitude or pupil exceeding teacher, comes into play.  One does not serve when bound under slavery.  One does not truly give of oneself with a yoke around one's neck.  The service is not truly given but demanded.  So one who is bound under the servitude of slavery does not truly serve.  He/she only gives out of the requirement of their bondage. 

Likewise a pupil who learns from a teacher and then declares himself above the teacher is no longer a disciple, a student, a pupil.  For the declaration states that one knows more than the teacher and therefore is equal to or better than the teacher.  The confusion comes when one thinks of the pupil having received training from his teacher and then achieving greater understanding and greater success than the teacher.  However, the foundation for that success and greater understanding always comes back to the teacher.  One would not have succeeded were it not for the instructions of the teacher.  The pupil is not above the instructor.  The disciple is not above his teacher.

So Christ is giving his disciples principals to do battle by.  The opponents they will face will be disciples of the evil one.  They are not above their teacher but like him at most.  They serve him out of a desire to do evil.  For their service is given willingly out of a desire to do greater evil.  It is enough that the enemy that they will face will be like their master and not above him.  For they have been prepared and trained to do spiritual warfare also.  So Christ gives his disciples encouragement to let them know whom they will face.  They will face disciples of evil.  Do you seek to become the teacher yourself or is it enough that you have become like the master?  Our willingness to serve must come out of our love for him whom we serve. 

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 11, The Instructions

Our paragraph topic is:  (Instructions to the Twelve) Part 4.  

Christ continues to prepare his disciples for their solo journey.  He has told them where to go.  He has told them who to seek.  He has told them what they are to proclaim.  He has told them how to dress, what to wear, what to carry with them, and what not to carry.  The disciples are to become laborers.  They are to be worthy of their calling and the work they are to perform.  Their work must be deserving of their pay.  Now as he gathers them around, he gives them instructions for the battles they are to face.  He tells them what their first encounter will be.

Christ began his  mission of preaching and teaching with miracles.  He cast out demons, healed the sick and cured the lame.  The words of his ministry spread like wildfire throughout all of Syria.  Large crowds followed him from Galilee and Decapolis, and Jerusalem and Judea and even from beyond the Jordan.  His fame preceded him.  The people had heard of him, and the spiritual world of demons knew about him.  They heard the word of his fame and the battle was being prepared for his coming.  It was a time of war and Christ was the great warrior who conquered all the territories that he entered.  There was no stopping the onslaught of his ministry.  

Now the disciples were being prepared to enter the battle with the spiritual world.  They are given powers to fight the demons.  They are given powers to cure the sick and heal the lame, cleanse the lepers.  They are given powers to push back the forces of darkness and to bring light into the lives of the people.  But the demons do not give up.  Christ instructs his disciples to enter a village or a town and to, "Inquire who in it is worthy."   They are to inquire amongst the people of the village who they thought was holy and spiritually worthy in their town. 

What would this do?  The village or town would spread the word, saying to each other, "There is a man in town seeking the one who is worthy."  Every person who thought that they were worthy would come forth.  Every person who had claims on being worthy would appear.  And those who had authority would appear out of curiosity.  The town would become a buzz with the talk of who is worthy.  And the demon possessed people would also appear to put down this talk of being worthy because it is contrary to their cause.  Finally the true person who is worthy would appear, to reveal himself or herself to the disciple, to receive his blessing.  So Christ gave his disciples a challenge call to bring forth the true person that was holy and worthy, and also to bring forth the evil ones.

Christ gives his disciples a challenge call to bring forth the worthy in the villages and towns they are to visit.  What a wonderful example he has given, even to us, today.  When we enter a new job, who do we align ourselves with?  When we enter a new town, a new community, a new school, who do we seek?  Do we seek the one that is worthy or do we seek the one that is popular?  Do we seek the one that is most talked about or the one that is least talked about?  In our social environment, in our work environment, even in our church environment, we are challenged to fit in.  Those who are there before us, will challenge us.  They will play games with us.  They will trick us.  They will seek us out, to determine where we will fit into the social order.  How do we, as people of the faith of Christ, align ourselves with others in preparation for the battle?  Do we seek or inquire who is worthy or do we just fit into the world???