A Practical Guide for Disciples The

Hallmarks of Discipleship-Part 1
by

John MacArthur
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Matthe) 1#*+,--1 .ntro uction

Tape %& ++"+

Matthew's purpose in writing was to affirm that Christ is King. He knew that mankind is prone to raise up other monarchs in competition to Christ. When a person becomes a Christian he submits willingly to Jesus Christ as Lord Master and King. He gi!es himself o!er to His so!ereignty from the petty monarchs in his past. "n Matthew #$%&'( '& we find our Lord's instructions to those committed to His so!ereignty. )hat is what Christ asks of those who follow Him. Revie) Christ's teaching embraces all who claim a relationship with Him((not *ust a special few. "f we claim a relationship to Christ we are to follow and learn from Him. +s a result we will be like Him. We will ha!e His !alues and submit to His authority. ,ince the world stooped low enough to label Christ as the de!il it won't hesitate to do the same to us. "n Matthew #$%&- Jesus used the analogy of a master of a house((a person with dignity authority honor and wealth. "f people dare to malign such a man they will certainly not hesitate to speak e!il against those who belong to his household. Howe!er true disciples are content to be like Christ. )hat is their goal so they are willing to pay the cost of discipleship. /esson +ll true disciples are characteri.ed by certain hallmarks. ". + /",C"0L1 /21, 32) 41+5 )H1 W25L/ 6!!. &7(8#9 "n Matthew #$ Jesus instructs His disciples not to fear the world 6!!. &7 &: 8#9 but fear would be the natural response to the warnings He *ust ga!e in !erses #7(&8. 0ro!erbs &;%&- e<plains =)he fear of man bringeth a snare> but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.= )he fear of man strangles effecti!e e!angelism. ?ecause we don't want to e<perience difficulty disrespect or persecution we often hold back from telling the good news of Jesus Christ. )oo often Christians are caught up in self preser!ation. Jesus warned that persecution would happen but He wanted his disciples to be bold in the face of it. 4irst John &%#says =Lo!e not the world neither the things that are in the world. "f any man lo!e the

world the lo!e of the 4ather is not in him.= + person who is afraid of the world not interested in witnessing for Christ and unwilling to pay the cost of discipleship is unlikely to be a real Christian. )heir priorities are wrong. When the pressure is on they bail out% =they went out from us but they were not of us= 6# John &%#;9. )hose who when under pressure and remain faithful to Christ gi!e e!idence of being true disciples. 0ear an the 0ro1en River Christ often reminded His disciples not to be afraid% =fear not little flock> for it is your 4ather's good pleasure to gi!e you the kingdom= 6Luke #&%8&9. 1!en after the resurrection Jesus reminded His disciples not to be afraid 6Matt. &:%#$> Luke &'%8:> John &$%#;(&89. 4ear is something Christians constantly need to be encouraged to a!oid. We need to get out from the church and our ?ible studies to proclaim @od's Word to a world that doesn't know Jesus Christ. We need to a!oid being like the +rctic 5i!er% fro.en o!er at the mouth. +. He Knows He Will ?e Aindicated 6!. &79 =4ear them not therefore% for there is nothing co!ered that shall not be re!ealed> and hidden that shall not be known.= =)herefore= looks back to what Jesus had pre!iously said((that since He e<perienced persecution in the world they should e<pect the same. 3e!ertheless they were not to be afraid because =there is nothing co!ered that shall not be re!ealed> and hidden that shall not be known= 6!. &:9. )he truth about e!erything will one day be made known. 3ow Christians are looked on as anti(intellectual outcasts and are persecuted. )he worldly are successful and the wicked prosper. Bet that will change((the truth will become clear. @od will re!eal who was truly successful and !indicate those who are His. What is now hidden will be re!ealed when @od takes !engeance on those who do not know Him. Jesus wanted His disciples to ha!e an eternal perspecti!e((one that would enable them to a!oid fear. #.)he reward ,cripture assures belie!ers of their reward. a9 5e!elation &&%#&((Jesus said =?ehold " come Cuickly and my reward is with me to gi!e e!ery man according as his work shall be.= b9& Corinthians -%#$((We must all appear before the *udgment seat of Christ that e!eryone may recei!e the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad.= c9# Corinthians '%-((=Judge nothing ... until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts> and then shall e!ery man ha!e praise of @od.=

d9 5e!elation &%#$((Jesus said =?e thou faithful unto death and " will gi!e thee a crown of life.= e9& )imothy '%:((0aul said assuredly =)here is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous *udge shall gi!e me at that day.= f9# Corinthians ;%&-(()he worldly stri!e =to obtain a corruptible crown but we an incorruptible DcrownE.= g9# )hessalonians &%#;((0aul said of the )hessalonians =What is our hope or *oy or crown of re*oicingF +re not e!en ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his comingF= )hose who ha!e an eternal perspecti!e don't worry about being popular or appearing wise and noble in this life. )hat perspecti!e enables disciples to confront society with the claims of Christ while looking for reward in eternity. &.)he re!elation We need to li!e for the future. 2nly then will we know who were hypocrites and who were heroes. )oo many Christians trade momentary popularity for an eternal reward. a9 Luke #&%#(&((Jesus said to His disciples =?eware of the lea!en of the 0harisees which is hypocrisy. 4or there is nothing co!ered that shall not be re!ealed> neither hidden that shall not be known.= Here the same phrase used in Matthew #$%&7 refers to the unmasking of hypocrites((those who hide the truth about themsel!es. b9 Luke :%#7(#G((=3o man when he hath lighted a lamp co!ereth it with a !essel or putteth it under a bed but setteth it on a lampstand that they who enter in may see the light. 4or nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest> neither any thing hidden that shall not be known and come to light.= c9# Corinthians 8%#&(#8((="f any man build upon this foundation gold sil!er precious stones wood hay stubble((e!ery man's work shall be made manifest> for the day shall declare it because it shall be re!ealed by fire> and the fire shall test e!ery man's work of what sort it is.= d9 1cclesiastes ##%;((=5e*oice 2 young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the ways of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes> but know thou that for all these things @od will bring thee into *udgment.= e9 1cclesiastes #&%#8(#'((=4ear @od and keep His commandments> for this is the whole duty of man. 4or @od shall bring e!ery work into *udgment with e!ery secret thing whether it be good or whether it be e!il.= ,omeday @od will e<pose the entire record of our li!es. Many who looked like winners in this life will be re!ealed as eternal losers while others who were persecuted for their faith and thought to be losers will be re!ealed as eternal winners.

John Cal!in and another minister were banished from @ene!a after preaching @od's truth. Cal!in when he was notified said ="f we had ser!ed men we should ha!e been ill rewarded. ?ut we ser!e a great Master who will recompense us= 6Jean Moura and 0aul Lo!et Cal!in% a Modern ?iography D@arden City 3.B.% /oubleday #;8&E p. #-:9. ?. + /isciple 4ears @od More )han Man 6!!. &G(&:9 =What " tell you in darkness that speak in light> what ye hear in the ear that proclaim upon the housetops. +nd fear not them who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul> but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.= + person who truly worships and fears @od does not fear man. #.He keeps nothing secret )here are no secrets in Christianity. We are to gi!e the message of the gospel as we ha!e recei!ed it. +t the time Jesus taught the rabbis would train their pupils by standing beside them and speaking pri!ately into their ears. )hen the young men would repeat what they had been told. )he Lord used that picture to show how the disciples were to openly speak what they had been pri!ately told. a9 ?y telling all When Jesus said =What " tell you in darkness that speak in light> and what ye hear in the ear that proclaim upon the housetops= 6!. &G9 He set no restrictions on the contents of what His disciples were to pass on. We are to hold back nothing that our Lord has chosen to re!eal. )oo often Christians hold back @od's truth for fear of alienating non(Christians. )he style of much of today's e!angelism is Cuestions like =Would you like to be happyF= =Would you like to ha!e all your problems sol!ed and go to hea!en fore!erF= =Would you like to e<perience true lo!eF= +pparently those who ask such Cuestions think they will make Jesus so desirable that unsa!ed people will end up asking =Where do " signF= "f you were to approach someone you work with and lo!ingly say =My friend do you know you are in danger of burning in hell fore!er if you don't recei!e sal!ation through Jesus Christ = you would probably get persecuted. ?ecause that kind of message offends people many hold back from disclosing crucial spiritual truths. b9 ?y adding nothing Aerse &G means we are to tell not only nothing less than the whole truth but also nothing more. )hat means first getting alone with @od and pouring o!er His Word. 2nly from that secret place of study and prayer may we go to speak @od's Word to others. When we add to the message of @od's Word we only confuse people regarding the truth.

c9 ?y making public proclamation "n the days of Christ's ministry on earth announcements were commonly made from housetops. Houses had flat roofs with short walls around the edges that ser!ed as patios. 0eople often slept ate and had social e!ents on their roofs. Making an announcement only reCuired that a person stand on his roof and shout. + high roof would be an ad!antage and many people were likely to hear such an announcement because they tended to be outside. +lso there were no cars )As or stereos to drown out the sound. Christ wanted His disciples to be as public as possible with the gospel message. 5abbis sometimes taught on housetops and religious officials would announced religious holidays by blowing a trumpet from a housetop. )hat is similar to the minarets used today in the Moslem world from which Moslems are called to prayer. )he first( century Jewish historian Josephus wrote about the time he tried to calm an angry mob by addressing the people from the roof of his house 6Wars of the Jews &.&#.-9. Housetops were the common public forum of Jesus' day. )oday we're to use whate!er common public forums are a!ailable to us to proclaim the gospel. d9 ?y paying the price )here is a price to pay for telling the whole gospel. +cts &#%#$(## records how the prophet +gabus warned 0aul that he would be imprisoned for preaching the gospel in Jerusalem. )he te<t then records 0aul's resolution to finish his ministry in the face of persecution. 0aul's e<ample shows us that the gospel is ne!er to be kept secret and that there's a price to pay for publicly proclaiming it. &.He keeps things in perspecti!e Jesus said =4ear not them who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul> but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell= 6Matt. #$%&:9. Man can only kill the body not the soul. )he worst he can do is only temporal. 0aul said =4or to me to li!e is Christ and to die is gain= 60hil. #%&#9. Howe!er @od is able to destroy both soul and body in hell fore!er. Hell is where ,atan himself will be sub*ected to continual destruction. 2nly @od has the keys to death and hell 65e!. #%#:9 so only @od should be feared. Man's power is puny beside the power of @od. Matthew was not threatening Christians with hell. He was pointing out that all mankind should fear the 2ne who determines the destiny of both soul and body not those who can determine merely when and how to kill the body. 2ur fear of @od shows itself by how we react to opportunities to share the gospel that we are sure will result in persecution. a9 0ersecution by family When we fail to communicate the gospel to our family members because we know they will be angry and might e!en ask us to lea!e we show that we fear man more than @od. "f we truly fear @od and re!erence His infinite holiness and ma*esty worshiping Him as He ought to be worshiped we will speak on His behalf regardless of any threat that stands in our way.

%o to Hell an %et A)ay from .t All2 ,ome people think the destruction in hell spoken of in ,cripture means total annihilation. ?ut that is not what the @reek word translated =destroy= in Matthew #$%&: means. "t's the ongoing destruction spoke of in & )hessalonians #%; =on them that know not @od and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with e!erlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.= )he destruction of hell is continual and fore!er. "n Matthew #$%&: the @reek word translated =hell= is @ehenna. "t was the name of the city dump in the Aalley of Hinnom outside of Jerusalem. Jesus used it to illustrate the terrible nature of hell because in that dump worms continually fed on the garbage and fires were perpetually lit to burn the trash of Jerusalem. "n hell the unsa!ed will be consumed in their resurrection bodies fore!er. 0eople often wonder if there is literal fire in hell. ,ince both the sa!ed and unsa!ed are resurrected to eternal life with literal bodies 65e!. &$%##(#-9 it follows that the fire in hell is literal and eternal. We don't know what kind of fire e<actly but it will be terribleH 0eople must be warned about what they face apart from ChristH b9 )he persecution of 0aul 0aul did not disobey @od's call to preach the gospel because he feared @od. He worshiped @od so much he could ne!er say no to @od to say yes to men. )hose who truly !enerate @od do not fear men because they are focused on obeying @od and fearing Him alone. "'d rather fall into the hands of angry men than the hands of an angry @od. c9 )he persecution of Latimer William ?arclay tells us that the si<teenth(century 1nglish minister Hugh Latimer =was preaching when Henry the king DHenry A"""E was present. He knew that he was about to say something which the king would not relish. ,o in the pulpit he soliloCuised aloud with himself. 'LatimerH LatimerH LatimerH' he said 'be careful what you say. Henry the king is here.' )hen he paused and ... said 'LatimerH LatimerH LatimerH be careful what you say. )he King of kings is here'= 6)he @ospel of Matthew !ol. # D0hiladelphia% Westminster #;-:E p. 8;G> cf. 4o<e's ?ook of Martyrs D@rand 5apids% ?aker #;G:E pp. &G8(G'9. )he king didn't like what he heard and Latimer was e!entually burned at the stake. d9 )he persecution of early Christians /uring the persecutions endured by the church in its early years many Christians hid in underground ca!erns in 5ome and outlying areas. )hey dug many miles of catacombs and buried their dead there for a period of nearly 8$$ years. +rchaeologists estimate that up to four million Christians were buried in those catacombs. e9 0ersecution during the /ark +ges "t is estimated that millions of Christians died for their faith during the /ark +ges.

f9 0ersecution in China Countless numbers of Christians died for their faith when the Communists took o!er China. g9 0ersecution in +frica Many also died for the name of Christ in the ci!il wars and rebellions that ha!e taken place in +frica. The 3nboun 4oul 1!en though man can kill the body he can't touch the soul. )he immaterial part of e!ery man and woman remains an eternal reality. 2f the two parts that constitute what man is man does not need to worry about persecution to the material part because it is bound to this earth. Christians look forward to shedding the old body and being resurrected into a new body. "f we are worried about what people do to our physical body we are too earthbound. We are to ha!e the perspecti!e that present persecution is a light thing compared with the !indication that will be ours in eternity. Jesus warning in Matthew #$%&: must ha!e been particularly poignant for Judas 6and those like him9. )here will always be phonies in the church and !erse &: ser!es as a terrible warning that @od will destroy them both soul and body in hell fore!er. C. He Knows He "s Aalued by @od 6!!. &;(8#9 =+re not two sparrows sold for a farthingF +nd one of them shall not fall on the ground without your 4ather. ?ut the !ery hairs of your head are all numbered. 4ear not therefore> ye are of more !alue than many sparrows.= #.@od's interest )he @reek word for =farthing= 6assarion9 is basically eCui!alent to a penny. )he word translated =sparrows= refers to little birds. )wo small birds could be bought for a penny or fi!e birds for two cents 6Luke #&%79. )hose little birds were bought to be ser!ed by the plateful as hors d'oeu!res. Bet !erse &; affirms that not one of those ine<pensi!e little birds falls to the ground without @od's knowing and caring about it. 3othing happens in the most simple and seemingly insignificant life that @od doesn't know and care about. +nd @od is the 4ather of e!ery disciple. He knows all about us and e!en assigns a number to e!ery hair on our heads which is about #$$ $$$ for the a!erage person according to the most recent World ?ook 1ncyclopedia. &.@od's care )he lesson of !erses &;(8$ is summed up in !erse 8#% =4ear not therefore> ye are of more !alue than many sparrows.= )he same @od who cares for little birds cares for us also and !alues us much moreH We will ne!er get into a situation where @od will not care for us and sustain us.

a9 0salm ;#%G((=+ thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come near thee.= +ll may collapse around us but we will remain safe because @od cares for us. b9 Matthew 7%&:(8$((=Consider the lilies of the field.... "f @od so clothe the grass of the field ... shall he not much more clothe you 2 ye of little faithF= We're often so afraid we might lose our reputation *ob or be in*ured that we become fearful. ?ut Jesus said not to fear because we are of great worth. @od will take care of us. &onclusion Matthew #$%&:(8# e<plains how we should react to being treated like our Lord. We should not be afraid because we'll be !indicated in the end with an eternal reward. We should maintain a proper perspecti!e by fearing @od not man. +nd we should also keep in mind that @od highly !alues us. )hat should diminish our fears of how others react to us. 0ocusing on the 0acts #. )he fear of man strangles effecti!e IIIIIIIIIIIIIII 6see p. &9. &. What reasons often hold us back from telling the good news of Jesus Christ 6see p. 89F 8. )oo often Christians are caught up in IIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIII 6see p. 89. '. Who are those who gi!e the best e!idence of being true disciples of Christ 6see p. 89F -. What kind of perspecti!e did Jesus want His disciples to ha!eF Why 6see p. '9F 7. + person who truly worships and fears @od does not fear IIIIIIIIIIIIIII 6see p. 79. G. What kind of restrictions did Jesus set concerning the contents of what His disciples were to pass on 6see p. G9F :. Why do Christians often hold back @od's truthF What kind of gospel presentation does that often result in 6see p. G9F ;. Christians are to tell nothing less than the whole truth. How are we to a!oid adding to the truth 6see p. G9F #$. Where are we to proclaim the gospel today 6see p. :9F ##. Why is @od to be feared 6Matt. #$%&:> see p. ;9F #&. What situations present us with an opportunity to show whom we fear((man or @od 6see pp. ;(#&9F

#8. "s the destruction of hell continual and fore!erF 1<plain 6see p. #$9F #'. 2f the two parts that constitute what man is why don't we need to worry about persecution to the material part 6see p. #&9F #-. +ccording to Jesus in Matthew #$%8# why are we not to fear 6see p. #89F Pon ering the Principles #. 2ften the reason people fail to commit themsel!es to Christ is they are not told of @od's resources. ,al!ation appears to them as something that occurs apart from @od's power. )hey assume they will ha!e to pay the cost of discipleship out of their own resources and are apt to turn away from Christ. )he 0uritan )homas Watson wrote =)here is a promise that works for our good '" will be with him in trouble' 60salm ;#.#-9. @od does not bring His people into troubles and lea!e them there. He will stand by them> He will hold their heads and hearts when they are fainting. +nd there is another promise 'He is their strength in the time of trouble' 60salm 8G.8;9. '2h ' says the soul '" shall faint in the day of trial.' ?ut @od will be the strength of our hearts> He will *oin His forces with us. 1ither He will make His hand lighter or our faith stronger= 6+ll )hings for @ood D1dinburgh% ?anner of )ruth )rust #;:7 reprintE p. #79. )ake comfort that the cost of discipleship is met with @od's own resources gi!en you in Christ. &. 4irst John '%#: affirms that =there is no fear in lo!e. ?ut perfect lo!e dri!es out fear because fear has to do with punishment. )he man who fears is not made perfect in lo!e= 63"A9. ?elie!ers ha!e no fear of coming *udgment. ?ut there is a godly fear. )he ?ritish pastor Charles Haddon ,purgeon said =)here is a holy fear which must not be banished from the church of @od. )here is a sacred an<iety which puts us to the Cuestion and e<amines us whether we be in the faith and it is not to be disdained= 6cited in ,purgeon at His ?est edited by )om Carter D@rand 5apids% ?aker #;::E pp. GG(G:9. @odly fear characteri.es those who recogni.e who @od is and desire to be pleasing to Him. "s that the attitude of your heartF