Matthew 10:21

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

 

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. Matthew 10:21

 

“And brother, he will deliver brother to death, and father, child. And children, they will over-stand up upon parents, and they will kill them” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus told the apostles that when they spoke before the governors and kings, the Spirit of their Father would be the One speaking. He now continues, saying, “And brother, he will deliver brother to death.”

 

Many older translations add in definite articles not found in the Greek, saying, “The brother shall deliver the brother.” The omission of the articles, however, is to show that this is a general event that should be expected from any family at any time. It is reminiscent of the treatment Abel received from his brother Cain. In a similar manner, it next says, “and father, child.”

 

Again, older translations include a definite article without textual support. This is a general statement that these two closest of bonds, that of a brother to a brother and that of a father to his child, are ignored at the thought of the other proclaiming the good news about Jesus. Next, Jesus continues with, “And children, they will over-stand up upon parents.”

 

Here is a new and rare word found only here and in Mark 13:12, epanistémi. It is a word full of action, coming from epi, upon, on, over, etc., and anistémi, to rise up or stand up. Thus, it means to over-stand up. The word is then followed again with the word epi, upon.

 

The sense is that of a parent coming in and saying, “I have discovered that Jesus is the Messiah!” With that, the children stand up and in their standing, they come over upon their parents. The figurative “rise against” gives the sense of the action. When this occurs, Jesus says, “and they will kill them.”

 

There is another new verb here thanatoó, to put to death, being derived from thanatos, the state of death, either literally or spiritually. In this case, the action refers to the literal killing of the parent because of their proclamation.

 

The change from the singular of the previous words about the brother and the father to the plural in this clause is intended to show the level of animosity toward a person, no matter how many children he has. It is as if the parents were trees that only bore bad fruit because of the inhospitable nature of the environment in which they exist.

 

There is expected to be a hatred of the Name and remembrance of Jesus, and it will be so vile to the nation that the children will be willing to kill their own parents who have determined to follow Him.

 

Life application: Reading commentaries on these words as well as the surrounding verses, it is common for scholars to apply what is said to the history of Christianity among the nations, such as between Catholics and Protestants, or other such situations. Examples are provided of ill-treatment in the various lands where Christianity has been introduced.

 

Although it is true that these things have happened, this is not the context of the words. Jesus is speaking to Jewish apostles. The same basic instructions that are given to them are also given to the seventy disciples Jesus sends out in Luke 10. The words coming in this same paragraph will clearly identify those being referred to as Israel in the land of Israel.

 

The words may even be considered to apply in a limited sense to Israel in our current times. The same people are in the same land again, and though there are no more apostles, there are disciples of Jesus who have heard the words and converted to being followers of Christ. Whether this is referring to current times or not may be debatable, but the words are not spoken about persecution among the nations by Gentiles.

 

Such instructions, admonitions, and warnings are found in the epistles which are directed to the Gentile-led church, and that is where we can go to align the persecutions we face to what the Bible proclaims. It is inappropriate to use Jesus’ words here in Matthew and apply them to our persecutions, simply because the context does not justify it.

 

Pay attention to the context. By taking Jesus’ words from this chapter and applying them to our current time, contradictions will arise between the words of the epistles and what Paul says. Therefore, there will be errors in one’s theology and doctrine. Verse 10:32 is a perfect example of this.

 

If you want to know where much of the bad doctrine in the church comes from, you will find it in a misapplication of the gospels and a misunderstanding of the intent of the Book of Acts. Keep things in their proper intended light, and you will be sound and sure in your walk with the Lord.

 

Lord God, there is a lot of conflict in doctrine between believers. Help Your people to consider why this is so. Then give us the determination to correct our deficiencies in analyzing Your word while correcting our thinking on what it says. Help each person willing to check to resolve their doctrinal conflicts so that they will be mature, rightly directed people. Amen.