September 26, 2025 • 12 mins
Fear, family division, and divine protection converge in this deep dive into Matthew 10. What happens when following Jesus costs you everything? Pastor Plack and Jordan Smith tackle this challenging chapter that outlines Jesus' commissioning of the twelve disciples, His stark warnings about persecution, and the ultimate price of discipleship.
The conversation takes a profound turn when examining Jesus' instructions about fearing God rather than people who can only harm the body. "Rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" presents a sobering reminder of eternal consequences. Yet alongside these warnings comes extraordinary comfort: God knows the number of hairs on your head and values you more than many sparrows. This paradox of discipleship—extreme cost alongside intimate divine care—forms the heart of the discussion.
Perhaps most challenging is Jesus' warning that following Him might divide families. Jordan vulnerably shares his struggle with addressing sin in the lives of loved ones, particularly regarding same-sex relationships. The hosts wrestle with applying Scripture's bold commands while recognizing the need for wisdom in timing and approach. They remind listeners that God promises to give words to speak when facing opposition, whether in courtrooms or conversations.
The episode concludes with the encouraging truth that even small acts of faithfulness—like offering a cup of cold water in Jesus' name—carry eternal significance. Ready to explore what it truly means to follow Jesus, no matter the cost? Listen now and discover why the kingdom of heaven being "at hand" changes everything about how we live today.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Pastor Plek (00:11):
And welcome back to a chapter.
A day keeps the devil away.
I'm pastor plaque, along withJordan Smith, and we're talking
Matthew, chapter 10.
Real quick outline, you've got.
The 12 disciples are namedafter Jesus, spent some time
praying for them.
He instructs them for themission.
He warns them of persecution.
He then says hey, you got tofear God, not man.
(00:33):
Following Jesus ultimately,though, will cost you, and it
might even divide up familiesand require personal sacrifice.
Then verses 40 through 42 wrapit up for rewards for receiving
the message of Jesus.
Okay, was there anything thatstood out to you, jordan, as far
as some observations that youcould make about this text?
Jordan Smith (00:58):
I like how Jesus kind of says not to take any
like, don't take any payment,don't take like even preparatory
supplies, right, because itkind of implies that God's going
to take care of all thatbeforehand.
Pastor Plek (01:12):
Yeah, that's kind of wild.
And then what's weird is lateron he'll say you know, before I
said don't take anything, butnow, if you've got an extra
tunic, take it.
If you've got, you know, food,whatever, take it.
It's interesting how he does ashifter, but this specific
ministry at this time was goneedy, which I do appreciate.
The other thing I thought wasinteresting is like the theme of
(01:33):
hell keeps popping up Matthew10, 28,.
And do not fear those who killthe body but cannot kill the
soul.
Rather, fear him who candestroy both soul and body in
hell.
And when I first, I think whenI first read this a long time
ago, I thought he was talkingabout like Satan, Fear him who
(01:53):
can destroy both soul and bodyin hell.
But ultimately it's God whosends someone to hell, or not,
or someone's you know, theirrejection of God gets them to
hell.
And so therefore, you're likewow, that's kind of bold and
kind of creepy to think aboutand scary in many ways.
And that's why, ultimately, youshould trust Jesus so that you
(02:14):
get heaven for the selfishperspective, but ultimately,
because it's true that only therighteous ones who have accepted
Christ will receive eternallife.
Any thoughts on that?
Jordan Smith (02:26):
No, I mean, I think you summarize that quite
succinctly.
So another thing I did observe,though, is when he's talking
about, you know, going to thosehouseholds that don't receive
him, yeah, it mentions likeessentially, he says if they
don't accept you, like, let yourpeace return to you.
So I was curious, like whatdoes that mean?
Pastor Plek (02:48):
Yeah, I think that's just a euphemism for like
it's time to move on, causehe's going to say that you know,
shake the dust off your feet.
And so there is a reality where, like the peace is, like God's
peace and like when you come,you're bringing the peace of God
with you.
So when they reject you, it's a, it's kind of a big deal gotcha
.
Jordan Smith (03:08):
And then, yeah, I mean the whole section about
turning against, like yourfamily turning against you, you
being opposed to your family,like that's very hard to like
practice that's very.
Pastor Plek (03:20):
I remember the um.
Are you familiar with thekilling fields of Cambodia?
Are you familiar with that?
Pol Pot was the dictator thereand he would turn children
against their parents, who wereChristian specifically, and they
would turn them in and havethem be killed.
Kind of a wild time and I thinkyou can understand it from
(03:42):
children killing their parents,but it's a hard one to fathom
parents killing their kids.
That's wild stuff to kind ofimagine.
That kind of depravity and thatkind of darkness, kind of
insane actually.
What else?
Any other thoughts as you kindof take a look at Matthew 10?
Jordan Smith (04:03):
I think just again kind of the whole thing about
fearing God and not fearing man,like again, even with your own
family, like it's hard to notthink about, like oh, if I speak
into their sin and they're notChristians, you know that could
destroy the relationship, rightand all that.
But I mean God calls us to thatspecifically, even in these
(04:24):
verses of being bold, and yeah,I mean the relationship with God
is the more important one.
It's just hard to think about.
Pastor Plek (04:33):
Yeah, yeah.
So let's get some, some truthsthat we've learned about God.
How about Jesus?
Jesus commissions and heempowers his followers.
I kind of appreciate that.
It wasn't just he chose themwilly nilly, it was like a
prayerful thing.
He comes down, announces that,proclaims them, commissions them
(04:53):
and then he sends themultimately to do a job, which I
appreciate.
That Anything on your end onwhat something you learned about
God.
Jordan Smith (05:02):
I like verse 30, where it talks about God knowing
the number of hairs on yourhead.
Yeah, it kind of bleeds intowhat I was saying earlier about
God.
It kind of implies God knowseverything right.
He's going to supply every need, Like if he knows the amount of
hair on your head.
There's nothing he doesn't know, right, Yep.
So it gives a sense of justpeace around it, knowing that
(05:27):
God's in control of it.
Pastor Plek (05:29):
Yeah, I like that.
God rewards even giving a cupof cold water in his name.
That's a powerful thought.
You don't have to do somethinghuge.
It could be just like you see aChristian and you give them a
cup of cold water, or even achild.
You give them a cup of coldwater, or even a child give them
a cup of cold water in the nameof Jesus, which is a big deal.
What about truths about people?
Jordan Smith (05:52):
I mean it kind of goes into the whole family thing
.
But you will be hated for youknow, proclaiming God's name
right Like it's not, you may behated Like if you're actually
speaking into that.
You're going to be hated byeven family members to some
degree.
Pastor Plek (06:11):
Yes and yeah, just that's.
It's a reality that most peoplekind of are deeply valuable to
God.
And specifically, how we areworth more than many sparrows.
(06:36):
Look, it says, are not twosparrows sold for a penny and
not one of them will fall to theground apart from the will of
your father?
In other words, god is incontrol of the life and death
span of sparrows.
How much more is in control ofyour life and death span?
I think sometimes for me,specifically in combat or in a
war zone, when I lost soldiers,this verse was very comforting
(06:57):
because I knew how much Godvalued people.
And then, when I lost them orthey died, and when I lost them
or they died, they were morevaluable than just an animal.
Even if they did die just bysmattering of bullets, their
death was precious in the sightof the Lord.
(07:17):
So that was powerful Everyone,or if you're not?
Therefore, you are of morevalue than many sparrows.
And if God is concerned withthe life and death span of one
sparrow, how much more does hecare about you?
All right, what aboutapplication-wise?
We have spec, you know, send toavoid, promise to claim,
(07:38):
example to follow, a command toobey and knowledge to believe.
Is there anything that for youjust kind of comes out and says
like I think this?
Jordan Smith (08:00):
specific scenario, like I have cousins who are gay
and married and living in thatlifestyle, so kind of.
These verses speak specificallyto that.
Um, I am not there yet in termsof you know wanting to straight
up call that out.
Um, but again, that's kind of afear of man, yeah, but I also
think there's a point to be made, that there's a.
(08:20):
I feel like there's a time andplace to do that.
I mean, what are your thoughtsabout that versus just going out
there and hammering it in?
Pastor Plek (08:29):
yeah, I think, going back to Matthew 7, don't
waste your pearl among swine.
There's like the double edge ofit.
One it's like you know once youhave I think for you
specifically, since you'vestruggled with same-sex
attraction you've pulled the logor the speck out of your own
eyes so that you can talk tosomebody else about their sin,
(08:50):
and you have been called toremain celibate, and so you're
not just saying we, in theory,should be celibate people, but
we actually should be celibatepeople who are following Jesus.
So I think that's a great thingto advocate for and there's a
way to do that where it bringsabout all glory to God is sort
of any glory to you, but I thinkthat's right.
(09:11):
I love the fearing people morethan fearing God is a sin that
we need to avoid.
Jordan Smith (09:17):
I would push back just a little on that.
The call to be celibate.
I don't necessarily know ifthat's true for my life, like
sure, in this season maybe yeahyeah, god can change that, I
guess.
Pastor Plek (09:29):
Maybe say call to be celibate if you can't be
married to a woman.
Jordan Smith (09:34):
Right, right yeah.
Pastor Plek (09:37):
The other one to me was for command to obey,
proclaim as you go, saying thekingdom of heaven is at hand.
And I haven't done that a tonby saying that exact phrase.
I've told people about Jesusand sometimes I've said the
kingdom of God is at hand.
I've used that kind of wordagebut that was sort of like
(10:00):
interesting.
Is he saying say that exactthing or proclaim the gospel as
best we know how?
But I do think there issomething I was saying like the
kingdom of heaven, the verything that you've been waiting
for is right now and you canhave it access to that power, to
that kingdom where that kind ofhealing is demonstrated
spiritually, even though Jesuscould demonstrate it physically.
Jordan Smith (10:23):
Yeah, I mean, I think one of these verses kind
of speaks directly into thatabout not being afraid of what
you know, the words to say, oranything like that.
Pastor Plek (10:31):
Yeah.
Jordan Smith (10:32):
I mean, even if you feel like you say it in a
stupid or not, you know completeway like God's going to use
that regardless.
Pastor Plek (10:40):
Yeah, especially when they bring you before the
courts and I don't know if anyof us have had to do that.
I've known some missionarieswho were brought before the
courts or police and have beeninterrogated and they were given
exactly what to say which ispowerful, to kind of really
think about in those kinds ofterms.
Jordan Smith (10:56):
So I do know that verses were meant in that
context, but would you say it'smeant in the same, like people
who go out and evangelize?
I mean, would you apply it tothat as well?
Pastor Plek (11:07):
You know you don't want to disconnect what was said
before from what was said after.
Jordan Smith (11:11):
Yeah, I mean, I guess I feel like it's a general
truth anyway, right, yeah, uh,I mean, I guess I feel like it's
a general truth.
Anyway, right, like God's gonnause what you say regardless and
remember God.
Pastor Plek (11:26):
If you are, I mean God has control of everything
that comes out of your mouth.
Ultimately, however, I justdon't want to go that far to say
, um, if you ever don't knowwhat to say, just ask Jesus and
he'll pop into your head.
Or don't prepare to go that farto say, if you ever don't know
what to say, just ask Jesus,he'll pop into your head.
Or don't prepare because he'sgoing to put it in your head,
although I think he can.
I think the principle here istell what you know, like what
(11:51):
Jesus has done for you.
Share that and be bold enoughthat you're willing to risk your
life for it and that that thereality that you're, you're
bringing God's word.
It's not always going to bringpeace, although for some people
it might, but I think thataspect of of this whole thing of
like just being missionallyminded to share the gospel, but
(12:14):
if you do get put before a court, the Holy Spirit will speak on
your behalf.
Just trust him.
Jordan Smith (12:22):
Yeah, that makes sense.
Pastor Plek (12:23):
All right, hey.
Thanks so much for watching.
We will see you tomorrow on AChapter A Day.
And welcome back to a chapter.
A day keeps the devil away.
I'm pastor plaque, along withJordan Smith, and we're talking
Matthew, chapter 10.
Real quick outline, you've got.
The 12 disciples are namedafter Jesus, spent some time
praying for them.
He instructs them for themission.
He warns them of persecution.
He then says hey, you got tofear God, not man.
(00:33):
Following Jesus ultimately,though, will cost you, and it
might even divide up familiesand require personal sacrifice.
Then verses 40 through 42 wrapit up for rewards for receiving
the message of Jesus.
Okay, was there anything thatstood out to you, jordan, as far
as some observations that youcould make about this text?
Jordan Smith (00:58):
I like how Jesus kind of says not to take any
like, don't take any payment,don't take like even preparatory
supplies, right, because itkind of implies that God's going
to take care of all thatbeforehand.
Pastor Plek (01:12):
Yeah, that's kind of wild.
And then what's weird is lateron he'll say you know, before I
said don't take anything, butnow, if you've got an extra
tunic, take it.
If you've got, you know, food,whatever, take it.
It's interesting how he does ashifter, but this specific
ministry at this time was goneedy, which I do appreciate.
The other thing I thought wasinteresting is like the theme of
(01:33):
hell keeps popping up Matthew10, 28,.
And do not fear those who killthe body but cannot kill the
soul.
Rather, fear him who candestroy both soul and body in
hell.
And when I first, I think whenI first read this a long time
ago, I thought he was talkingabout like Satan, Fear him who
(01:53):
can destroy both soul and bodyin hell.
But ultimately it's God whosends someone to hell, or not,
or someone's you know, theirrejection of God gets them to
hell.
And so therefore, you're likewow, that's kind of bold and
kind of creepy to think aboutand scary in many ways.
And that's why, ultimately, youshould trust Jesus so that you
(02:14):
get heaven for the selfishperspective, but ultimately,
because it's true that only therighteous ones who have accepted
Christ will receive eternallife.
Any thoughts on that?
Jordan Smith (02:26):
No, I mean, I think you summarize that quite
succinctly.
So another thing I did observe,though, is when he's talking
about, you know, going to thosehouseholds that don't receive
him, yeah, it mentions likeessentially, he says if they
don't accept you, like, let yourpeace return to you.
So I was curious, like whatdoes that mean?
Pastor Plek (02:48):
Yeah, I think that's just a euphemism for like
it's time to move on, causehe's going to say that you know,
shake the dust off your feet.
And so there is a reality where, like the peace is, like God's
peace and like when you come,you're bringing the peace of God
with you.
So when they reject you, it's a, it's kind of a big deal gotcha
.
Jordan Smith (03:08):
And then, yeah, I mean the whole section about
turning against, like yourfamily turning against you, you
being opposed to your family,like that's very hard to like
practice that's very.
Pastor Plek (03:20):
I remember the um.
Are you familiar with thekilling fields of Cambodia?
Are you familiar with that?
Pol Pot was the dictator thereand he would turn children
against their parents, who wereChristian specifically, and they
would turn them in and havethem be killed.
Kind of a wild time and I thinkyou can understand it from
(03:42):
children killing their parents,but it's a hard one to fathom
parents killing their kids.
That's wild stuff to kind ofimagine.
That kind of depravity and thatkind of darkness, kind of
insane actually.
What else?
Any other thoughts as you kindof take a look at Matthew 10?
Jordan Smith (04:03):
I think just again kind of the whole thing about
fearing God and not fearing man,like again, even with your own
family, like it's hard to notthink about, like oh, if I speak
into their sin and they're notChristians, you know that could
destroy the relationship, rightand all that.
But I mean God calls us to thatspecifically, even in these
(04:24):
verses of being bold, and yeah,I mean the relationship with God
is the more important one.
It's just hard to think about.
Pastor Plek (04:33):
Yeah, yeah.
So let's get some, some truthsthat we've learned about God.
How about Jesus?
Jesus commissions and heempowers his followers.
I kind of appreciate that.
It wasn't just he chose themwilly nilly, it was like a
prayerful thing.
He comes down, announces that,proclaims them, commissions them
(04:53):
and then he sends themultimately to do a job, which I
appreciate.
That Anything on your end onwhat something you learned about
God.
Jordan Smith (05:02):
I like verse 30, where it talks about God knowing
the number of hairs on yourhead.
Yeah, it kind of bleeds intowhat I was saying earlier about
God.
It kind of implies God knowseverything right.
He's going to supply every need, Like if he knows the amount of
hair on your head.
There's nothing he doesn't know, right, Yep.
So it gives a sense of justpeace around it, knowing that
(05:27):
God's in control of it.
Pastor Plek (05:29):
Yeah, I like that.
God rewards even giving a cupof cold water in his name.
That's a powerful thought.
You don't have to do somethinghuge.
It could be just like you see aChristian and you give them a
cup of cold water, or even achild.
You give them a cup of coldwater, or even a child give them
a cup of cold water in the nameof Jesus, which is a big deal.
What about truths about people?
Jordan Smith (05:52):
I mean it kind of goes into the whole family thing
.
But you will be hated for youknow, proclaiming God's name
right Like it's not, you may behated Like if you're actually
speaking into that.
You're going to be hated byeven family members to some
degree.
Pastor Plek (06:11):
Yes and yeah, just that's.
It's a reality that most peoplekind of are deeply valuable to
God.
And specifically, how we areworth more than many sparrows.
(06:36):
Look, it says, are not twosparrows sold for a penny and
not one of them will fall to theground apart from the will of
your father?
In other words, god is incontrol of the life and death
span of sparrows.
How much more is in control ofyour life and death span?
I think sometimes for me,specifically in combat or in a
war zone, when I lost soldiers,this verse was very comforting
(06:57):
because I knew how much Godvalued people.
And then, when I lost them orthey died, and when I lost them
or they died, they were morevaluable than just an animal.
Even if they did die just bysmattering of bullets, their
death was precious in the sightof the Lord.
(07:17):
So that was powerful Everyone,or if you're not?
Therefore, you are of morevalue than many sparrows.
And if God is concerned withthe life and death span of one
sparrow, how much more does hecare about you?
All right, what aboutapplication-wise?
We have spec, you know, send toavoid, promise to claim,
(07:38):
example to follow, a command toobey and knowledge to believe.
Is there anything that for youjust kind of comes out and says
like I think this?
Jordan Smith (08:00):
specific scenario, like I have cousins who are gay
and married and living in thatlifestyle, so kind of.
These verses speak specificallyto that.
Um, I am not there yet in termsof you know wanting to straight
up call that out.
Um, but again, that's kind of afear of man, yeah, but I also
think there's a point to be made, that there's a.
(08:20):
I feel like there's a time andplace to do that.
I mean, what are your thoughtsabout that versus just going out
there and hammering it in?
Pastor Plek (08:29):
yeah, I think, going back to Matthew 7, don't
waste your pearl among swine.
There's like the double edge ofit.
One it's like you know once youhave I think for you
specifically, since you'vestruggled with same-sex
attraction you've pulled the logor the speck out of your own
eyes so that you can talk tosomebody else about their sin,
(08:50):
and you have been called toremain celibate, and so you're
not just saying we, in theory,should be celibate people, but
we actually should be celibatepeople who are following Jesus.
So I think that's a great thingto advocate for and there's a
way to do that where it bringsabout all glory to God is sort
of any glory to you, but I thinkthat's right.
(09:11):
I love the fearing people morethan fearing God is a sin that
we need to avoid.
Jordan Smith (09:17):
I would push back just a little on that.
The call to be celibate.
I don't necessarily know ifthat's true for my life, like
sure, in this season maybe yeahyeah, god can change that, I
guess.
Pastor Plek (09:29):
Maybe say call to be celibate if you can't be
married to a woman.
Jordan Smith (09:34):
Right, right yeah.
Pastor Plek (09:37):
The other one to me was for command to obey,
proclaim as you go, saying thekingdom of heaven is at hand.
And I haven't done that a tonby saying that exact phrase.
I've told people about Jesusand sometimes I've said the
kingdom of God is at hand.
I've used that kind of wordagebut that was sort of like
(10:00):
interesting.
Is he saying say that exactthing or proclaim the gospel as
best we know how?
But I do think there issomething I was saying like the
kingdom of heaven, the verything that you've been waiting
for is right now and you canhave it access to that power, to
that kingdom where that kind ofhealing is demonstrated
spiritually, even though Jesuscould demonstrate it physically.
Jordan Smith (10:23):
Yeah, I mean, I think one of these verses kind
of speaks directly into thatabout not being afraid of what
you know, the words to say, oranything like that.
Pastor Plek (10:31):
Yeah.
Jordan Smith (10:32):
I mean, even if you feel like you say it in a
stupid or not, you know completeway like God's going to use
that regardless.
Pastor Plek (10:40):
Yeah, especially when they bring you before the
courts and I don't know if anyof us have had to do that.
I've known some missionarieswho were brought before the
courts or police and have beeninterrogated and they were given
exactly what to say which ispowerful, to kind of really
think about in those kinds ofterms.
Jordan Smith (10:56):
So I do know that verses were meant in that
context, but would you say it'smeant in the same, like people
who go out and evangelize?
I mean, would you apply it tothat as well?
Pastor Plek (11:07):
You know you don't want to disconnect what was said
before from what was said after.
Jordan Smith (11:11):
Yeah, I mean, I guess I feel like it's a general
truth anyway, right, yeah, uh,I mean, I guess I feel like it's
a general truth.
Anyway, right, like God's gonnause what you say regardless and
remember God.
Pastor Plek (11:26):
If you are, I mean God has control of everything
that comes out of your mouth.
Ultimately, however, I justdon't want to go that far to say
, um, if you ever don't knowwhat to say, just ask Jesus and
he'll pop into your head.
Or don't prepare to go that farto say, if you ever don't know
what to say, just ask Jesus,he'll pop into your head.
Or don't prepare because he'sgoing to put it in your head,
although I think he can.
I think the principle here istell what you know, like what
(11:51):
Jesus has done for you.
Share that and be bold enoughthat you're willing to risk your
life for it and that that thereality that you're, you're
bringing God's word.
It's not always going to bringpeace, although for some people
it might, but I think thataspect of of this whole thing of
like just being missionallyminded to share the gospel, but
(12:14):
if you do get put before a court, the Holy Spirit will speak on
your behalf.
Just trust him.
Jordan Smith (12:22):
Yeah, that makes sense.
Pastor Plek (12:23):
All right, hey.
Thanks so much for watching.
We will see you tomorrow on AChapter A Day.
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