Matthew 17

I actually read this passage last night, on schedule, but didn't end up having a chance to write about it until now. I just re-read it to be safe, but for some reason I don't have many thoughts about this section.

Matthew 17 covers the account of Jesus' transfiguration - being revealed in His glory to a few of the disciples - as well as the healing of a demon possessed boy and a story about Jesus paying taxes. I'm just not in a place mentally where I am drawing anything interesting from these sections... maybe I need to just go pray for a bit. Its been a long day.

Matthew 10

We've seen some of the disciples mentioned earlier in Matthew, but here in chapter 10 the twelve main followers of Jesus are listed in full and commissioned by Him to be His emissaries to Israel. He sends them out, for I'm not sure how long, but based on later events in the Gospels it must have only been a relatively short period of time.

Despite that, though, Jesus gave them pretty extraordinary authority! He gave them power over demons and sickness (verse 1), even to the point of raising the dead (verse 8), as well as being able to bless and curse the places they visited (verses 12-15). They were also to depend on the generosity of those they visited, to the point of not bringing spare coats or lots of supplies for the journey (verses 9-10). Talk about having to depend on God!

This chapter also contains one of my favorite quotes in the Bible:

"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28, NASB)

Chilling, and a good reminder of the power of the God whom we serve, and who gave Himself for us!