Expository sermon on Mathew 10 verses 1 to 4

1. The Master’s men - Part 3
Simon Peter: Up Close and personal
Mathew 10:1 to 4

2. INTRODUCTION to the topic and contextual background
Before chapter 10, Mathew’s focus was on
Jesus’ public ministry. In Mathew 10, he directs
his attention to Jesus training of the 12
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apostles. For the past 2 Sundays, We had
learned about their conversion, their training
and their weaknesses in general. We learned
that this chapter is all about the 3rd phase of
Jesus training of these twelve men which is
their internship. We had an overview of the 12
apostles, and we learned about how God
choose 12 ordinary men to spread the Gospel
message. We learned all we can from the list of
their names found Mathew 10:1 to 4.
In the next few Sundays, we will learn all we can about each of the Apostles
individually. For today, we will be discussing the first one in the list, Simon
Peter.

3. UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: SIMON PETER
All of the twelve, Peter was by the central
figure, both during the three years of
Jesus’ earthly ministry and during the
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early years of the church. Aside from
Jesus no name is mentioned more often
in the New Testament than Peter’s. No
disciple was reproved as often or as
severely as Peter,
How could Jesus take such an
inconsistent, and self-centered man and
make him into the first—the “first”—of the
apostles? From the gospels we can
discern at least three elements that were
instrumental in the Lord’s preparation of
Peter.

4. SOME KNOWN FACTS ABOUT SIMON PETER
Name: Simon (Common name
given by his parents)
. Known aliases: Peter (Which
means “stone” as called by
Jesus Christ), Cephas (in
Aramaic)
Occupation: Fisherman
Residence: A native of
Bethsaida and later moved to
Capernaum
Relationship status: Married
Known family Relationships:
Father: John (Jonah), Brother –
Andrew, an apostle as well.

5. I – THE RIGHT RAW MATERIAL
Peter had the right raw material from which Jesus could fashion the
sort of leader He intended Peter to be. Peter had potential, but left to himself,
Peter would never become what we know he is today. Here are some facts
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recorded about Peter on why he seemed to have the right raw material.
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a.) Inquisitive – Peter was always asking Jesus questions. Many of his
questions were superficial and immature, but they reflected a genuine concern
about Jesus and His work.
A person who does not ask questions has little chance for success as a leader,
because he has no desire or willingness to inquire about what he does not
understand. When the other disciples failed to understand something, they
appear to have been more likely to keep quiet or simply discuss their doubts
and questions among themselves. Peter, on the other hand, was never
reluctant to ask Jesus about whatever was on his mind. (Matt. 15:11,15,
(Mathew 19:27, Mark 11:21, John 21:21)

6. b.) Initiative – Peter showed initiative, another
. necessary ingredient of leadership. Just as he
was usually the first to ask Jesus questions,
. he was also usually the first to respond to
questions Even though his actions were often
misguided, Peter was ready to respond in
what he thought was Christ’s behalf. (Matt.
16:15-16, John 18:10)
c.) Intent to be in the action – Peter positioned
himself in the middle of the activity. He was a
natural participant, never content to be on the
sidelines. He stayed as close to Jesus as
possible and wanted to be a part of everything
that happened. (Mathew 26:69-75, Mathew
14:22-23 ,John 20:4)

7. II – THE RIGHT EXPERIENCES
A second element in preparing for leadership is having right
experiences. The Lord brought into Peter’s life all the experiences necessary to
develop his leadership ability.
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a.) Given wonderful revelations – Peter has been given an opportunity by the
Lord to reveal wonderful truths to others about Him. (Matt. 16:16-17, John
6:66-68)
b.) Given great honor and reward - After Jesus explained to Peter that the truth
of his confession was revealed to him by the Father (Matt. 16:18). The Lord
used Peter to bring the gospel to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert. Peter
unlocked the doors of the gospel to both the Jews and the Gentiles. All of the
apostles opened the door to the kingdom as they preached the gospel of
salvation, and every time any man of God preaches Christ he, too, unlocks
those kingdom doors to let men in.

8. c.) Given great rebukes – After Jesus honored Peter by his declaration in
Mathew 16, perhaps feeling proud and overconfident as the leading disciple, he
demonstrated that his mouth could be used by Satan as well as by God. When
the Lord foretold his crucifixion, Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him,
saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You’” But his severe
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rebuke of Jesus brought an even more severe rebuke from Jesus: “ (Matt.
16:21-23)
Peter was also rebuked in advance by the Lord when the Lord predicted that all
the disciples would fall away when He was arrested, Peter again contradicted
Him, but God told him he will deny him three times. (Mathew 26:31-35, 69-75).
d.) Given a great re-commissioning - When Jesus confronted him with the lack
of love, Peter assured the Lord three times that he had affection for Him, and
Jesus three times reinstated him and charged him to care for His flock. Jesus
had not given up on Peter. He reassured His backslidden disciple that his
calling still stood and commanded him again just as He had in the beginning,
“Follow Me!” (John 21:15-19).

9. III – THE RIGHT ATTITUDES
A third element in Jesus’ training of Peter was teaching him the
principles of godly leadership.
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a.) Taught Submissiveness - Because leaders can easily become domineering,
they have a special need to learn submission. When the Capernaum tax
collectors demanded a Temple tax from Jesus, He commanded Peter to go and
catch a fish, in whose mouth would be a coin, exactly enough to pay the tax for
both Jesus and Peter (Matt. 17:24-27). From that experience Peter learned a
lesson not only in submitting to Jesus but to human authorities. This is lesson
from the Master is later on reflected when he wrote 1 Pet. 2:13-15, 17.
b.) Taught restraint & self control - When the Roman soldiers came with the
officers of the chief priests and the Pharisees to arrest Jesus in the garden,
Peter drew his sword and began to fight—even though those that came to
arrest Jesus may have numbered 500 or more men. Jesus told Peter to put
away his sword and to let God’s divine plan take its course (John 18:10-11).

10. c.) Taught humility - Only a few hours after he proudly boasted, “Even though
all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away,” Peter denied the Lord
three times—although he was in little, if any, danger (Matt. 26:33, 69-75). But
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he eventually learned his lesson, and many years later wrote, “God is opposed
to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5).
d.) Taught Sacrifice – Jesus foretold Peter’s death through martyrdom in John
21:18-19). When Peter became concerned that John might not have to pay
such a costly sacrifice, Jesus told him sternly, “If I want him to remain until I
come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (vv. 21-22). For the second time on
this occasion Jesus commanded Peter to follow Him, That was the last time
Jesus had to command Peter to follow Him. From then on, Peter obeyed
whatever the cost. He even learned to rejoice in his suffering for Christ, as he
wrote in 1 Peter 4:13-14, 16, 19.

11. e.) Taught genuine love – It was genuine love that caused Peter to deny His
Lord, and it was about that love that Jesus pressed him three times. Jesus’
washing the disciples’ feet not only was an example of humility but of the
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source of humility—love. Service to others, no matter how costly or demeaning,
is neither humble nor godly if done from any motive but love (1 Cor. 13:3).
Peter records the lesson he learned: “Above all, keep fervent in your love for
one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8).
f.) Taught courage - Because Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s suffering pointed to
great sacrifice, it also pointed to need of great courage. When Peter was
brought before the high priest and the Sanhedrin council for preaching the
gospel, he was no longer the fearful coward he had been in the high priest’s
courtyard the night of Jesus’ arrest. (Acts 4:10-11; 3:1-8).

12. CONCLUSION
Peter learned his lessons slowly, but he learned
them well. He took the initiative to replace Judas
among the apostles . (Acts 1:15-17), became the first
spokesman of the church (2:14), was the first to
defend the gospel before the Sanhedrin (4:8), was
the first to enact church discipline (Acts 5:3-9), did
several miracles, was the first to take the gospel to
the Gentiles (Acts 10), and wrote two epistles in
which he included all the lessons Jesus had taught
him. Peter was indeed a man God touched with His
grace in a special way.
Tradition reports that Peter died a cruel death.
Before he died, He is said to have been forced to
witness the crucifixion of his wife. Peter is said to
have pleaded to be crucified upside down, because
he was unworthy to die as his Lord had died.