Matthew 10:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Third, that throughout their lives, they would continue to face perils. The apostles might have been astonished: despite being dispatched into numerous and significant dangers, aware that the entire cosmos was opposed to them and that they would face trials throughout their lives, they remained undaunted and did not seek relief from these adversities. They followed their Master as dutiful servants and placed their faith in the strength of the One who had sent them. Understanding that the proclamation of faith holds the power to surpass even the strongest human affections, and that diverse passions would counterbalance one another, they felt invigorated and, bolstered by a firm hope to perform good works, advanced as a united group of twelve throughout the world, in which the devil and many of his demons contended against them. They triumphed, not by vanquishing their adversaries, but by drawing them to their side: akin to the demons, they transformed into like angels.

It involves liberation from the binding weight of the law that afflicts the sinner, escaping the condemnation of eternal justice, and remaining safe from being engulfed by the abyss—“where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44)—where life and immortality are perpetually extinguished by never-ending death. Those who achieve this deliverance from all evils can be assured that their fate is one of goodness and joy. Strongly linked to salvation is the necessity of patience, especially enduring trials to the very end. Christ our Redeemer connects patience closely with persecution experienced for His sake, stating, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: ye shall be delivered up to councils, and in their synagogues they shall scourge you: and ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” Perseverance in genuine faith constitutes a solemn arena for patience, with the holy martyrs standing as a glorious testament to those who persevered and were redeemed. The Prince of our salvation imparted the teaching of enduring patience following His forewarning of persecution for the faith in a natural progression; however, He did not restrict patience to just that context. Therefore, if we desire salvation, we must embody patience and maintain it throughout our lives. “He that endureth unto the end, the same shall be saved.” This realm of patience ought to encompass the entirety of human life and the various experiences of humanity in this world. With patience, individuals can obtain and safeguard blessings, succeed in their endeavors, realize their aspirations, and withstand adversities without succumbing to evil. Conversely, lacking patience puts one at risk of losing good and engaging in wrongdoing, a moment of impatience capable of unraveling years or even centuries of virtuous living. Without patience, there can be no accomplishment; without such accomplishment, there is no virtue, no spiritual growth, and no salvation, for "the kingdom of heaven is wanting" (Matt. 11:12).

If you aspire, as Christ commanded, to attain perfect love that encompasses even your enemies, reflect on its possibility. You may often identify faults in others, witness vices, or encounter hostility, which can lead you to foster disrespect and resentment instead of love. However, cultivating love for all requires patience as you learn to regard others’ flaws and animosity with a compassionate heart, without ceasing to detest the vices themselves; yet, this cannot be achieved without patience. Do you desire, as the Apostle describes, to be a “child of obedience” (1 Pet. 1:14)? Contemplate how this can be realized. If a leader or an elder directs you to act only in accordance with your own wishes, it is merely your will being echoed back to you, making it difficult to recognize the virtue of obedience. True obedience emerges when you do not merely pursue your own wisdom or desires but align with the intentions of the one instructing you. Hence, it is essential and inevitable that you will often be required to perform tasks that conflict with your own thoughts, desires, or comforts—actions that may weigh heavily on your ease or breed discomfort. To fulfill these duties without resistance, rebellion, or complaints, patience is vital. Thus, with patience, you can embody obedience; without it, true obedience remains unattainable. Similarly, every virtue demands some measure of hardship, effort, discipline, and struggle against passions, desires, and temptations, which may not always yield immediate triumph, thereby necessitating patience. If patience falters, all other virtues falter as well. Since virtue is expected of all from beginning to end, so too is the need for patience throughout life’s journey.

Fourth, embrace suffering for its potential to lead to profound salvation, cultivating a desire for it, like a healing draught, even if it tastes bitter. Fifth, understand that when difficulties arise, they cannot simply be cast aside like a tight garment; they must be endured. Whether you endure them with a Christian spirit or without, endurance is unavoidable; thus, it is preferable to face trials in a way that reflects your faith. Passion alone cannot alleviate misfortune but may increase its weight; rather, humble acceptance of God’s Providence, coupled with a peaceful heart, lightens the burden of adversity. Lastly, recognize your worth, understanding that if the Lord had intended to address you in all fairness, such trials would not be your portion. Above all, pray earnestly, and the compassionate Lord will grant you a strong spirit, enabling you to perceive your tribulations as light.

While many good intentions arise from earthly passions, they cannot come to fruition without divine grace. As you turn to God, serve Him, and seek righteousness, it is vital not to dwell on what you have accomplished, but to focus on seeing your efforts through to the end. Reflecting on past deeds can lead to pride, while contemplating their fulfillment can bring about apprehension, for: He who endures to the end shall be saved.

John Chrysostom asks, "What value has a seed that initially flourishes but then quickly withers away?" Though I rescue you from initial dangers, I prepare you for even greater trials that will follow, and the accusations and malicious plots against you will persist until your last breath. How impressive is the power of the One who spoke in this manner! How profound is the wisdom of those who listened! How is it that those timid fishermen, having never ventured beyond their lake, did not retreat upon hearing this? Did they not wonder, "Where can we flee? The courts are against us, the rulers and the synagogues of the Jews are against us, and the nations of the Greeks..."? You have united the whole world against us and armed all who dwell on the earth... People will turn brother against brother, and parents will slay their children because of us... How will others believe us when they witness families torn apart because of our message? Will they not expel us as evil spirits, as corruptors and destroyers of the world, when they see the earth stained with the blood of their kin? Is the peace we proclaim genuine if it leads to violence in households? Had we been many instead of just twelve, or if we possessed wisdom and strength rather than being simple men with no learning, or even if we were kings with armies and wealth, how could we persuade anyone in the midst of such horrendous conflict...? These thoughts may have crossed the minds of the apostles, yet they considered none of it; they accepted their calling with submission. St. Chrysostom particularly marvels at their resolve; they did not hesitate or seek an escape from dangers that awaited them not for two or three years but for an entire lifetime. The Lord clarifies in His words: He who endures to the end will be saved. He desires not only to manifest His power but for them to act themselves; for some things are accomplished by Him, and others by His disciples. It is His work to perform miracles, while it is the duty of the disciples to present no demands beyond their basic needs. Granting peace is a divine gift, yet identifying those worthy of it requires the disciples' discernment. It is God's role to discipline those who reject them, whereas the simplicity expected of the apostles is to depart quietly without grief or offense. It is the One who sends them who instructs them to be as innocent as doves, while bearing all things with generosity reflects their resoluteness and wisdom. To be despised by all, yet remain steadfast and endure, is their responsibility; saving those who endure is the duty of the One who commissions them. It is remarkable when an individual, accustomed to life by lakes or in the tax collector's booth, can face the lords and dignitaries, attended by guards with drawn swords, and stand before them—all alone, bound, and with a humble head—able to speak out. They were not afforded the opportunity to defend their beliefs but were rather subjected to torture as disturbers of the peace... And it was with great wisdom that Peter, Paul, and the others conducted themselves. Although they faced scrutiny as innovators, they not only overturned this perception but made others see them as saviors, protectors, and benefactors through their immense patience. Thus, St. Paul stated, “I die daily.” This is how St. John Chrysostom reflects upon the Apostles. St. Philaret of Moscow remarks, "Without patience, there can be no accomplishments, and without accomplishments, there is no virtue, no spiritual gift, and no salvation, for the Kingdom of Heaven demands it. The Prince of our salvation promised salvation to those who persevere, but never assured it to the impatient or those untested in the endurance of trials. Therefore, if we desire to be saved, we must cultivate patience and maintain it until the end." Could you believe that patience was necessary even in paradise, where there seems to be no need for it? If our foremother Eve had displayed sufficient patience to resist the serpent's tempting words—false from the very beginning—rather than hastily reaching for the forbidden fruit, and had stopped to consider whether it was wiser to trust God than the serpent, and sought counsel from her husband, it is highly likely that no sin would have been committed and death would have been avoided. A lack of patience led to the fall of our forebears, and, with them, the downfall of all humanity to come. What trials, sufferings, and temptations did the righteous Job endure! And how faithfully and generously his patience was rewarded! What cruel and prolonged persecutions did David withstand! And how gloriously his patience was rewarded! Consequently, St. Chrysostom asks, "What will vindicate us if, witnessing such examples amid the world, we falter and succumb? No one contests against us, yet we grow hardened; no one persecutes us, yet we tire. We are destined to be saved within this world, yet we cannot do so! Even when the whole cosmos was ablaze, the apostles pulled others from the fire, but we struggle to save ourselves! What rationale will we have for that? What forgiveness? We are not met with wounds or prisons, nor are we pursued by authorities or synagogues; for our rulers are pious Christians of high standing who enjoy tranquility, and yet, with all of this, we remain untroubled... Now, should strife and persecution rise against the Church, one can only imagine the shame and scorn that would follow. For would one who does not prepare for battle achieve glory in their feats? Yet we must stand firm against our passions, endure mental struggles with courage, that we may also withstand physical afflictions. If Job had not sufficiently prepared for the trials ahead, he would not have shone brilliantly through them... Thus, Scripture instructs, "My son, if you are coming to serve the Lord God, prepare your soul for temptation." The zealous have arranged themselves likewise. In the times of Chrysostom, the Monk Hierax resided in the desolate wilderness. One day, demons appeared to him and said, "Old man, you will live for fifty more years; how can you endure such solitude?" The elder replied, "It grieves me that I have so little time in this life, for I could bear another two hundred years." At these words, the demons vanished... This illustrates that the holy ascetic resolved to endure through every difficulty of desert life until the end. He surely remembered the Savior's saying: "Through your patience, you will save your souls... But he who endures to the end will be saved."

And a man's enemies are his household” (Matthew 10:34-36). He reiterated that brother would betray brother unto death, and fathers would hand over their sons, as children would rise up against their parents and kill them. His followers would be hated by all for His name’s sake, yet they were encouraged not to fear or cease their proclamation of the gospel, for it is only those who persevere to the end of their lives who shall be saved.

The truth brought forth by Christ, like light, serves to separate individuals; some are drawn towards the truth while others prefer darkness. Thus, the term sword is not to be understood literally. Just as the physical sword can sever the closest of relationships, so too can opposing beliefs create divisions, leading to quarrels and bitterness. Such discord has indeed emerged in many households due to the preaching of the risen Christ by the Apostles.

Were the Lord's disciples and apostles scorned solely for being His followers and proclaiming His message? Yes, that was accurate. They embodied virtue, honesty, and purity of soul. Nonetheless, they faced hatred solely for their devotion to Jesus Christ. It is perplexing that innocent individuals would be reviled for celebrating the name of Jesus, the name that is eternally blessed. Yet, this was the experience of the early disciples and apostles, as well as all who revered and proclaimed Jesus Christ. These faithful individuals were consistently met with animosity, persecution, and disdain solely for honoring Him. This unfortunate reality persists even today. Even now, there exists a certain level of animosity towards those who uphold the name of Jesus Christ and serve as His teachers. Perhaps even among us, as Christians, such feelings might emerge.

Christian listener, do you not occasionally find a similar resentment towards those who admire Jesus Christ, particularly His ministers and the shepherds of His Church? Do you sometimes feel discomfort or annoyance in their presence, or when you engage in conversation with them? It is worthwhile to reflect on these feelings and assess their origins impartially. Is it not true that they remind you of Jesus Christ, speaking of Him and revering His name? Their very appearance and demeanor may serve as reminders for you to live according to His teachings—with integrity and purity—while also being mindful of God and the eternal life that awaits. If you find such reminders disagreeable, could it be that you harbor a resentment towards them for the same reason that Christ's followers were scorned—because of His name?

You might instinctively reject this notion. Perhaps you argue that any aversion you feel is due to those who misuse the name of Jesus, claiming to honor Him while being hypocritical, or presenting themselves as devout for the sake of personal gain. But how do you come to these judgments? Even if I were to appear to you as merely an outward follower of Christ—one who masquerades as a believer and acts with selfish intent—why should such a perception warrant hatred? If you genuinely believe I do not deserve respect, you are under no obligation to honor me. Yet, hatred and contempt are unjustifiable. If I am truly not a Christian, I am still a fellow human being, and animosity toward any person is both disgraceful and unforgivable. Those who endure such scorn suffer greatly. I, too, as a human, deeply feel the pain of being openly despised. It wounds my spirit to know, to hear, and to witness this visible hatred directed at me. As you act on your convictions, I assert mine: that I am human, deserving of compassion. Prove that I am not human, but if I am, why the animosity?

In my role as a spiritual figure, I ponder why some harbor dislike towards us, and no matter how I analyze, I can identify no reason for such hostility other than our devotion to Jesus Christ, our roles as shepherds and educators in His Church, and our constant reminders of Him through our words and actions. Are we, then, targeted for the sacred name that has always drawn disdain from His admirers since the era of the first disciples and apostles? In such circumstances, I find peace, accepting the hatred directed towards me. While I do not revel in being in the same company as the apostles regarding this suffering, it does bring a sense of calm. Therefore, Christian listener, take the time to examine and comprehend the roots of any negative feelings you may harbor towards others. Determine whether this animosity stems from their adherence to the name of Jesus Christ. Hatred towards any individual is impermissible and unjustifiable for any reason, yet loathing someone for the name of Jesus Christ is profoundly ungodly. May God guard you against such sentiments. Amen.