Take Up Your Cross, I’ll Be With You — April 20 [Description]Passage Overview: Matthew 10:16—11:1In this passage, Jesus is finishing His instructions as He sends out the twelve disciples on their first mission. He warns them of coming persecution and hostility: they’ll be like sheep among wolves (10:16). Jesus urges them to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, navigating danger with discernment and purity.He tells them they’ll face arrests, beatings, and betrayal—even from family members—but they must not fear. The Holy Spirit will give them the words to say (10:19-20). He reminds them that following Him means carrying a cross (10:38) and may even divide families (10:21, 34-36).Yet, there’s promise: those who endure will be saved (10:22), and those who receive the disciples are actually receiving Jesus and God Himself (10:40). Even small acts of kindness to Christ’s messengers will be rewarded (10:42).Matthew 11:1 then simply notes that Jesus went on to teach and preach elsewhere after giving these instructions.Overview of the Passage:This passage details how Jesus personally trained His disciples—not just through words, but by letting them experience ministry alongside Him. They lived with Him, learned from His daily actions, and helped Him serve and heal. Then, He sent them out in pairs to practice what they’d learned, offering hope and healing just like He did. Their mission wasn’t about flashy sermons or arguing theology—it was about loving service, compassion, and humility. Jesus gave them simple instructions and spiritual authority to work miracles, teach truth, and prepare people to accept Him. This training method modeled a pattern for all believers: serve humbly, love boldly, and go out in faith—even in the face of hardship and unseen battles. The promise remains that divine help is always with those who follow His call.

Bible discovery

Matthew 10:16-11:1365D 110.1

11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.365D 110.2

12 And when you go into a household, greet it.365D 110.3

13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.365D 110.4

14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.365D 110.5

15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!365D 110.6

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless ^[f]innocent as doves.365D 110.7

Spirit of Prophecy Reading

The Desire of Ages pp.349-352:365D 110.8

This chapter is based on Matthew 10; Mark 6:7-11; Luke 9:1-6.365D 110.9

The apostles were members of the family of Jesus, and they had accompanied Him as He traveled on foot through Galilee. They had shared with Him the toils and hardships that overtook them. They had listened to His discourses, they had walked and talked with the Son of God, and from His daily instruction they had learned how to work for the elevation of humanity. As Jesus ministered to the vast multitudes that gathered about Him, His disciples were in attendance, eager to do His bidding and to lighten His labor. They assisted in arranging the people, bringing the afflicted ones to the Saviour, and promoting the comfort of all. They watched for interested hearers, explained the Scriptures to them, and in various ways worked for their spiritual benefit. They taught what they had learned of Jesus, and were every day obtaining a rich experience. But they needed also an experience in laboring alone. They were still in need of much instruction, great patience and tenderness. Now, while He was personally with them, to point out their errors, and counsel and correct them, the Saviour sent them forth as His representatives.365D 110.10

While they had been with Him, the disciples had often been perplexed by the teaching of the priests and Pharisees, but they had brought their perplexities to Jesus. He had set before them the truths of Scripture in contrast with tradition. Thus He had strengthened their confidence in God’s word, and in a great measure had set them free from their fear of the rabbis and their bondage to tradition. In the training of the disciples the example of the Saviour’s life was far more effective than any mere doctrinal instruction. When they were separated from Him, every look and tone and word came back to them. Often when in conflict with the enemies of the gospel, they repeated His words, and as they saw their effect upon the people, they rejoiced greatly.365D 110.11

These disciples were to be heralds of the truth, to prepare the way for the coming of their Master. The message they had to bear was the word of eternal life, and the destiny of men depended upon their reception or rejection of it. To impress the people with its solemnity, Jesus bade His disciples, “Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.”365D 110.12

Now the Saviour’s eye penetrates the future; He beholds the broader fields in which, after His death, the disciples are to be witnesses for Him. His prophetic glance takes in the experience of His servants through all the ages till He shall come the second time. He shows His followers the conflicts they must meet; He reveals the character and plan of the battle. He lays open before them the perils they must encounter, the self-denial that will be required. He desires them to count the cost, that they may not be taken unawares by the enemy. Their warfare is not to be waged against flesh and blood, but “against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12, R. V. They are to contend with supernatural forces, but they are assured of supernatural help. All the intelligences of heaven are in this army. And more than angels are in the ranks. The Holy Spirit, the representative of the Captain of the Lord’s host, comes down to direct the battle. Our infirmities may be many, our sins and mistakes grievous; but the grace of God is for all who seek it with contrition. The power of Omnipotence is enlisted in behalf of those who trust in God.365D 110.13