What does it mean by “endures to the end”? When we see the word “saved”, are we talking about salvation or being delivered from something? Is this verse being taken out of context when people use it to explain the importance of endurance in relationship with salvation? Great questions. Ones that we discussed for a while last night.
To begin searching for the answer, you need to back up to verse 16 and following…
Matthew 10:16-20 (ESV) 16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
I have heard it said many times, “Let scripture interpret scripture.” Leading up to verse 22, Jesus is sending out his disciples and is telling them to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves”. Then Jesus warns them so that they will be prepared to face opposition (“they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings”). Not only does He tell them to expect opposition, Jesus tells them that they don’t have to worry about what they will say because the Holy Spirit will empower them to speak the right words. So when you get to verse 22, Jesus is telling them again of the upcoming opposition when He says “you will be hated by all for my name’s sake”. Then comes the phrase in question… “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
It is interesting that the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) says “22 …But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.” which seems to fit this context better. This passage is not talking about the salvation of the disciples, but the assignment of the disciples, right? They were going to face opposition but they would be delivered.
We find the same type of phrasing in two passages that mirror each other (Matthew 24:4-13 and Mark 13:13). Here’s the passage in Mark…
Mark 13:5-13 (ESV) 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Once again, Jesus is warning His disciples about the opposition they will be facing. He tells them not to be deceived or led astray. Look at the instructions He gives in verse 9, ““But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them”. The warning continues in verse 11, “when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” Verse 13 takes us to familiar territory like we saw in Matthew 10:22, “13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” and the Holmans Christian Standard Bible says ‘delivered’ there also.
So is Jesus only talking about being delivered from somebody when He says “… But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”? Maybe so. But it is very interesting that some of the Bible translations refer you to passages such as…
Hebrews 3:6 (ESV) 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Revelation 2:10 (ESV) 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
2 Timothy 2:12 (ESV) 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
It is obvious that some of the people who were being ministered to by Paul were not staying with the true gospel but chasing after other ‘gospels’…
Galatians 1:6 (ESV) 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
The writer of Hebrews also talked about endurance…
Hebrews 10:36-39 (ESV) 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
So here’s where it gets really interesting. The word “saved” in Matthew 10:22 is the same word for “saved” in Acts 16:30-31 which says, Acts 16:30-31 (ESV) 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” The Greek word is σῴζω (sōzō #4982) which is used in KJV for words such as “save” (93 times), “make whole” (9 times), “heal” (3 times) and “be whole” (2 times). The definition in the Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary says it means “to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literal or figurative) :- heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.”
Now I go back to my original question? What exactly did Jesus mean when He said “the one who endures to the end will be saved”? You tell me! Keep your eyes on Jesus!
No comments:
Post a Comment