Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 10:24-25

"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household!" — Matthew 10:24-25 (ASV)

The student is not greater than the teacher, nor the servant than his master. Who would wish to see such a violation of all order and rule? Therefore, even if we had not received as much respect as our Lord, we should have been well content. If we receive the same treatment as our Master, we have enough honor and more than we have a right to expect.

What then? If the Master of the family is compared to Beelzebub, the fly-god of the Philistines, and named after the prince of demons, what names will they call us? Doubtless, malice will sharpen wit, and sarcasm will invent words that pierce like daggers and cut like knives.

Thank God, they may call us what they like, but they cannot make us evil. They can, and will, cast out our names as evil, for they call good evil and evil good. God was slandered in Paradise and Christ on Calvary. How can we hope to escape?

Instead of wishing to avoid bearing the cross, let us be content to endure dishonor for our King’s sake. Let it be our ambition to be as our Master in all things. Since we are of his household, let us rejoice to share with the Master of the house.

It is so great an honor to be of the royal household that no price is too high to pay in consequence. Close conformity to the image of their Lord is the glory of saints. To be as his master is to every true servant the climax of his ambition.

O Lord Jesus, our Savior King, we see how You were treated and we joyfully enter into the fellowship of Your sufferings! Grant us grace never to shrink in our loyalty to You, cost whatever it may.

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

The name, Beelzebub or Beelzebul, meaning the god of filth, or as some say, the god of flies, was applied by the Jews to the very worst of the evil spirits. They supposed that there were some devils worse than others, and the very head and master of them all they called Beelzebub, and now they supplied this title to our Lord Jesus himself. Well then, if men should give us ill names and evil characters, need we marvel? Shall Christ be spit upon and despised, and shall you and I be honoured and exalted? You have heard of Godfrey de Bouillon, the crusader, who entered Jerusalem in triumph, but who refused to have a golden crown put upon his head because he said, he never would be crowned with gold where Christ was crowned with thorns. So do you expect to be honoured in the world where your Lord was crucified?

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

I do not know what worse names they might give to us than they gave to our master, but, no doubt, they might do so; for, as the servants are worse and less than their master, the world might, if it acted upon the rule of proportion, apply much worse names to us than it has ever done to our blessed Lord and Master. Are we to be esteemed and reverenced in a world that persecuted and crucified Christ our Lord and Saviour? Do not be so foolish as to think so; and when you receive scorn and contempt, accept it as being the lot of a follower of Christ.