#matthew 10

[tomicscomics]

06/26/2026

It is what it is.

JOKE-OGRAPHY:

In this Gospel story (Matthew 10:40-42), Jesus mentions how blessed people will be if they meet His disciples with hospitality instead of persecution. He says that those who receive a godly person into their home because they're godly will receive a godly reward, and even someone who gives just a cup of cold water to one of His disciples will not lose their reward.

In this cartoon, Jesus finishes His "cup of water" quote, which the brothers, James and John, take interest in. Later, the brothers (who Jesus called, "the sons of thunder"), find themselves in a pub to refresh themselves with cool drinks. When they find out the drinks are only lukewarm, they share a knowing smirk. Jesus said someone who gives them a cold drink would be blessed, which (in the cartoon) the thunderboys mistakenly take to mean that someone who gives them NOT-cold water will be DAMNED TO HELL. They request Jesus fulfill this decree when the lady fails to cool their water, and Jesus declines, since that's not actually what He was implying... just to be clear.

When asked about ice, the old lady who owns the pub mentions that the ice machine is broken. This is a subtle nod to the fact that Scotsman ice machines are notorious for constant parts failures and bad warranties. The company, Scotsman, derives its name from Scotothy Sman, a Scotsman of little note who was cursed by witches after deserting his military in the harsh winter of 1461, during a critical operation in the Mexican-Scottish War. Because of his desertion, his whole country froze to death. Some say the failure of the Scotsman ice machines is due to the witches' curse, and that all the cold that SHOULD be making ice in the Scotsman machines is actually being channeled back to their namesake, Scotothy, instead. Legends say Scotothy Sman still roams the world, forever to be haunted by the icy chill of a million broken ice machines, forever to wander and freeze just as his forsaken countrymen did.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Jesus Sends Out the Apostles

1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, and power to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and diseases. 2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: The first, Simon, called Peter; and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee; and John his brother; 3 Philip; and Bartholomew; Thomas; and Matthew, the tax collector; James, son of Alphaeus; and Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

5 Jesus sent out those twelve with these instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles, or into any town of the Samaritans; 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach this message, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast (drive) out demons. Give as freely you have received. 9 Take neither gold, silver, nor copper in your money belts, 10 Nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra coat (shirt) or sandals, or even a staff (walking stick); for the workman is worth his keep. 11 And in whatever city or town you enter, look for someone in it who is worthy; and stay in their home until you leave that town. 12 And when you enter a house, give it and its occupants your blessing. 13 And if the house is deserving, let your peace rest upon it; but if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever does not welcome or listen to you, when you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. 15 Verily (truly) I tell you, ‘It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city’.

Persecution Will Come

16 “I am sending you out as sheep among wolves; so therefore, be as wise as serpents, and as harmless (innocent) as doves. 17 But be on your guard; for men will hand you over to local councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And you shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a witness against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, take no thought about what to say, or how to say it; for it shall be given to you in that same hour what to say. 20 For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father, Who speaks through you. 21 Brother shall betray brother to death, and a father his child; and the children shall rebel against their parents, and have them put to death. 22 And you shall be hated by all men for My name’s sake; but he that endures to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in one town, flee into another; for truly I say to you, you shall not have finished going over the towns of Israel, till the Son of man comes. 24 The disciple (student) is not above his teacher, nor the servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple (student) that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master (head) of the house Beelzebub (head of the demons), how much more shall they call those of his household?

Have No Fear

26 “Do not be afraid of them; for there is nothing concealed that shall not be revealed; and hidden, that shall not be made known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, speak it in the light; and what each of you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim that from the rooftops. 28 And do not be afraid of them who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but rather, fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are two sparrows not sold for a farthing (penny)? Yet not one of them shall fall to the ground outside of your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So do not be afraid; for you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Therefore, whoever shall confess (acknowledge) Me before men, I will also confess (acknowledge) before My Father Who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies (disowns) Me before men (others), I will also deny him before My Father Who is in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

34 “Do not think (suppose) that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a man’s enemies shall be members of his own household. 37 Anyone who loves father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me; and he that loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow after Me, is not worthy of Me. 39 And whoever finds his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.

Rewards

40 “Anyone who receives (welcomes) you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous man as a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And if someone gives even a cup of cold water to any of these little ones, who is My follower, truly I tell you, he shall certainly not lose his reward.” — Matthew 10 | Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition (RFBP) Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. All rights Reserved. Cross References: Genesis 3:1; Exodus 4:12; Numbers 18:7; Deuteronomy 33:9; 1 Samuel 2:29; 1 Samuel 14:45; 1 Samuel 17:28; 1 Samuel 17:40; 1 Samuel 25:6; 2 Samuel 14:11; 1 Kings 18:4; 2 Kings 1:2; 2 Kings 4:10; 2 Kings 17:24; Job 37:24; Psalm 35:13; Psalm 50:20; Psalm 119:46; Psalm 122:7-8; Proverbs 10:9; Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 29:27; Isaiah 19:2; Isaiah 22:1; Isaiah 55:1; Isaiah 59:13; Jeremiah 26:21; Jeremiah 50:6; Ezekiel 16:48; Ezekiel 34:4; Ecclesiastes 11:1; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Micah 7:6; Matthew 3:3; Matthew 4:21; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 5:22; Matthew 5:26; Matthew 6:26; Matthew 7:8; Matthew 7:22; Matthew 9:9; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 12:12; Matthew 16:24-25; Matthew 18:5; Matthew 20:20; Matthew 24:17; Matthew 26:2; Matthew 26:14-15; Mark 6:7-8; Mark 8:34-35; Mark 8:38; Luke 6:40; Luke 9:2-3; Luke 10:7; Luke 10:11; Luke 12:8; Luke 12:51; Luke 15:10; Acts 13:51; Revelation 6:4

Matthew 10 Study Bible

[ladyminaofcamelot]

Okay, so, I wasn't going to scream into the uncaring void of the internet about this but I gotta. A lot of people have been dunking on Dr. Seward about the August 19th entry, and especially about the phrase, "These infantesimal distinctions between man and man are too paltry for an Omnipotent Being. How these madmen give themselves away! The real God taketh heed lest a sparrow fall. But the God created from human vanity sees no difference between an eagle and a sparrow. Oh, if men only knew!" But when I was first reading the book, this was one of my favorite quotes, and frankly it's not as about Seward as everyone is making it. It's a reference to Matthew 10:29, which says "are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's knowledge." (NIV) It is right in the middle of a passage about Jesus appointing his disciples and giving them both encouragement and instruction for the persecution they will face when they follow him, and you won't believe what is written only a few verses before in 24-26: "The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. "

So here we have Jesus telling his disciples not to fear the servants of Beezlebul, or the devil, because they are no greater than the devil himself, and really the devil's not such a big gun compared to God himself, who the disciples follow.

In 'Dracula,' we have Renfield serving his master who is Dracula, in similar authority structure to the devil, but he is also not to be feared in comparison to the power of the forces of good, and the verses after that even discuss the fate of evil which (spoilers) forshadows the end of the book and the character Dracula himself. If you ask me, using a scripture passage to foreshadow your entire book in such a subtle way is honestly just BRILLIANT and I love it.

Moreover, the particular verse he chose to actually reference helps to highlight the differences between Dracula (an embodiment of men's evil) and God. Seward is not bragging that he is in charge, or miffed that Renfield does not treat him as such, he is noticing a change in behavior, as Renfield often WOULD defer to him as a higher authority in the past. Seward is not illogical to think this is because Renfield has come to believe there is an even higher authority to appeal to, and is not wrong when he says that a human higher authority makes no distinction between men. Dracula does not care if someone is a lunatic, a beloved lady, or a lawyer, they are all prey to him, and he will use them to his own ends. Similarly men whose ultimate goal is to benefit themselves and make a "god" of thier own interests stop seeing others as individuals, but as means to an end. This is in direct contrast to the God who sees every sparrow that falls, and who seeks a personal relationship and to foster personal relationships between those who follow him. This is a trait shared by the crew of light in the book. They have a father in Van Helsing, brothers and sisters, and husband and wife in each other, and all love each other so deeply and tenderly, just as God cares for the sparrows, and so much more for his own people. Meanwhile Dracula has slaves he must bend to his will. He has the brides, who obviously don't even like him much. Dracula, in choosing to selfishly disregard the feelings of those he considers prey has made himself thoroughly and completely alone, and that is what makes evil so weak.

Maybe it is just Seward being arrogant, but in my understanding of the allusion, it's an expert highlight of the difference between good and evil, light and dark, selfishness and love, distance and relationship, the contrast of which is a central theme of the whole book. For let us not forget that Dracula was once a man, a man who has been twisted into the opposite of everything humanity was supposed to be, and that is what makes him so very horrific.

(Also just read Matthew 10. The whole thing lines up very well and it's super cool. Way to go Mr. Stoker.)

[many-sparrows]

Blessed pride!!!!! To all of my queer Christians, especially the ones who are struggling, God really does love you just as you are. You are holy and cherished and there's nothing that can take that away. For me, pride is also about how no one can isolate me from Christ's love, no matter how hard they try. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside our Father's care! Don't be afraid!! You're worth more than many sparrows!!

[father-of-the-void]

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:16

[quarter-mistress]

He didn’t come to bring peace but a sword. To cut off the ties that will take us away from Him. Sounds cruel, yet if I understand His heart, I’ll know that He wants me to experience more of His love so I can make these ties right.

[jesuslovesus]

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. - Matthew 10:28

[heavens-splinter-studios]

"“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16 )