I can see the meaning from Doug and Kevin's commentaries. But I'm with you Greg, especially after the last chapter... quick recap: 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. ... 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. ... And then in this chapter... 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” After stewing on it, the only thing I can come up with is context. I look for meaning and application in everything I read because I figure there's a lot of stuff not in the Bible so the stuff that's there must be the creme de la creme. But perhaps, when Jesus tells his disciples to go into hostile territory and get flogged, its simply a historic record of Jesus telling his disciples to go into hostile territory and get flogged... not telling me that. And maybe when he's telling the Jews that he will lighten the burden put on them by the pharisees... its just that, a historical record of what Jesus said to this group of people in a random city.