Messiah’s Messengers

¹ Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them authority (power) to cast out evil (unclean) spirits and to heal (cure) every kind of disease and (every) illness. ² Here are the names of the twelve apostles (special messengers): first, Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James’s brother), ³ Philip, Bartholomew (Nathaniel), Thomas, Matthew (Levi, the tax collector, publican), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus (Judas Son of James), ⁴ Simon (the zealot, Cananaean or Canaanite), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Him).

⁵ Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Do not go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, ⁶ but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep (Jews). ⁷ Go and announce (preach) to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near (at hand, has come, is coming soon). ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely (without pay) as you have received! ⁹ Do not take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. ¹⁰ Do not carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Do not hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. ¹¹ Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. ¹² When you enter the home, give it your blessing. ¹³ If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing (peace) stand; if it is not, take back the blessing (peace). ¹⁴ If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. ¹⁵ I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day. Matthew 10:1-15 (NLT)

Matthew chapters 5 through 9 present an introductory portrait of Jesus’ public ministry. Both Matthew 4:23 and Matthew 9:35 summarize Jesus’ ministry as teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel (Good News) of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matthew 9 ends with Jesus urging His disciples to pray that the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field. Then, Jesus gives His authority (power) to twelve disciples to go as workers into God’s fields.

During His public ministry, Jesus had large crowds that follow Him (see e.g., Matthew 4:25; Mark 3:7-8; Luke 6:17). From this large group of followers, Jesus selected a smaller group of twelve men, whom He also designated apostles or special messengers (Matthew 10:2-4; see also Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:12-16; Acts 1:13-14). Jesus sent these twelve men with His special commission. Furthermore, these twelve special apostles will also judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). Matthew has already given the stories of how Jesus called five of these special apostles – Peter and his brother Andrew, James and his brother John (Matthew 4:18-22), and Matthew himself (Matthew 9:9-13). Peter, along with James and John made up Jesus’ inner circle. These twelve men made themselves available for Jesus’ message and service (see also Isaiah 6:8). There is a remarkable diversity among these twelve apostles, including fishermen, tax collector (Matthew), and a zealous revolutionary (Simon the Zealot).

Matthew 10 begins Jesus’ second major discourse (sermon). This sermon focuses on the disciples’ mission to Israel (Matthew 10:1-15) in the preparation of the disciples’ worldwide mission (see Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus sent out these twelve special apostles on their first missionary assignment to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6, KJV). Jesus sends out the twelve special apostles with His same message and power. These twelve apostles were to preach Jesus’ message, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7, KJV; see also Matthew 4:17). Moreover, Jesus gave these twelve apostles the power to continue His ministry of casting out unclean (evil) spirits and healing every disease, affliction, and infirmity (Matthew 10:8; see also Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35). Jesus empowered these twelve missionaries to “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons” (Matthew 10:8, NIV). Thus, Jesus gave His disciples His power to reproduce and continue His gracious ministry – preaching, deliverance, and restoration. Jesus wanted the twelve disciples to ministry to both the spiritual and physical needs of the people. Moreover, Jesus instructed His disciples to give His blessings freely to others without pay (Matthew 10:8) and not peddle Jesus’ blessings for profit (see 2 Corinthians 2:17). These disciples would be representing Jesus in the world as Jesus’ hands, arms, legs, and feet. Nevertheless, Jesus’ faithful workers are worth his or her keep (Matthew 10:10; see also 1 Corinthians 9:4-14; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).

In the disciples’ first assignment, Jesus restricted their ministry to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6, KJV) and not to the Gentiles or Samaritans (Matthew 10:5). This method of Jesus was also followed by the early church fathers to go first to the Jews (house of Israel) and then to the Gentiles (see e.g., Acts 18:5-6; Acts 19:8-9; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 2:9-10). As the Jewish Messiah, salvation comes from the Jews (John 4:22). Moreover, Jesus graciously gave His blessings to Gentiles and Samaritans who showed faith in Him (see e.g., Matthew 4:15; Matthew 8:5-13; Matthew 15:21-28; John 4:5-42). Jesus is “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42, ESV; see also Luke 2:10-11). After His resurrection and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Jesus called and summoned all faithful followers of Him to go into all the world and all people (Jews and Gentiles) to preach the Good News (see Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8; Act 2).

Also in Jesus’ first assignment, Jesus restricted the disciples to “not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or staff” (Matthew 10:9-10, NIV). These disciples lacked nothing as Jesus provided all their needs during the missionary journey (Luke 22:35; see also Psalm 23:1; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19-20). Jesus wanted to build His disciples’ faith to look to Him to provide all their needs (see also John 15:5). God cares and provides for His people’s needs. However, upon His impending death, Jesus lifted His previous restrictions and instructed His disciples to take a purse, a bag, and a sword on their missionary journey (see Luke 22:35-38).

Finally, Jesus also warned His special messengers that some will welcome their Good News of the Kingdom and miraculous healing powers while others will reject them (Matthew 10:11-15). Jesus told His disciples to seek a godly home to stay while in a particular city and be friendly (Matthew 10:12). If the owners welcomed the disciples, Jesus told His disciples to give that home their blessings and peace (Matthew 10:13). However, if the home rejected the disciples, Jesus told His disciples to withhold their blessings and peace from that particular home (Matthew 10:13). Moreover, Jesus said that any city or home that does not welcome them as Jesus’ disciples to shake off the dust of that place from your feet as you leave and await God’s judgment on that city (Matthew 10:14-15).

References

Apologetics Study Bible: Understanding Why You Believe (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Ross, Mark E. Let’s Study Matthew (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2009).