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).