by
Stan Feldsine (www.tojesusbeallglory.com)
Matthew
10:1-04 - The Twelve Identified
Mat 10:1-4
Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to
drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (2)
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is
called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his
brother John; (3) Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax
collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; (4) Simon the Zealot
and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
The
"calling"of the 12 was a formal matter, preceded with a
summons. It was an official gathering by notification. This would
precede a new level of ministry for the disciples. The calling is
best seen as the result of prayers that God would send workers into
the harvest (Mat 9:36-38).
The disciples would have prayed that the Lord would send workers, and
then became the workers themselves.
This
event is when the 12 were first called "apostles", meaning
"one who is sent on a mission for another", as in a
delegation or a envoy, or a messenger after the pattern of Jesus and
His Father (Joh 5:19).
The 12 were given the
authority to drive out impure spirits and heal disease and sickness.
They had an extraordinary level of authority and power. Believers in
general are never given this authority.
The
apostles, as they are now called, were commissioned and sent out in
pairs (Mar 6:7).
Going in pairs allowed for mutual support. As they went, they were to
continue to proclaim the message of the Kingdom (Mat 10:7),
and they were to proclaim this message to the believing remnant
(Jewish believers) (Mat 10:11-14).
Matthew
10:5-7 - The 12 Sent to the Lost Sheep of Israel
Mat 10:5-7
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do
not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. (6) Go
rather to the lost sheep of Israel. (7) As you go, proclaim this
message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'
Jesus told the 12 to go
only to the "lost sheep of Israel" on 2 different occasions.
Mat 10:5-6
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do
not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. (6) Go
rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
Mat 15:22-24
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord,
Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and
suffering terribly." (23) Jesus did not answer a word. So his
disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she
keeps crying out after us." (24) He answered, "I was sent
only to the lost sheep of Israel."
If we allow scripture
to interpret these passages for us, we find that Jeremiah and Ezekiel
both considered "lost sheep" to be ethnic Israelites from
all 12 tribes who have strayed from Yahweh.
Jer 50:6
"My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them
astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over
mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.
Eze 34:11-13
"'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search
for my sheep and look after them. (12) As a shepherd looks after his
scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep.
I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a
day of clouds and darkness. (13) I will bring them out from the
nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them
into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel,
in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.
So the question is,
which "people" are His? Well, Jeremiah tells us who he is
talking about in vs 4, it is the people of both, Israel and Judah
together.
Jer 50:4
"In those days, at that time," declares the LORD, "the
people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to
seek the LORD their God.
Jeremiah clearly
indicates that the "lost sheep" are from the people of
Israel and the people of Judah, does Ezekiel corroborate Jeremiah?
Well,
Ezekiel indicates that the sheep in question were scattered
(Eze 34:12).
Gentiles were never scattered. Ezekiel indicates that the sheep in
question will be brought out from the nations and into their own land
(Eze 34:13).
The Gentile people were never brought out from the nations and placed
in "their own land".
Ezekiel states over and
over again that these "sheep" will be removed from the
nations and placed in their own land. Gentiles had no such promises
given to them, implicitly nor explicitly.
The restoration of the
"lost sheep" is clearly related to Abraham's physical
descendants, not Gentiles.
Eze 36:24-28
"'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from
all the countries and bring you back into your own land. (25) I will
sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse
you from all your impurities and from all your idols. (26) I will
give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from
you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (27) And I
will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be
careful to keep my laws. (28) Then you will live in the land I gave
your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
So Jesus came
proclaiming the Kingdom, and set about the task of regathering His
lost sheep.
The leadership had
already rejected Jesus, but the people were not yet following their
leaders. They were confused about who to follow, and were like sheep
without a shepherd. The harvest was indeed plentiful, and so the
ministry continued specifically for the believing remnant, who needed
to learn about the King and His Kingdom.
It is to be noted that
the Great Commission, the sending of evangelist to the nations, was
not put into place until after the death and resurrection of the
King, and the Kingdom was postponed.
Matthew
10:8-15 - Guidelines for the 12
Mat 10:8-15
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive
out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. (9) "Do not
get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts--
(10) no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for
the worker is worth his keep. (11) Whatever town or village you
enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house
until you leave. (12) As you enter the home, give it your greeting.
(13) If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is
not, let your peace return to you. (14) If anyone will not welcome
you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the
dust off your feet. (15) Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable
for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
The apostles were to
given the authority to authenticate their message of the kingdom with
healing and miracles like Jesus did. The Kingdom was still available
should the Jewish people and leadership receive their Messiah.
They
were to trust God for necessities of life, packing lite so to speak.
God would provide for their needs through the believers that they
came in contact with. Their provisions would come from people in the
crowds that had followed Jesus and had been receptive to Him and His
Kingdom gospel. The principle behind this is that the laborers are
worthy of their food (Mat 9:10),
see also: (Deu 25:4;
1Co 9:4-18;
1Ti 5:17-18)
Deu_25:4
Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.
1Co 9:7-11
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and
does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the
milk? (8) Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn't the Law
say the same thing? (9) For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do
not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it
about oxen that God is concerned? (10) Surely he says this for us,
doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and
threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the
harvest. (11) If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too
much if we reap a material harvest from you?
1Ti 5:17-18
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of
double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
(18) For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is
treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his
wages."
The
focus of ministry would turn to individuals instead of the nation.
They were to preach to only worthy believers (Mat 10:11-14).
If they came to a town or a household where they were rejected, then
they were to "shake the dust off your feet", indicating
that the very dirt in the town and / or household was dirty and
polluted. It was to be left behind. These Jewish homes were to be
considered pagan, polluted and subject to judgment.
A judgment worse than
that experienced by Sodom and Gomorrah will befall those who reject
Jesus and His Kingdom.
Rev 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The
earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place
for them. (12) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before
the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is
the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had
done as recorded in the books. (13) The sea gave up the dead that
were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them,
and each person was judged according to what they had done. (14) Then
death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire
is the second death. (15) Anyone whose name was not found written in
the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Matthew
10:16-22 - The Coming Persecution
Mat 10:16-22
"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as
shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (17) Be on your guard; you
will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the
synagogues. (18) On my account you will be brought before governors
and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. (19) But when
they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At
that time you will be given what to say, (20) for it will not be you
speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (21)
"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child;
children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
(22) You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who
stands firm to the end will be saved.
It seems clear at this
point that the teachings of the coming Messianic Kingdom are being
rejected by the religious leaders. Jesus sees that troublesome times
are ahead, and so he begins to prepare the apostles for what lies
ahead.
Jesus begins this
warning with an analogy. Being sent like sheep among wolves is a
warning against being naive and allowing wolves to destroy them. They
were to be smart and aware of what is going on around them.
Then Jesus states
plainly the dangers they will face. They will face opposition from
both the religious and the secular. Their message of the kingdom,
healing and casting out demons would identify them with Jesus, whom
the religious were already making plans to have killed. Their
persecution would arise due to their identification with the person
and work of Christ.
Their persecution was
to be a witness to the officials, religious and secular. As they were
brought before officials in court, their testimony would be a witness
to those around them. They would testify regarding the King and
Kingdom.
1Pe 4:12-16
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come
on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to
you. (13) But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings
of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
(14) If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are
blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (15) If you
suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of
criminal, or even as a meddler. (16) However, if you suffer as a
Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
The statement "You
will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm
to the end will be saved." Needs some explanation and context.
"Standing firm"
conveys the idea of persistence in following Jesus in the midst of
persecution. It does not denote perfection, as those standing firm
from day to day can experience falling short and stumbling. Standing
firm they indicates that one would rise from their fall and continue
on the path. The idea is not that we never fail, but that we bear up
under the oppression and continue regardless.
Consider Peter, who
denied Christ, and yet overall persisted to the end:
Joh 18:25-27
Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So
they asked him, "You aren't one of his disciples too, are you?"
He denied it, saying, "I am not." (26) One of the high
priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off,
challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the garden?"
(27) Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to
crow.
"to the end will
be saved" conveys the end of some time period or event. Jesus is
speaking to His apostles, warning them of the impending persecution
as they are sent out as His ambassadors. The time frame for this
ambassadorship is until 70AD, some 40 years in the future. The
promise here is that if they persist, they will not die in the siege.
Mat 24:1-2
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up
to him to call his attention to its buildings. (2) "Do you see
all these things?" he asked. "Truly I tell you, not one
stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
Mat 24:3
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to
him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this
happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of
the age?"
Luk 21:20-24
"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will
know that its desolation is near. (21) Then let those who are in
Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let
those in the country not enter the city. (22) For this is the time of
punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. (23) How
dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing
mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against
this people. (24) They will fall by the sword and will be taken as
prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the
Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Some see "the end"
from an individual point of view, which would be the end of their
life. Others see this from a global point of view, this would be the
second coming of Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom. Once we
are in the Kingdom, the persecution would end.
This indicator of
"salvation" is not a presentation of a condition of
salvation, but rather a promise that persecution will indeed end.
Standing firm until the end is a fruit of our relationship with
Christ, not a cause of it.
The apostles were not
only to expect persecution from the religious and the secular leaders
and people, but also from their own families. They would have been
reassured when Jesus told them that when they were to be brought to
account for their teachings, they did not have to worry about what to
say, but that the Holy Spirit would speak through them.
Matthew
10:23-25 - Persecution Guide
Mat 10:23-25
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell
you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the
Son of Man comes. (24) "The student is not above the teacher,
nor a servant above his master. (25) 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!
In keeping with the
theme of not being naive, being wise as serpents, when the apostles
were persecuted in a city they were in, they were to shake the dust
off their boots and go to another city. The teaching on persecution
was not a call to martyrdom. There is nothing wrong with fleeing.
Act 13:50-51
But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing
and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against
Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. (51) So they
shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to
Iconium.
There is a wide range
of interpretations of what vs. 23 meant. It seems to plainly state
that Jesus would come back before all the cities of Israel would hear
the message of the Kingdom, but this has clearly taken place. The
"coming back" of Jesus refers to the second coming which is
yet future to us.
Jesus taught the
general principle that if the leader was falsely accused, then the
followers should expect the same treatment. Jesus had indeed been
referred to as Beelzebul, a demon, and the apostles should expect the
same if they were to stand firm.
A final thought on this
passage is that in many cases it is the religious that will be the
persecutors. Note that in vs. 17, this persecution will occur in the
synagogue.
Mat 10:17
Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and
be flogged in the synagogues.
Matthew
10:26-33 - Instruction for the Persecuted
Mat 10:26-33
"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.
(27) What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is
whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. (28) Do not be afraid
of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be
afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (29)
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall
to the ground outside your Father's care. (30) And even the very
hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) So don't be afraid; you are
worth more than many sparrows. (32) "Whoever acknowledges me
before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
(33) But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my
Father in heaven.
The idea of not being
afraid of those that would persecute them through rejection, hate and
violence seems out of place after Jesus has just told them of the
trouble they are going to be faced with. Jesus is intending to point
them to the future when they would be the victors.
Those things of God are
concealed today will be revealed in the future, and the apostles
would be vindicated. The point is that the apostles should not
respond to what Jesus is saying in fear, but rather, with comfort
that in the end they will be victorious, even if they can't see how
that could be at the present time.
In light of the
promised ultimate victory, the apostles are exhorted to fulfill their
mission. Rather than fear the loss of their life by the evil one,
they are to understand that their enemies cannot destroy their souls,
only God can do that, and He is for them and not against them.
Not only is the apostle
in the protective custody of God, but he has assurance that God cares
for him as well. If He notices the sparrow, He certainly will notice
us and assure our ultimate destiny forever with Him.
Verses 32-33 are
frequently misunderstood. This is not a passage that speaks about
salvation, but rather speaks about blessings of peace and victory in
this life. The context shows that the issue being addressed has to do
with fulfilling the commission to proclaim the Kingdom to the
villages of Israel. (Jesus came for the lost sheep of Israel.) The
consequence of failing to proclaim the Kingdom would be the loss of
peace and victory that would otherwise be theirs.
Salvation
is never based on works that we perform. It is a free gift
distributed on the basis of grace through faith. Passages like this
one do not teach that salvation can be removed based on what we do.
This and similar passages do bring into view the rewards that a
believer either gains or forfeits in this life and the life to come.
The idea is brought into focus in 1Co 3:11-15.
2Co 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that
each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in
the body, whether good or bad.
1Co 3:11-15
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid,
which is Jesus Christ. (12) If anyone builds on this foundation using
gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, (13) their work will
be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It
will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of
each person's work. (14) If what has been built survives, the builder
will receive a reward. (15) If it is burned up, the builder will
suffer loss but yet will be saved--even though only as one escaping
through the flames.
Matthew
10:34-39 - Jesus Brings a Sword, not Peace
Mat 10:34-39
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I
did not come to bring peace, but a sword. (35) For I have come to
turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- (36) a man's enemies
will be the members of his own household.' (37) "Anyone who
loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone
who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(38) Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy
of me. (39) Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses
their life for my sake will find it.
Jesus did not come to
earth to make peace between His Kingdom and the world. His purpose
was to make peace between individuals and God.
Rom 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
The "sword"
is a symbol that illustrates the conflict that would characterize the
hostility between God's Kingdom and the world's Kingdoms. This
conflict would bring persecution to the disciples of Jesus.
The conflict is caused
by Jesus and His words. It is not a speaking of conflict that flows
out of personal rebellion, arguments, self righteous attitudes, etc.
There is no excuse for Jesus's disciples to engage in strife or
misbehavior.
The gospel itself will
cause the division as we choose loyalty to Christ and His standards
over family who are opposed to Christ.
"Take up your
cross", the cross represents self-denial. Paul was the first
that understood this concept. The idea here is that electing to
follow Christ in the face of persecution from the world, and even
family is setting aside things of the world that we are passionate
about and desire.
Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ
lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Gal 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires.
Taking up our cross is
identifying with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.
Rom 6:4-7
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order
that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of
the Father, we too may live a new life. (5) For if we have been
united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united
with him in a resurrection like his. (6) For we know that our old
self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be
done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- (7)
because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
The promise here is
clear. Setting ourselves aside here and now will yield glory and
rewards in the future Kingdom.
Col 3:1-4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on
things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2)
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (3) For you
died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (4) When
Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him
in glory.
2Ti 2:12
a if we endure, we will also reign with him.
Matthew
10:40-42 - Prophet's Reward
Mat 10:40-42
"Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me
welcomes the one who sent me. (41) Whoever welcomes a prophet as a
prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a
righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous
person's reward. (42) And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to
one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that
person will certainly not lose their reward."
Addressing the apostles
once again, Jesus tells the apostles that they are His messengers,
sent by Him. Those who accept the apostles, accept Jesus, and
accepting Jesus, they accept the Father.
The "prophets
reward" and "righteous person's reward" appears to be
the blessing mentioned earlier in vs. 12-13. The repetition is not a
second category but another example in the analogy showing that
anyone sent by God carries blessings to those who receive him.
Mat 10:12-13
As you enter the home, give it your greeting. (13) If the home is
deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace
return to you.
A
possible source for this statement regarding the "prophet's
reward" may be found in the story of Elijah and the widow of
Zerephath in 1Ki 17:11-24.
The widow received the Prophet who was sent by Yahweh and as a result
experienced blessings and reward.
Jesus's reference to
"His little ones" reflects His endearing love towards them
(His apostles) even as the world looks upon them as insignificant.
God's concern and care for these is highlighted by rewarding those
who care for them.
