In this section, Jesus sent His twelve apostles out in pairs on a preaching tour. This marked the fourth stage in their career. Earlier, they had heard Jesus, been called by Him, and been chosen as apostles. This was one of many preaching trips that Jesus commissioned the twelve to do, Matthew 10:1-15 / Luke 9:1-6. They were given the power to heal as well as to cast out impure spirits, Matthew 10:1 / Luke 9:1 / Mark 6:7. Jesus gives the twelve the authority to work miracles in the lives of anyone they met, Matthew 10:1 / Luke 9:1 / Mark 6:13.
Notice that they received this power before the events of Acts 2, when they were baptised with the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1-5. What Jesus is doing here is giving them this power in order that their preaching could be confirmed as true, John 20:30-31 / Mark 16:20.
Here they were sent out as His representatives to proclaim the message of repentance, Luke 9:2 / Mark 6:12. The purpose of the trips was to accomplish the mission of teaching as many people as possible before the event of the cross and resurrection in Jerusalem, Luke 9:2. The teaching prepared the minds of the people to accept Jesus’ kingship that would later be proclaimed by the disciples on and after the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
The preaching trips also prepared the disciples to face rejection by those to whom they went. Jesus had commissioned them to preach what would be ‘new wine.’ They were going to people of ‘old wineskins,’ Matthew 9:17 / Mark 2:22 / Luke 5:37. Jesus often sent His disciples out alone, Luke 9:2 / Mark 6:7, but during this trip they to go out in twos. Sending out six pairs of preachers both facilitated the spread of Jesus’ message and gave the apostles valuable practical experience, Mark 6:7.
Notice they weren’t to go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, Matthew 10:5 / Matthew 15:24 / John 4:9, they are instructed to go only to Jewish towns and villages, Luke 9:6. It wasn’t until after Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles in Acts 2, that they are instructed to go into all the world, Matthew 28:19 / Mark 16:15.
The preaching trips gave them an opportunity to face the rejection of a misguided religious world into which they would go after Acts 2. While Jesus was still with them, they could return for His counsel concerning problems they encountered on their preaching trips, Mark 6:12-13 / Matthew 11:1.
The message they were given to proclaim, ‘the kingdom of heaven has come near’, Matthew 10:7 / Luke 10:9 / Matthew 3:2 / Matthew 4:17 / Mark 9:1. The words, ‘Come near’ means it’s about to be established. As we know, Jesus isn’t speaking about an earthly kingdom but a spiritual kingdom.
Through His preaching and the preaching of the twelve, Jesus was preparing Israel for His kingdom reign from heaven that would be the fulfilment of prophecy, Daniel 2:44 / Daniel 7:13-14.
Jesus tells the twelve, ‘freely you have received, freely give’, Matthew 10:8. This should be one of the basic principles of Christian living. In the context of Matthew 10:1-16, Jesus was referring to they’re freely receiving the power to heal the sick, Mark 6:13. In other words, they weren’t to heal for money, they were to use the free gift of healing in a generous manner.
Remember after they received power from the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4, they would remember this principle. And so, they would freely impart the ‘miraculous gifts’ to all by the ‘laying on of their hands’, Acts 8:18. The miraculous gifts don’t exist today because no apostles exist to ‘lay their hands’ on us, but we do recognise that God has freely given His grace, therefore we should freely proclaim it to others.
The mission was urgent, so Jesus forbade them to take extra provisions, Matthew 10:9-10 / Mark 6:8-9 / Luke 9:3. This restriction wasn’t intended to be permanent, Luke 22:35-36, but was appropriate for this brief mission, Mark 6:30.
Notice also that they were to take no extra possessions that would burden their trip, they were to take only the clothes they wore and no staff, Matthew 10:10 / Mark 6:8-9 / Luke 9:3. Wait a minute, Mark 6:8, says, ‘Take nothing for the journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.’ Is this a contradiction? Were they to take a staff or not?
Matthew and Luke seem to agree that Jesus prohibited the disciples from taking a staff on their journeys, while Mark appears to give them permission to take a staff, Mark 6:8. Furthermore, although Luke doesn’t record Jesus’ command regarding sandals, some have concluded that Matthew and Mark also contradict each other on this point.
The differences between Matthew and Mark are explained easily when we understand that the writers used different Greek verbs to express different meanings. In Matthew, the word ‘provide’, NKJV, the root Greek word comes from ‘ktaomai’, means to ‘procure for oneself, acquire, get’.
Based upon these definitions, the NASV used the English verb ‘acquire’ in Matthew 10:9. ‘Do not acquire’, instead of ‘provide’ or ‘take.’ In Matthew, Jesus is saying, ‘do not acquire anything in addition to what you already have that may tempt you or stand in your way. Just go as you are.’ As Mark indicated, the apostles were to ‘take’, ‘airo’ what they had, and go, Mark 6:8-9.
The apostles weren’t to waste precious time gathering supplies, extra apparel, staffs, shoes, etc, or making preparations for their trip, but instead were instructed to trust in God’s providence for additional needs. Jesus didn’t mean for the apostles to discard the staffs and sandals they already had, rather, they weren’t to go and acquire more. It’s obvious from a comparison of the verses in Matthew and Luke, that they are recording the same truth, that the apostles weren’t to spend valuable time gathering extra staffs, only they are using different words to do so.
Luke didn’t use the word, ‘ktaomi’ in his account because he nearly always used the word, ‘ktaomi’ in a different sense than Matthew did. In Matthew’s account, the word ‘ktaomai’ is used to mean ‘provide’ or ‘acquire,’ whereas in the Books of Luke and Acts, Luke used this word to mean ‘purchase, buy, or earn.’
The point is simply this, Jesus wanted them to go as quickly as possible to proclaim the message that the Messiah had arrived but at the same time, they needed to learn to trust God to take care of their everyday needs, Matthew 6:11 / Matthew 6:25-34.
Please note the word, ‘worry’, in Greek is ‘merimnao’, in Matthew 6:11, and Matthew 6:25-34. It comes from the Greek root word, ‘merimna’ which means ‘distraction’. In other words, don’t let your everyday needs distract you from putting God first.
Jesus tells the twelve, ‘the worker is worth his keep,’ Matthew 10:10. In other words, those who minister spiritual things are worthy of physical things. Hence why it’s Biblical to pay a ‘full-time’ evangelist. This has always been a principle among God’s people, Luke 10:7 / 1 Corinthians 9 / Galatians 6:6 / 1 Timothy 5:17-18.
Jesus tells the twelve, ‘the worker is worth his keep,’ Matthew 10:9-11. In other words, those who minister spiritual things are worthy of physical things. Hence why it’s Biblical to pay a ‘full-time’ evangelist. This has always been a principle among God’s people, Luke 10:7 / 1 Corinthians 9 / Galatians 6:6 / 1 Timothy 5:17-18.
Why would Jesus tell them to stay in one house? Matthew 10:11 / Luke 9:4 / Mark 6:10. They weren’t to live from house to house in the towns and cities because this may have been interpreted as them searching for material blessings. Also, when we think about it today, if we go somewhere on a trip, we don’t book several places to stay, we book one place and use that place as a base.
If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages, Luke 10:5-8. Do not move around from house to house.
Notice they were to greet the owner of that household, not the house itself, Matthew 10:12-13 / Luke 10:5-9 / Mark 6:10. If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them, if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. The idea behind the greeting and saying peace was based on the thought that the household that received the messengers were in agreement with and wanted to fellowship the message of the messengers.
What does shaking the dust from your feet mean? Matthew 10:14 / Luke 9:5 / Mark 6:11. This was a Jewish custom that demonstrated to the inhospitable their lack of hospitality and acceptance of the messenger and his message, Nehemiah 5:13 / Luke 10:10-11 / Acts 13:49-51.
Jesus is saying that those who would receive the messengers of Jesus were receiving Jesus, Matthew 12:41 / John 15:18-27. If they didn’t receive Jesus and what He taught, they would be rejected in the judgment of God.
Why were the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah less inexcusable than the sins of cities and villages that rejected the apostles? Matthew 10:15. Simply because they sinned in ignorance, whereas the cities of Jesus’ day sinned against the light, the Messiah, they should have known better. You can read all about Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19, and Jude 7.
There going out was going to be dangerous, they were going out among the wolves, Matthew 10:16. The brutal and vicious dangers to which the apostles would be exposed weren’t concealed by the Lord. Their mission was dangerous and filled with countless perils. The words ‘sheep in the midst of wolves’ are very appropriate and expressive.
Ask any farmer, what would a wolf do to his flock? One wolf in a flock of sheep is a source of incredible slaughter and destruction. And so, in venturing into the dangers of their journey, the disciples must maintain their innocence in an environment of evil. In order to do such, they must exercise great wisdom on their journey, Philippians 2:14-16.
What does ‘shrewd as snakes’ mean? Matthew 10:16. It simply means the disciples are to exercise great wisdom in their work for the Master, the serpent was symbolic of carefulness, craftiness, and wisdom. The serpent was considered a symbol of wisdom among the ancients, especially the python.
The girl at Philippi who followed Paul and Silas was said to have had a ‘spirit which could predict the future’, Acts 16:16, but the Greek word denotes that she had a python! Genesis declares that ‘the serpent was more shrewd’, Genesis 3:1 / 2 Corinthians 12:16 / Ephesians 5:15 / Colossians 4:5.
What does ‘innocent as doves’ mean? Matthew 10:16. The dove was symbolic of peace, innocence, and purity. The dove as a symbol of harmlessness and innocence derived significance from Noah’s use of it as a messenger in the ark, Genesis 8. We also see the significance of this when the Spirit descended upon Jesus, signifying the start of His ministry, Matthew 3:16.
The disciples went out preached repentance and drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them, Luke 9:6 / Mark 6:12-13.
From this point on, Jesus begins to inform His disciples of the upcoming persecution they are likely to receive. They need to be on their guard because they will be handed over to local councils and flogged in the synagogues, Matthew 10:17 / Matthew 23:34 / Acts 5:18 / Acts 5:40 / Acts 9:16 / Acts 12:1 / Acts 22:19 / Acts 26:11.
They will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles, Matthew 10:18 / Acts 5:18 / Acts 12:1. This will happen because they follow Christ and when they get arrested, they aren’t to worry about what to say or how to speak because the Holy Spirit Himself will speak through them, Matthew 10:19-20 / Mark 13:11 / Luke 12:11-12 / Luke 21:14-15 / John 14:26 / John 16:13-14 / Acts 4:8 / Acts 13:9.
Hagner, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This prediction has caused problems for many interpreters since there is no indication that the disciples appeared before governors and kings during the mission that followed. As mentioned above, Jesus was evidently looking beyond their immediate mission to what His disciples would experience after His death, resurrection, and ascension.’
Here we read when times of persecution come, even their own family members will turn against them. Their physical families will even go to the extent of having them put to death, Matthew 10:21 / Matthew 10:34-36 / Micah 7:6 / Luke 21:16.
Jesus tells them that everyone will hate them because they follow Christ, Matthew 10:22 / Matthew 24:9 / Luke 21:17 / John 15:18, but they must stand firm to the end in order to be saved, Matthew 10:22 / Matthew 24:13 / Mark 13:13 / 1 Corinthians 13:7 / Revelation 2:10 / Revelation 3:11.
Jesus tells them when they are persecuted in certain places, they are to move on to another place so that they will save themselves from the persecution, Matthew 10:23. He tells them that they won’t be able to finish their mission before He, the Son of Man returns, Matthew 10:23 / Daniel 7:13-14, which appears to be a reference to the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
Jesus reminds them that the teacher must be respected more than the servant, Matthew 10:24 / Luke 6:40 / John 15:20. It’s not enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters, Matthew 10:25. In other words, if the teacher is going to suffer and be persecuted, his students shouldn’t expect anything less than the same, John 13:16 / John 15:20.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Can any man who pretends to be a scholar or disciple of Jesus Christ expect to be treated well by the world? Will not the world love its own? and them only? Why then so much impatience under suffering, such an excessive sense of injuries, such delicacy? Can you expect anything from the world better than you receive?’
Beelzebul, Matthew 10:25, was the Philistine god who was called the lord of flies, 2 Kings 1:2-3. In the New Testament, he is called the prince of demons, Matthew 12:24-26 / Mark 3:22 / Luke 11:15 / Luke 11:18-19. If Beelzebul is the head of the house, then those who belong to his household will be the ones who persecute the apostles, Matthew 10:25.
Jesus tells them not to be afraid of them, Matthew 10:26 / Luke 12:2-9 / Romans 8:31 / Romans 8:37 / Philippians 4:13, because everything, whether concealed or hidden will be openly revealed, Matthew 10:26.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This meant that the persecution and opposition of the Pharisees would not succeed in hiding the truth but would result in its being published. Persecution actually provided then, as always, the following benefits for the thing, doctrine, or person persecuted. 1. it intensifies the zeal of the persecuted party, 2. arouses sympathy for the underdog, 3. If intense enough, multiplies centres of dissemination for the hated truth. All these results were clearly observable in the history of the early church.’
Jesus tells them that whatever He had taught His disciples in the dark, Matthew 10:27 / Luke 12:3. that is, privately, they must speak in the daylight, whatever He taught them when He whispered teachings in their ear, that is, quietly, they are to proclaim from the rooftops, that is, openly and boldly, Matthew 10:27 / Luke 12:3 / Acts 5:20 / Romans 1:16 / Romans 16:25.
They are not to be afraid of anyone who can kill the body but can’t kill the soul, Matthew 10:28 / Luke 12:4 / 1 Peter 3:14. If they have to fear anyone, it is God Himself, Isaiah 8:13 / Luke 12:5 / Hebrews 10:31, because He is the only one who can destroy both soul and body in hell, Matthew 10:28 / Luke 12:5 / Matthew 25:41 / 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.
Here we read that Jesus was the first person to introduce, the ‘buy one, get one free’ slogan concerning the sparrows, Matthew 10:29 / Luke 12:6. The point is that even though many people look at sparrows and think they are worthless, God notices them and He cares for them, Matthew 10:29 / Luke 12:6.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The mention of the disciples’ heavenly Father, Matthew 10:29, stresses His care that extends to the numbering of his or her hairs. Often people think that God cares only for the big things in life and is unconcerned about the details. Jesus taught the opposite. God’s concern with details should give us confidence that He controls the larger affairs of life.’
Just as He knows the sparrows, He certainly knows us all on a personal level, even to the point of knowing how much hair we have on our heads, Matthew 10:30 / Luke 12:7. We shouldn’t worry because mankind is worth far more than the sparrows, Matthew 10:31, that is, God will certainly take care of us if He takes care of the sparrows, Matthew 6:25-30 / Romans 8:31-39.
These statements are made when Jesus was advising the twelve before sending them to preach throughout the land of Israel where they would experience some hostility, but He predicts much greater hostility which came after the ascension, Matthew 10:5-42.
Jesus plainly tells us that we must acknowledge Jesus before others, and by doing so, He will acknowledge us before the Father, Matthew 10:32 / Luke 12:8 / Matthew 16:17-18 / Romans 10:9-10 / Revelation 20:15 / Revelation 21:27. There is also a warning involved if we disown Jesus, He will disown us before the Father, Matthew 10:33 / Luke 12:9 / Luke 9:26 / John 12:42 / 2 Timothy 2:12. Peter denied Christ three times but repented and became a great apostle, Luke 22:54-62.
Jesus says He has come to bring fire on earth, Luke 12:49. Many commentators have different views as to what the ‘fire’ is referring to. Some suggest judgment, some suggest discord, some suggest Christian love and some suggest the Holy Spirit. It’s also possible that the ‘fire’ refers to the Word of God, Jeremiah 23:29. The preaching of the Gospel certainly brought a lot of joy to some people but it also caused a lot of turmoil among people because many would reject the Gospel message, Acts 8:1-4 / 2 Corinthians 2:15-16.
Notice that Jesus says He has a baptism to undergo, Luke 12:50, which is a clear reference to His upcoming suffering.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The path laid out for Jesus was extremely narrow and difficult. On the one hand, his was the task of convincing all men that he is King of kings and Lord of lords; and, on the other hand, this had to be done in such a manner as to frustrate Satan’s purpose of getting our Lord killed as a seditionist. The skill and genius by which Jesus negotiated this narrow path have ever been the marvel of all who contemplated them.’
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘How do I earnestly desire that it was passed! Since these sufferings ‘must’ be endured, how anxious am I that the time should come! Such were the feelings of the Redeemer in view of his approaching dying hour.’
Jesus isn’t bring peace but division, Luke 12:51. Matthew tells us that Jesus is bringing a sword and it seems out of place to think that the Prince of Peace, was bringing a sword, Matthew 10:34 / Isaiah 9:6 / Ephesians 2:14.
This sword, that is, the Gospel message would have a devastating effect on our close relationships with our family members, it will divide, Matthew 10:34-37 / Luke 12:52-53. A sword should be identified with Christ in any sense as a warning of the severity which is one characteristic of His glorious nature, Romans 11:22.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The sword of Christ is, 1. a sword of separation, 2. the word of God, Ephesians 6:17 / Hebrews 4:12, 3. the sword of civil authority, Romans 13:1-8, 4. the sword of judgment, Genesis 3:24, 5. the sword of correction, Revelation 2:16, and 6. the sword of victory, Revelation 19:13. Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, was acquainted with that sword. ‘Yea, and a sword shall pierce thine own soul,’ Luke 2:55.’
In Matthew 10:36, Jesus quotes Micah 7:6, which refers to rebellion that happened during King Ahaz’s reign. It pointed to a greater division in Jesus’ day. In both cases the root of the conflict involved righteousness and unrighteousness.
It appears that even our own family members would struggle with us loving Jesus more than them and if we give into them and love them more, we won’t be counted worthy of Jesus, Matthew 10:34-37 / Luke 12:52-53 / Genesis 29:31.
One who obeys Christ despite family or parental opposition feels the edge of that sword. A young woman who maintains her ideals and purity in an office where low standards prevail soon feels that sword in her heart. All who live for Christ and bleed inwardly when His name is profaned or His word denied have felt it.
These verses show us that lines of cleavage between Christ’s followers and the world cut sharply through the dearest and most intimate relationships on earth, Matthew 10:35-37 / Luke 12:52-53. In every church, almost in every household, there are scars caused by this sword. Jesus is talking about the indirect result of His work and that of His followers. Anyone who promotes good and denounces bad will gain enemies and have problems. Sometimes this happens even within families.
The Gospel produces inner peace, peace with God, but the believer will experience resentment from the enemies of the Gospel even though the Gospel is good because they prefer evil. So, the indirect result of the Lord’s good work is trouble from enemies of the Gospel even when they are members of one’s own family, the alternative is to not accept the truth. In such situations, the choice will be, to follow Jesus or give in to the family.
Jesus plainly explained what was required to become His disciple. He said that you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him, Matthew 10:38 / Matthew 16:24 / Mark 8:34-9:1 / Luke 9:23 / Luke 14:27. These requirements are demanding, a person doesn’t naturally deny himself, rather, he usually does what he wants.
Death to self is painful, but that is exactly the meaning of taking up one’s cross. The cross was an instrument of death, and to take it up would be to die to oneself and one’s own desires in order to serve Christ. There is no profit in gaining the entire world, only to lose one’s soul in the transaction, Matthew 10:39 / Matthew 16:26. It’s worth everything to submit to God’s stringent requirements for discipleship.
Jesus highlighted the requirements for being a disciple because it’s so easy to imagine that you are a follower of Jesus when, in fact, you aren’t. Discipleship isn’t mere church membership or moral living, it’s total devotion to Jesus Christ. It’s to die to self and live 100% for the Lord.
The confession that Jesus demands isn’t a simple statement in our mouths that Jesus is the Christ and Son of God. It’s a confession that we make with our whole life that is totally committed to Him, Galatians 2:20.
Everyone who would seek to be a disciple of Jesus must commit himself to follow Jesus above all things of this world, Matthew 6:24 / Matthew 10:32-33 / Romans 1:16. The reward of doing so will certainly be worth it, Matthew 16:25 / Luke 9:24 / Luke 17:33 / John 12:25 / Revelation 2:10.
Jesus tells the disciples that whoever welcomes them, welcomes Jesus, Matthew 10:40, that is, anyone who welcomes the disciples and accepts their teaching, is really welcoming Jesus and His teaching, John 13:20 / Acts 16:15 / Galatians 4:14 / 2 John 9.
The word, ‘prophet’, Matthew 10:41, isn’t used in reference to foretelling the future but in terms of teaching God’s Word, Matthew 5:20 / John 13:20. The one who received the disciple would receive a reward from God suitable to one who had entertained one of God’s representatives.
Gill, in his commentary, says the following.
‘By ‘a prophet’ is meant, not one that foretells things to come, but a preacher of the Gospel, for as prophesying sometimes signifies preaching, so a prophet designs a minister of the word, and to ‘receive’ him, is not only to embrace his doctrine, but to entertain him in a kind, and generous manner, and he that does this, ‘in the name of a prophet’, not as coming in the name of another prophet, but upon this account, and for this consideration, because he himself is a prophet.’
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The disciples were righteous men who represented another righteous man, Jesus. God would give those who received the disciples as righteous men a reward in keeping with what a righteous man deserves, Matthew 5:20 / John 13:20.’
To give a cup of cold water in His Name, Matthew 10:39 / Mark 9:41 Colossians 3:17, even just a drink, to one of the least of Jesus’ followers, is to be blessed, to receive a reward, Matthew 10:42. He is telling them how rewarding giving can be. Even that which we take completely for granted, when given in love, is a blessing to both giver and receiver.
The ‘little ones’ is a reference to the disciples of Christ, those who would suffer for Him. Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to them, will certainly not lose their reward in heaven, Matthew 10:42 / Matthew 25:40 / Mark 9:41 / Hebrews 6:10. Anyone who assists one of them by giving him or her even a cup of refreshing cold water in His Name will receive a reward from God. The point is that no act of kindness for one of Jesus’ suffering disciples will pass without God’s reward.
Bell, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Note the descending climax a prophet, a righteous man, a little one; signifying that however low we come down in our services to those that are Christ’s, all that is done for His sake, and that bears the stamp of love to His awesome name, shall be divinely appreciated and owned and rewarded.’