MATTHEW 10 We have received the responsibility to carry out a mission for the Lord, similar to the one the apostles were given. There will be opposition to us because the Gospel message is contradictory to the wicked practices of those who do not believe in Christ. Instead of carelessness and licentiousness; there is dignity, integrity, and purity in the kingdom message. Instead of “do your own thing,” there is “seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” But do not be afraid. Our first priority is to love and obey our Lord Jesus. We must trust Him to do what we cannot do, even though our losses may be great and personal. People who respond to those who speak for God, are considered by Him to be welcoming Jesus Himself.
Matthew 10. The King gives instructions as to how to perform a mission.
Authorizing the disciples to be apostles, v.1-4 Disciples are learners, and the learning process goes on for the lifetime of a believer, in the sense of them being learners/followers. There are other ways discipleship is evident. “Disciples indeed,” love one another and their love extends to reaching out in their concern to the lost. It is also evident in their desire to do the will of God in their own lives even though the cost may be high.
Apostles were delegated representatives of the higher authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, who were sent out to represent Him and His interests. The twelve apostles were chosen by the Lord Jesus to represent Him personally to “the house of Israel.” They were also, witnesses to His life, His “signs and wonders,” and His teaching. They also were witnesses of his suffering on the cross. Perhaps they were most importantly; witnesses to His resurrection and the forty days of seeing and learning from Him, before they witnessed His ascension into heaven. The commission to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel,” came after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The house of Israel had rejected the Lord and made it plain they didn’t want “this Man to reign over us.” After the Lord was raised from among the dead, Jewish apostles began to preach the Gospel because they were witnesses of all that had happened to the Lord during His years of ministry. These facts were important for the new believers in those early churches, to know and be assured of because they were scattered all over the Roman empire.
Those men had followed Him as disciples when He moved from place to place in Galilee. Now the time had come for them to be sent out to the house of Israel and proclaim the “kingdom heaven is near.” This is the first mention of the disciples being “apostles,” which designated them as responsible to represent the Lord Jesus to the “Jews first.” They were being given authority by His higher power to act on His behalf. As this list of the disciples/apostles is given, Simon Peter is mentioned first. But this order doesn’t mean anything more than that he was first among equals. He is not the head of the church, nor was he designated as the head of the other apostles. There is no other indication of supremacy as Peter being “the leader.”
Instructions for the immediate mission, v.5-15 The first mission of the apostles was to “the Jew first.” This was not due to prejudice or a permanent condition but was a message to the Jews concerning the kingdom that was promised them many generations before. They knew, and expected, a Messiah to come and rule over the “house of Israel.” Authority was given to those apostles which included the power to perform miracles of healing and demonstrate authority over the powers of darkness, that would give weight to their message. That had been done by the Lord and they had seen it themselves. Now He was giving them the power to accomplish this first mission through acts of mercy and benevolence. These wonders were to be done freely because they had been given freely. “Freely received… freely give.”
Everything about the apostles and that first mission was specific and simple. There were specific people they were to go to and specific practices they were to adhere to. There were specific principles they were to follow and specific preaching they were to give. The people they were to go to, were Jews and the message they were to preach was “The kingdom of God is near.” They were to follow the same practices the Lord did, to demonstrate authority when miracles were performed. The principles they were to follow were to keep their own lives limited to basic needs. There was to be nothing to distract them. No money was to be involved in any way. They were to live for the moment because of the urgency of the message. There was to be nothing that would encumber their movements or slow them down in their journey from place to place. They were not to linger if they were not received in some places. When there was hostility against them, they were not to face it but were to just leave. The consequences of rejection were God’s work, not theirs. By shaking off the dust of that place and leaving; they were free from the guilt and coming judgment on that place, and their consciences were clear. Wisdom provides the balance that is needed to accomplish a mission God gives.
Warnings of future persecution, v.16-23 There didn’t seem to be much open opposition to that first mission the apostles were sent on. They were being taught in this training session, as to how they were to respond in the times of opposition that were coming in the future. Future dangers beyond that first mission were going to involve vicious opposition and open antagonism. In spite of what comes from governments, courts of law, and religions; that was to be met with wisdom and avoiding unnecessary exposure to danger, without retaliation as a serpent avoids danger when possible, and as a dove is harmless.
Opposition from friends and family will come along with rejection. Living for God has costs but gives opportunities to tell the message of God’s great salvation to them and others with a view to their future blessing. We need to be prepared for what might happen but do not need to worry that we will be abandoned by the One who gave us the mission.
Some of the references in this passage indicate what it was going to be like when Titus and his Rome army besieged Jerusalem about forty years after the Lord spoke these words to the apostles. There is also an application that can be made regarding the tribulation and the second coming of Christ. Similar opposition has been experienced down through the last twenty centuries by those who follow Christ and carry out the “great commission” He gave after His resurrection and just before He ascended into heaven.
Encouragement for all believers, v.24-42 There are general encouragements given in this part of the Lord’s discourse to His disciples that relate to all believers. We are the disciples and He is the Teacher. We are the servants and He is the Lord. He is the Master of the house and we are members of his household. It is reasonable to expect that what happened to Him, will happen to us in one way or another. If the Teacher, Lord, and Master received bad treatment from those He wanted to bless; we should not expect to be treated any better. Some things that happen to those who follow our Lord, do not surprise us. We are expected to commit ourselves to boldly proclaim the Gospel without fear. Human persecutors are limited to doing what they do, to our bodies. They cannot touch our souls and spirits. Our respect, reverence, and obedience to God are what is really important. God knows the smallest detail about everything.
God knows everything that happens to us and will deal with those matters and/or persecutors in His own way. Don’t hesitate to get on with the mission you have received. Tell the message of the Gospel openly, publicly, and often. There will be dangers, but do not fear those who come against you. They are mere men. Carrying a cross is evidence of one who is about to die. For those who follow the Lord and have received our mission mandate from Him; we die to self-will, ambitions, and anything that would only advance temporary success. We are to die to all interests that would take priority over seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. To seek to preserve our physical ambitions in life, means we lose all that makes living worthwhile.
Our calling and commission will mean our public identification with our Lord Jesus Christ will bring conflicts that may come close to us in the family unit, by those who do not know or want to have anything to do with the Lord Jesus Christ. Divisions among people over the Person of Christ can be heart-breaking, but may not be able to be avoided. We belong to Him, and what is His will is our priority. A fulfilled life is one that is lived for the Lord and the kingdom of God. In eternity the blessings from that choice will make it worth it all.
To receive and welcome representatives of the Lord is to receive Him. For us to receive others do not only refer to important people or religious leaders. It also means, that when we show acts of kindness toward ordinary people and children; that is of great value to the Lord. He reckons that, as done to Himself, kindness represents Him. A just recompense will be given by God that lasts forever. What we do for the Lord, is as if He did it to bring blessing to others. A welcome to us is welcome to Him. To receive our message of salvation is to receive the Savior’s message. The smallest act of service and kindness to one of the Lord’s servants is the same as if it were done for Him personally.