Matthew 10: Teaching on taking the Kingdom into the world

• v.1-6    The Twelve are to go to Israel only
• v.7-15  They are to introduce the kingdom
• v.16-27 Be prepared for opposition
• v.28-31 Encouragement to not be afraid
• v.32-33 Owning the Kingdom
• v.34-39 Divisions between Believers & Unbelievers
• v.40-42 Rewards for Welcoming God’s Representatives

[Preliminary note: From the call at the end of the last chapter for more workers in the kingdom, Matthew now recalls how Jesus gathered the twelve disciples and taught them how they were to go and what they were to expect as he sent them out into the world to further the kingdom. His instructions included:

• Who to go to (Israel only, for the time being – that would later change – see Mt 28),
• What they were to do – preach AND demonstrate the power of the kingdom,
• How they were to be prepare for opposition and how they were to handle it,
• How they were to be confident in the face of that,
• How they were to hold the big picture – the gospel divides,
• Yet how they could be assured of God’s reward for being faithful.

The teaching from v.6/7 is considered by commentators to be the 2nd of the 6 ‘discourses’ [longer sections of teaching] in Matthew.]

v.1-6 The Twelve are to go to Israel only

v.1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

v.2-4 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; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

v.5,6 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

[Note: Jesus gives authority to his twelve new disciples to do his work (but only to the people of Israel for the moment) and Matthew names them for us.]

v.7-15 They are to introduce the kingdom

v.7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’

v.8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

[Note: Marching Orders – what they are to DO as that work – announce the coming of the kingdom AND demonstrate it by healings etc.]

v.9,10 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.

v.11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.

v.12  As you enter the home, give it your greeting.

v.13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.

v.14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.

v.15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

[Note: Marching Orders – not to rely on their own resources but look for others who would care for them, those who would welcome them, and these they were to bless. If rejected, they were just to leave and that town that rejected the kingdom would come under judgement.]

v.16-27 Be prepared for opposition

v.16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

v.17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.

v.18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

[Note: Marching Orders – it’s a tough world, be wise and innocent for [prophecy] in days to come they will receive harsh treatment, BUT they will be Jesus’ witnesses even before rulers.]

v.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,

v.20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

[Note: Marching Orders – if they get into trouble God’s Holy Spirit will show them what to say.]

v.21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.

v.22You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

v.23 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.

[Note: Marching Orders – have a wider perspective and realize that families will be divided over the gospel, so if they are hated, remain faithful to the end, if persecuted, go elsewhere.]

v.24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.

v.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!

[Note: Marching Orders – take Jesus as their example realizing that if he was verbally abused, so will they.]

v.26 “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.

v.27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.

[Note: Marching Orders – so don’t be afraid about the future, God will reveal all and make everything public, so speak it out boldly and openly and fearlessly (implied).]

v.28-31 Encouragement to not be afraid

v.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.

v.29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

v.30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

v.31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

[Note: Marching Orders – so don’t be intimidated by others, God is above them all and watches over all, so He knows even how many hairs you have on your head. Realize you’re worth much more than many sparrows of His world.]

v.32-33 Owning the Kingdom

v.32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

v.33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

[Note: Marching Orders – finally, acknowledge him and he will acknowledge you in heaven; whoever rejects him will be rejected by heaven.]

v.34-39 Divisions between Believers & Unbelievers

v.34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

v.35,36 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— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

[Note: Marching Orders – remember the gospel will bring division between believers and non-believers and even households will turn against each other – Micah 7:6]

v.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.

v.38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

v.39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

[Note: Marching Orders – maintain right priorities – anyone who doesn’t put Jesus first is not worthy of him and if you’re not willing to forgo your life you’re not worthy of him so those who put ‘self’ first, lose themselves, but whoever gives up their life for him, will find life.]

v.40-42 Rewards for Welcoming God’s Representatives

v.40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

v.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.

v.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.”

[Note: Marching Orders – final perspective – whoever welcomes Jesus, welcome the Father and whoever receives a representative of God will be rewarded, indeed, anyone who helps one of Jesus’ followers will be rewarded.]

For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: