Matthew Chapter 10 - Helpful Notes

The Choosing of the Twelve (1-4)

You will remember that Jesus called for Labourers in (Mt 9:37-38) In verses (1-4) of chapter 10, Jesus selects 12 disciples to be His Apostles. So out of all those that were following Him (and remember we read that there were multitudes) Jesus chooses twelve. We can see how this corresponds to the twelve sons of Jacob and the twelve tribes of Israel. It is also interesting that HE gives them the power “against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”

Also interesting, from a theological point of view is that Jesus chooses “Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.” He is one of the chosen, Jesus who “knew all men.” (John 2:24)

Their Commission and Authority (5-8)

In verse 5 Jesus commanded them, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.” This is known as “the Limited Commission.” Their commission was confined for now, to Israel, yet it would go to the ends of the earth after the Holy Spirit had come at Pentecost.

 The preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles was put back, until it had first been preached to the Jews. That’s why, when the Jews, as Acts 13;45 puts it, “spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming,”  Paul says, “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you,” (the Jews) or as he puts it in Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”  Why to the Jew first, because the promise was first to them and God keeps His promises.

 It must be noted however, that in these gospels, Christ’s doctrine is not limited to the Jews only, as Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…”  and  Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” And 1 Corinthians 10:11 “and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” Neither is Christ’s ministry completely restricted to the Jews, as we have seen already with the example of the Centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13) and as we will later see, the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter in (Mark 7:25-30).

What are the Disciples commissioned to do? Verse 7 (Read) At hand means near. It is near in the sense that doctrinally the Disciples are bringing the gospel literally to people’s doors, but also in the sense that they are coming in the authority and power of God, as we see from the healings and casting out of devils.  Notice that it is Jesus that has endued them with that authority and that supernatural power, another sign of the Deity of Christ. Only God has, or can give authority to others to raise the dead, unseat Satan from his place and heal diseases.

At the end of verse 8 there is a bit of wise counsel, for those considering the work of the itinerant evangelist, “freely ye have received, freely give.”

Their Support (9-10)

When the disciples went out, they were told (Read verses 9-10). This is really living by faith! In fact, historically, there have been evangelists that have lived and worked in very similar ways to this and been very blessed. Francis Asbury was an English Methodist Preacher who went to America in the 1700s to share the gospel, would travel and preach. Roberts Llardon, in his book God’s Generals says, “Francis would repeat this pattern of evangelism for the next forty something years-he would find a place to preach, stay with a local family, and pray with those present to accept Christ. And as he did this, a new Methodist Society would be born.”

What were they to do when they came to a city, or house?   (11-15)

What does it mean, “to enquire who in it is worthy?” It means to find some person who is willing to receive the gospel and the preachers of it. In Acts 13:46, in the verses that we have already touched on, Paul says to the Jews that rejected him, “seeing ye…judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life…” They had rejected not just the gospel but also himself and his ministry.

We get this memorable phrase in Matthew 10:14 “Shake off the dust of your feet.”

This comes from a Jewish tradition. When a Jew had travelled to the land of the Gentiles, and he returned to “the Holy Land,” he would shake the dust off his feet, so that the land would not be contaminated. What the picture is here, I think, is that those Jews that rejected Christ, his ministers and therefore his gospel, are, as John Wesley puts it “on a level with heathens and idolaters.”

Persecution (16-26)

Verse 16 (Read). Yet however “innocent” they were, or however “wise” they were, neither of these qualities, would prevent them from being persecuted. We know that  “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12) Jesus says, “beware of men…” The very people that this gospel has been brought to save, to help, to heal are the ones you need to watch out for. You will be brought before their courts and their councils; they’ll hate you, scourge you, try to silence you with every means possible! Verse 21-22 (read) Oh, I thought you got saved and that was it; I thought Jesus suffered so that you don’t have to. No, “the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord.” (verse 24) If Jesus was persecuted; and his disciples were persecuted; and every real Christian in history, that preached the gospel and walked in holiness was persecuted…do you want to fill in the blank? Go to Philippians 1:29 (Read) Philippians 3:10 (Read)

Verse 22 (Read) It’s not automatic that you will endure, if it was this warning would not make any sense. He that has no root in himself endures “for awhile: for when tribulation or persecution because of the word, by and by he is offended.” (Matthew 13:21) He fails to endure; he wasn’t prepared to suffer for his Lord.

In verse 23 Jesus says something that is often overlooked (Read)

• Point one: If you are persecuted and the gospel is rejected and no one’s listening and you’re in danger, what’s the instruction…stay? No, flee!
• Point two: What does Jesus mean “ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the son of man come.” There are differences of opinion about this, but a small yet significant number of commentators, agree that this is a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70; which in Biblical language might be viewed as a sort of day of vengeance on all those that had rejected the gospel, a kind of “Day of the Lord.” But we will perhaps examine it more closely when we get to Matthew 24.

What were they to fear more than persecution? (28,33)

Jesus tells the disciples that they ought not to fear these persecutions. Even though the thought of these things surely causes our flesh to recoil. Rather they should fear “Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (verse 28) Fear god? Fear hell? But aren’t these the disciples of Jesus? The warnings are very solemn and sobering and they ought to be noted. Verses 32-33 (Read) That seems a very radical and challenging teaching! The images in our minds of jumble sales, people dozing in the pews… “more tea Vicar?” It doesn’t look much like the Christianity that is being described in Matthew 10! That’s because it’s not; it’s not the same thing at all. Peter and Paul don’t go around offering to mow the lawns of sinners! They preach the gospel.

What Christ’s doctrines would do (34-40)

What is this real Christianity, this real Christ’s doctrine going to do to people? He tells us in verse 34-36 (Read) Wow! Are you ready for that kind of life? Are you willing to cleave to Jesus Christ and those that are his, even if it means the loss of your own family? Jesus says you must be ready, (Verse 37 read) You have to take up your own cross (38) you have to be willing to follow Jesus, even by taking hold of that thing that you least like to do…what me, go and share the gospel with her? Me, start doing that…(or in some cases, stop doing that!) Me, make THOSE changes to my life? Yes, you must take up your cross, that thing that your flesh reviles, will be the thing that God requires. You must lose your life for His sake.

You might have to leave your own Father behind, like Abraham. You have a new family now and a heavenly Father. Don’t be surprised if the spiritual warfare you encounter is fiercest around the dinner table, with your own flesh and blood!

The person that receives one of these disciples and the message he brings, effectively receives Christ, (as John says, it’s “as many as received Him”) and if they receive Christ, they receive the one that sent Him.

The blessings that will come to those that help the Apostles (41-42)

Verses 41-42 (read) He that receives a prophet, to prophesy can also mean to preach and if you welcome a preacher of the gospel, you will share in his reward. Very similar language to Genesis 12:3 “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.”

Whatever kindness done, even to the least of God’s servants, is noted by God; as is every harsh word and malicious act. As Jude says, God “shall execute judgement upon all, and to convince (convict) all that are ungodly…of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Be careful how you treat the servants of God. How do you recognise a servant of God? “by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:20)

Copyright © Paul Jennings.