The Names of the Twelve Apostles - Matthew 10:2
Jesus called twelve disciples (corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel) to be his inner group and who would later be the leaders of the church after his ascension (with Judas being replaced by Matthias, plus the Apostle Paul). Matthew does not record the stories of how each were called (cf. Matt. 4:18-22; John 1:35-51), but Simon Peter is always put at the head of the list because he becomes the leader among the disciples. The mention of Judas Iscariot "who would betray him" foreshadows the events later in the story (Matt. 26:20-25, 47-50).
Not to the Gentiles - Matthew 10:5-6
Do
not go to any
place where
Gentiles live. The goal of Jesus' ministry and the kingdom of God is a new covenant for all people who respond to Jesus in faith (Matt. 26:28). Jesus has already commended many Gentiles for their faith (Matt. 8:10-12), John the Baptist said God could raise up non-Jews to be his children (Matt. 3:9-10), and Matthew has shown Gentiles who believe (Matt. 2:1-12; 15:24). Jesus' Jewish restriction on his disciples' preaching was temporary and served a prophetic function of a final warning of coming judgment on those Jews who have been unfaithful (Matt. 3:9-12; 10:15; 11:21-22; 23:1-38; 24:1-51). Because God loves his chosen people (Rom. 9:1-33), the pattern of the early church was always to offer the message to Jewish people first and then also to the Gentiles (Luke 24:47; Acts 13:46; Rom. 1:16; 2:9-10).
Freely you have received - Matthew 10:8-10
Do not
carry any
gold. When Jesus sent out his disciples he wanted them to live by the principle of "
freely you have received so
freely give" (Matt. 10:8). The temptation to get rich through the power and authority Jesus gave them is best fought by living on whatever God provides rather than seeking to acquire wealth through the ministry.
The Spirit will speak - Matthew 10:11-20
The
Spirit of your
Father who will
speak. All three Persons of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Spirit – are connected here (cf. Matt. 28:19). The promise of Jesus' presence with his disciples after his ascension will come through the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:20; John 14:15-31; Acts 1:8) who will empower and enable the disciples as witnesses in the world.
Shake off the dust from your feet – Matthew 10:14
Shake off the dust from your feet. This is a symbolic act that indicates rejection and separating. Any people who do not receive Jesus' disciples have also rejected God himself (Matt. 10:40; 25:45). Sodom and Gomorrah – Matthew 10:15
More tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sodom and Gomorrah refer to the famous story from Gen. 19 when God judged and destroyed these two Gentiles cities for their immorality. Jesus' shocking point was that his own mission was exalted to the level of God's work in the world because rejection of him brings the judgment of God. Also, Jesus placed the Jewish leadership that was opposed to him into the same category of the worst of Gentiles (cf. also Matt. 11:24). Serpents and doves – Matthew 10:16
Wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Christian disciples are witnesses in the world (Matt. 5:13-16) so they need to be humble, loving peacemakers (Matt. 5:3-9) but also wise in how they relate to others, especially their enemies (Matt. 7:6; 10:13-14, 17-19).
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