Notes on Matthew 10:5-24

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).

Tax collectors and sinners – Matthew 11:19

Jesus came to restore people to life and to inaugurate the new age of the kingdom of God, bringing light into darkness and forgiving people their sins. These gracious actions were precisely what made the religious leadership angry and opposed to him because they did not understand God's gracious nature.

A disciple is not greater than his teacher - Matthew 10:24

A disciple is not greater than his teacher. A theme throughout this teaching block (Matt. 10:1-42) is that suffering will come through being faithful witnesses for God (cf. Matt. 5:10-12). This was true of Jesus so the disciples should not be surprised that it will also be true for them (and all subsequent disciples; 2 Tim. 3:12) who are following his ways and becoming like him.

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