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The Gospel of Matthew

The Apostles are sent to Israel

Chapter 9:35 the 10:42

 

The Lord Jesus went out on a third hike throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, whereby the Kingdom of heaven was near, and the people should prepare to enter it, accepting, obeying and following Him, the promised Messiah.

As a sign of His authenticity, he healed all illnesses and diseases among the people. We see this information repeatedly, for this reason, the enemy never disputed the fact that He did these miracles, since there were literally thousands of witnesses.

The Lord commiserated with the crowd around Him, because they were stragglers and wanderers like sheep that have no Shepherd: they were tormented, bullied, and confounded by those who should be teaching: these did not enter nor allowed the people to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (23:13), and imposed heavy burdens and hard to bear on their shoulders (23: 4). The people were in a state of mental collapse.

We frequently find in the Bible the people of God being likened to a flock of sheep, and their leaders to shepherds. Its two greatest leaders, Moses and David were shepherds by profession before they lead the people.

The leaders in the churches of God must also treat their congregations with the same care with which a good shepherd is dedicated to his sheep.

After this, the Lord leaves the sad picture of the abandoned flock to present the picture of a field ripe for harvest. The harvest is great, but lacks reapers. He did not call the disciples immediately to do the work, but instructed them to plead with the Lord of the harvest to send His reapers there.

It is God who provides workers in His harvest: the workers themselves do not take the decision. However, we cannot truly pray to the Lord to send labourers, if we are not ready to do the work ourselves, if we are called by Him for that purpose.

The Lord then called the twelve disciples, who He had already chosen in advance, to an evangelistic mission to the people of Israel. We have their names as follows, identified here and later in the biblical account as:

1. Simon, nicknamed by the Lord "Peter" (stone), an impetuous and affectionate fisherman, sometimes lacking wisdom.

2. Andrew, introduced by John the Baptist to the Lord Jesus. He was the brother of Simon, whom he then introduced to the Lord (John 1:36,40). He took people to the Lord.

3. James, son of Zebedee. He was killed by Herod at the beginning of the church (Acts 12:2), the first martyr among the apostles.

4. John, the son of Zebedee and brother of James. He called himself "the disciple whom Jesus loved" and to him we owe a Gospel, three letters and the writing down of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

5. Philip, of Bethsaida like Simon and Andrew, who introduced Nathanael to the Lord.

6. Bartholomew, this probably being the surname of Nathanael, the Israelite in whom the Lord Jesus found no malice.

7. Thomas, nicknamed Didymus (twin). He was not present at the first meeting of the apostles after the resurrection of Christ, and expressed doubts but, present at the second meeting, doubted no more and made a touching confession of faith (John 20:28).

8. Matthew, the author of this Gospel, tax collector by profession, also called Levi.

9. James, son of Alphaeus, of which little more is known.

10. Lebbaeus, surname Thaddeus, also known as Judas, son of James (Lucas 6:16).

11. Simon the Canaanite, also called Zealot (Lucas 6:15).

12. Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of the Lord Jesus.

They were now sent (apostles) to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel", i.e. exclusively to the Jews. They were to announce "the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" in the person of their King-he was present, on Earth, among them. This has nothing to do with the mission after His death and resurrection, to preach the Gospel to the entire world (Acts 1:8). The message and the conditions were different.

It is not for the church to build the kingdom of heaven here on Earth, as some are thinking: the Lord Jesus will establish His kingdom on earth when He returns for the second time. The Church is the body of Christ taken from the world (eklesia = taken out) to manifest Christ and proclaim his Gospel to the world. His Kingdom is in us when we receive Him as Lord and Saviour. Soon the Church will be raptured to meet Him in the air, and to be forever with Him.

To fulfil that mission among the Jews, the Lord Jesus gave to the apostles the same credentials that He had, in the form of signs. It was the power over unclean spirits, to cast them out and heal every disease and every evil, including to raise the dead. Other people that we read in the Bible also made similar miracles on other occasions, but no man could grant or transfer this power to others.

It should be recalled that on that occasion the specified power was given only to allow the performance of that mission. It is wrong to use this passage as an argument to defend the alleged use of that power by others, on other occasions, for other purposes.

The Lord determined several conditions applicable for that particular mission, suitable for the occasion and the environment in which it would take place. Other conditions were established for other missions (Luke 22:35-36, 1 Corinthians 9:14).

After establishing the conditions, the Lord Jesus outlined some principles that remain throughout the ages, for all eternity, and are applicable today with respect to the testimony of His disciples.

The principles established are as follows:

• "Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves": Snakes are dangerous and doves suffer distress. We must watch out for those who seek to harm us because of our testimony. But let us be calm in the certainty that the Holy Spirit will inspire us to say what is right when we are judged.

• The gospel will cause division and hatred inside of families: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God"(1 Corinthians 1:18).

• The world is enemy of those who preach the Gospel of Christ: the Lord Jesus also said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Verses 22 and 23 refer to the testimonies before the people of Israel, during the Ministry of the Lord Jesus, and in the period of the great tribulation.

• We must fear God more than men: men can only destroy the body, while God can destroy the soul with the body, in hell.

• As Christians, we are very valuable to God, who loves us and knows the number of hairs on our heads.

• Before the Father, Christ will admit as being His one that expresses to men their faith in Christ, but will deny he who denies Him before men.

• He who does not give preeminence to Christ over those who are closest to himself is unworthy of Him, or refuses to submit to humiliation to follow Him.

• He who devotes himself solely to his life here in this world, will lose it. But whoever loses his life here in this world for the love of Christ, will find eternal life.

• Who receives a worker sent by Christ also receives Christ and God. Who collaborates with a prophet or a just person, will participate in the reward they receive.

• There will be a reward for who helps another for his being a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Even if it is a simple glass of cold water given to the least of them.

 

R David Jones

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35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

Matthew chapter 9 verses 35 to 38

1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
11 "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.
12 And when you go into a household, greet it.
13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
22 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
27 "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
35 For I have come to 'SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW';
36 and 'A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.'
37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
40 "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

Matthew chapter 10