MATTHEW 10: 1-6 [THE MESSIAH REVEALED]
THE TWELVE APOSTLES
Chapter 10 is a transition in Jesus' training of the twelve. Until this time they had been observers with little involvement in the miracles or teachings, Here they are commissioned and sent out with authority to do what they had seen their Master do and to proclaim what they had heard Him proclaim.
In this the second of Matthew's five discourses, Jesus instructs, prepares, empowers and encourages His disciples for both immediate and future ministry. Jesus had personally demonstrated His authority previously in Matthew. He now delegates that same authority to His disciples so that they may carry out His ministry to the world (CIT).
I. AUTHORITY DELEGATED, 1.
II. THE TWELVE APOSTLES, 2- 4.
III THE LOST SHEEP, 5- 6.
After asking all His disciples to pray for workers, Jesus summons twelve of them in verse 1. "Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”
Jesus now moves forward to prepare His disciples to bring in His abundant harvest Jesus' training and sending out the twelve to multiply His ministry is motivated by His heart wrenching compassion for people without a shepherd.
The twelve disciples, who had been chosen earlier after a night of prayer and had been with Jesus, are now officially summoned [proskaleo]. Now after a time of instruction and training something significant was about to occur. Because of Jesus compassion for the masses they were going to be sent on their first mission. This would be no ordinary preaching mission since Jesus also extended power, or “authority” [exousia] to them. This authority gave them the right to represent Him and perform miraculous ministry. This delegated authority "is the same authority Jesus demonstrated through His teaching in Chapters 5-7 and through His miracles in Chapter 8-9.” [Weber, Stuart. Holman NT Commentary. 2000. Broadman & Holma The Bible does not give us many details concerning Jesus' 12 apostles probably b/c there weren't many impressive details to tell. Jesus called people from all walks of life - fishermen, political activists, tax collectors. He called common people; rich & poor; educated & uneducated. It was more their availability that their ability.
n. Nashville, TN. p. 139-140.] This authority applies to every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. "The twelve are truly representing their Master, for they are doing what He Himself is doing and what they have been ordered to do, in the same manner as Jesus Himself represents the Father (John 5: 19)." Hendricksen, William. The Gospel According to Matthew. 1973 Baker Book. Grand Rapids, MI. P. 450.] Their miracle-working ministry was to attest to the legitimate claim of Jesus to be the Messiah.
The authority Jesus delegated here is the same authority He would bestow upon His Great Commission disciples in Matthew 28:18-20. It is His empowering them and us to heal hurts and be fishers of men (4:19). A difference is that Jesus commissions the twelve to go to the lost sheep of Israel alone. In chapter 28 His commission extends to all peoples or nations.
II. THE TWELVE APOSTLES, 2- 4.
Verses 2, 3, and 4 name the twelve Apostles. “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: Thee first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.”
These names are recorded to their great honor; yet they had more reason to rejoice that their names were written in heaven, while the high and mighty names of the great ones of the earth are buried in the dust. Matthew uses the title or technical term apostle for the first time to indicate a significant change in these disciples' roles. The word is a transliteration of the Greek word apostolos which means one sent on a mission as a delegate, envoy, representative, or messenger for another. Luke 6:13 states it was Jesus Himself who named them apostles. There seems to be a clear distinction between the twelve (which will eventually include Paul as substitute for Judas) and the other apostles [l Cor. 15:5 & 7 indicates the twelve were distinguished from the others gifted as apostles], and the disciples [mathetai] who represent all believers. The number twelve is significant finding their counterpart in the twelve tribes of Israel. From their ministry a new Israel, or the church, would be formed.
[The Twelve made up the body of authoritative leaders in the church. James, the brother of Jesus (Gal. 1:19), Silvanus (1 Thess. 1:1), Andronicus and Junia (Rom. 16:7), Barnabas and Paul (Acts 14:4, 14), and others are designated “apostles,” though not in the same technical sense that the Twelve are. Peter specifies that an apostle must be an eyewitness of Jesus’ life and activity from the time of His baptism to the resurrection /ascension (Acts 1:22).]
The Bible does not give us many details concerning Jesus' twelve apostles “probably because there weren't many impressive details to tell. Jesus called people from all walks of life - fishermen, political activists, tax collectors. He called common people and uncommon leaders; rich and poor; educated and uneducated. It was more their availability that their ability.
Today, many people think only certain people are fit to follow Christ or to lead His church, but this was not the attitude of the Master Himself. God can use any one, no matter how insignificant he or she appears. When you feel small and useless, remember that God uses ordinary people to do work.” [Life Application Study Bible. NIV 1988. Zondervan. Grand Rapids, Mich. p. 1668.]
In every list of the Apostles (Mk. 3: 1 6-19; Lk. 6:14-16; Acts 1:13, etc.) Peter appears first. Here he is called the first, probably meaning the first and foremost or the leader of the Apostles. [It does not follow, however, that his leadership was necessarily passed on to successors.] The two sets of brothers are always grouped together. Peter, James the first martyr (Acts 12:2), and John, the last to die, made up Jesus' inner circle. These three are the only ones evident in Acts.
The second set of names in each list includes; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew. Bartholomew [Bar Talmai or son of Talmai] is usually identified with Nathaniel (John 1:46ff). Thomas means twin as does the Greek word didymos and thus is identified with Didymus (John 11:16).
The final set of four begins with James the son of Alphaeus in order to distinguish him from James the brother of John. He is combined with Thaddaeus who is also called "Judas son of James" (Lk. 6:16, Acts). It is thought that Judas was his original name but after Judas Iscariot's perversion he changed it to Thaddaeus which means warmhearted.
Simon the Zealot may have been a member of the Zealots, a radical political party working for the violent overthrow of Roman rule in Israel. He and Matthew would have been antagonists prior to their meeting Christ. Now they shared food and slept by the same fire as they traveled together. Jesus radially changes the lives of those who follow Him. He took twelve individuals with various weaknesses, personalities, problems, and backgrounds, and molded them into an effective team of witnesses.
Judas Iscariot is mentioned last in every list and as the one who betrayed Jesus. Jesus called him the "son of perdition" (John 17:12) or literally "the son of destruction" and said it would have been better if he had never been born because of the consequences he would reap for his actions (Mt. 26:24, Mk. 14:21). He obviously was lost, or unregenerated, and sentenced to an eternity in Hell. Yet it is assumed from here that he received authority to perform miracles. Matthew 7:22-23 also warns that the working of miracles are not proof that one is speaking for God. A far better proof is one who leads others into a born again relationship with Jesus Christ and trains them to be fishers of men.
While D. L. MOODY was attending a convention in Indianapolis on mass evangelism, he did more than just talk about it. He asked a friend, who was a gifted musician, to meet him on a street corner at 6 o’clock one evening. The man stood on a box and sang a song. When a crowd gathered, Moody spoke briefly and then invited the people to follow him to the nearby I convention hall.
Soon the auditorium was filled with spiritually hungry people, and he preached to them. When the convention attendees began to arrive, Moody stopped preaching and said, "Now we must close, as the brethren of the convention want to discuss the topic, 'How to reach the masses.' "
When Jesus saw the masses, He was "moved with compassion" for them (Matthew 9:36). He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful. . . . Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers.” And He sent His disciples out to preach the good news of His kingdom.
It is estimated that only 10 percent of the world's population of 6.3 billion are believers in Jesus Christ. And more than 25 percent have never heard of Jesus' love even once. As His disciples today, let's not just talk about the need let's pray and go. [Anne Cetas. 2004. Our Daily Bread.] The next person you meet may be your mission field.
III THE LOST SHEEP, 5- 6.
Verses 5 & 6 reveal Jesus' ministry focused on the Jews. ‘These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;”’
The twelve apostles are now sent out, as if by military command, to proclaim the message of the kingdom. They were not to go among the Gentiles or to any non Jewish people, not even to the intermarried formerly Jewish people called Samaritans. Though it may be difficult for Christians to accept this, it is essential to keep in mind that Jesus came not only to save sinners but to fulfill the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus was first proclaimed as the Messiah, the rightful King of Israel and the anointed Son of David to God's covenant people who were to have anticipated His coming.
Verse six continues this thought “but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Jesus mission of mercy was first to the house of Israel. Jesus made it clear that He was offering Israel one more chance to be His representatives to the nations which was why He had brought them into existence (Gen. 12:3; Deut. 4:6 8; Ps. 67; Isa. 42:6-7; 49:6).
Jesus refers to Israel as lost sheep referencing again their helpless and confused plight (9:36). The Pharisees and the Scribes had let them down and even taken advantage of them. Jesus had come to be the Good Shepherd of the people of God. His mission was first to the covenant people who had gone astray like shepherd-less sheep. Jesus stood at the transition point in covenant history to keep a two thousand year old promise to Abraham that in Him all the nations of the world would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3). So Israel, the privileged people of God, would be the first to receive salvation's glad tidings. The Gentiles must not have the gospel brought them, till the Jews have refused it. This restraint on the apostles was only in their first mission.
In CLOSING
Because Jesus had compassion for shepherd-less people, He trained followers, gave them authority, and sent them out to minister in His name. Like sheep that have wandered from the fold people are spiritually scattered and afflicted and in need of help. This help is what Jesus equips His followers to provide.
Jesus, in keeping with the New Testament emphasis, directs His redemptive efforts to the Jew first and then to the Gentile (Rom. 1:16; 2:9,10). God’s original plan was that Israel would respond and tell the rest of the world about Him. The Jews would refuse to heed the Gospel message. So God would turn to fill His church with repentant people from every language, tribe, and nation. He still asks us to go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that His house might be full.
