THE LITTLE COMMISSION.
Matthew 10:1-42.
Jesus spoke of a plenteous harvest, ripe for the picking. ‘Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest’ (Matthew 9:37-38). Immediately after this saying, Jesus commissioned His disciples.
MATTHEW 10:1. The disciples were given the same power and authority “over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and over ALL sickness and ALL kinds of disease” as Jesus had Himself already displayed.
MATTHEW 10:2-4. And this commissioning sees the disciples now named “apostles” or “sent ones.”
MATTHEW 10:5-6. These apostles were sent first of all “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This limitation is a matter of history. The Great Commission would follow in due time (cf. Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16).
MATTHEW 10:7. So what did this ‘little mission’ involve? It involved the Apostles doing as Jesus has been doing. It was the beginning of an extension of His own ministry of compassion (cf. John 14:12). Their message was the same as His (cf. Matthew 4:17). Notice that the good news comes first, ahead of the ‘signs’ (as the Apostle John would later repeatedly call miracles).
MATTHEW 10:8a. The empowering of the twelve included those things which Jesus had already been doing: healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, casting out devils. Thus they are seen to have been conferred with His authority.
The same pattern remains for the Church, even as the Little Commission opens out into the Great Commission. Our care for souls gives priority to preaching, but there are other ministries in the Church, designed to minister to people in their everyday needs. If we have Jesus’ heart of compassion, we will not only look upon our congregations as so many ‘souls’ to be ‘saved’ but will also have a part to play in ministering to their bodily needs.
MATTHEW 10:8b. “Freely you (plural) have received,” said Jesus. So, He instructed, “freely give.”
MATTHEW 10:9. This is reflected in the apparent poverty of that first mission, where the Apostles would have ample opportunity to experience His provision of all their necessaries (cf. Luke 22:35).
MATTHEW 10:10. Codes of dress do have their place in mission work. Cynics could be recognised by their dress: an old cloak and a staff. Essenes were known as ‘Brethren of the White Clothing.’ There are no hard and fast rules for Christian workers: but it is probably best to be smart, well presented; but not looking like clones of each other, or as if we belong to some sect.
It is interesting to observe that pilgrims entering the Temple were not allowed to wear sandals nor carry a staff. Witnessing is an act of worship. Missions to less-friendly climes and times might expect another instruction (cf. Luke 22:36).
MATTHEW 10:11a. It is a matter of courtesy in our own missions to seek out those who might be deemed “worthy” in the place to which we are going. If there is already a church in that place, then it would be presumptuous to come in treading on everyone’s toes.
MATTHEW 10:11b. This was, after all, initially, a Home Mission, where the Apostles might expect to receive at least some courteous consideration. They would preach freely (cf. Matthew 10:8b) and accept hospitality. When we preach, we need nothing more than the gospel itself (cf. Matthew 6:33).
MATTHEW 10:12-14. 'Peace be to all in this house,' says the Christian Visitor upon entering any homestead. If the household fails to receive the blessing, it will not be because it was not offered. We need not trouble ourselves but must “shake off the dust of our feet” with dignity.
MATTHEW 10:15. It is well that it is God who is the judge in such matters. But what a terrible thing it is to refuse the light of the gospel. Jesus’ solemn word is, “Amen I say unto you: It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”
MATTHEW 10:16. “Behold,” says Jesus, as one showing them something remarkable: “I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.” We must never presume to go unless we are sure that He is sending us! The challenges of “sheep” among “wolves” are more than mere man can overcome, so we need to be “wise” in not courting persecution, and “harmless” in our behaviour - even in the face of persecution.
MATTHEW 10:17-18. “But beware of men,” says Jesus - because there will be persecution. The Book of Acts, and the entire history of the Christian church testifies to this.
MATTHEW 10:19-20. When they are hauled before the courts, or just put on the spot, the Lord often gives an impromptu word in season from the mouth of His servants. This is where we need to be strong, and draw upon the resources which the Lord has placed within us (cf. 1 Peter 3:15-16).
MATTHEW 10:21-22. Why do people hate Christians so? Why do they slander their preachers? It is because the natural man cannot bear to be confronted with the truth. So even private individuals do despite to the most natural ties of life, causing their own family members to be put to death out of hatred to Jesus, and to the message of the gospel. Yet the promise remains: “they who endure to the end shall be saved” (cf. Matthew 24:13).
MATTHEW 10:23. There is a permission given here to flee, if necessary. It has been on record since ancient times that the Christians in Jerusalem DID flee before the fall of the city in c. 70 A.D. “For Amen I say unto you: You (plural) shall not have gone over the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
MATTHEW 10:24-25. The learner is not above his teacher, and the servant is not above his lord. The implication of this is that the more Christ-like we are the more we might expect that those who wish to malign Him will also have an unwelcoming demeanour towards us.
MATTHEW 10:26. The fact of the matter is that those who work in the Lord’s vineyard (cf. Matthew 9:37-38) will be maligned. Those who seek out the lost are themselves ‘as sheep in the midst of wolves’ (cf. Matthew 10:16). We have to ‘beware of men’ (cf. Matthew 10:17) - but we need not fear them.
We need not fear any of the malignant forces mustered against us, because although we are operating in time, we are also operating in the light of eternity. Right will be brought to light. Our duty remains, and ‘woe betide me if I preach not the gospel’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:16)!
MATTHEW 10:27. Mission is not just for professionals, but for all who profess Christ. Whatever God may teach us in the “darkness” of personal tribulation, that must we speak out when all is well. Whatever we may hear and understand in the quietness of personal meditation upon the Word of God, that must we proclaim on the rooftops.
MATTHEW 10:28. The right fear of God should make us fearless before men. We must respect ‘the powers that be’ (cf. Romans 13:1), but we should nevertheless be bold before those who oppose God (cf. Daniel 3:17-18; Acts 4:18-20). We must share the gospel with others - not so much to save our own souls (as that is already a done deal for those who are in Christ) but for the sake of those who are perishing in their sins.
MATTHEW 10:29-31. Despite possible opposition, those of us who are witnesses for Christ - whether in the pulpit or the workplace, the market or the school - are constantly in His providential care. Not one little sparrow falls to the ground without our heavenly Father, and He alone is able to number the hairs upon our heads. You are of more value than a whole flock of sparrows, so “Fear not.”
MATTHEW 10:32. If we are faithful in our calling to call others to Christ, our reward awaits us. Our inheritance is wrapped up in His.
MATTHEW 10:33. On the other hand, those who do not confess Christ - that is those who deny Him - already have their condemnation (cf. John 3:18).
MATTHEW 10:34-36. This section continues with words that we might find surprising, coming as they do from the lips of the Prince of Peace. However, they are an accurate observation of how things were for the twelve earliest disciples (cf. Matthew 10:21-22), and it is how things are for many who serve God in the gospel to this day. It may be on account of our Christ-likeness (cf. Matthew 10:25) that we have foes within our own household.
There is no doubt at all that the gospel is divisive, separating those who confess Christ from those who deny Him (cf. Matthew 10:32-33). It must ever be so, until the ushering in of another age. This does not mean that we do not strive for peace (cf. Matthew 5:9) - but it remains an elusive dream so long as mankind remains unrepentant before God.
MATTHEW 10:37-39. Jesus is perfectly clear about where our priorities lie. We are reminded that the way of the disciple of Jesus, both then and now, is the way of the Cross.
MATTHEW 10:40-42. We turn now from the missionaries to those who receive them. The person who receives you, dear Christian, receives Jesus - and He says that “the one who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”
What a solemn responsibility we have: to be Christ’s representatives in this world, introducing people to Christ, and through Christ to God. People’s eternal destiny may hinge on the way they treat us, since this will be a clear indicator of their changed attitude towards Jesus (cf. Matthew 25:35; Matthew 25:40).
