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Matthew CHAPTER 10

Memory verses for this week:   1 Cor 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Introduction: In last week’s lesson, we studied about Jesus healing the various people with afflictions from the palsy to issues of blood.  He made the blind to see.   We also saw Christ call Matthew from being a tax collector to be a disciple.  God uses all kinds of people in the ministry.

I.  Twelve Disciples Instructed and Sent Forth

Mat 10:1  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Mat 10:2  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Mat 10:3  Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

Mat 10:4  Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Jesus specifically chose these 12 men.   If a person belongs in the ministry, there will be a call of the Lord in their life.  These men were given special power to cast out unclean spirits and to heal all manner of sickness.   Power hear means they were given authority. 

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Christ names the twelve by name.   Apostle means to be one sent forth.  This is the first time that the followers of Christ were known as apostles.   Until now, those called were known as disciples.   Disciple means ‘a follower.’   It means much more when it comes to being a true disciple.  We have to be dedicated, and live a consecrated and sanctified life if we want to be known as Jesus’ disciple.   

Although Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve, Jesus already knew he would be the one who would betray him.

II.  The Twelve Apostles Limited on This Journey

Mat 10:5  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

Mat 10:6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Mat 10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

As we have studied many times, the Jews were God’s chosen nation.   And Christ sends the apostles unto them first.   The instructions were to go to the Jews, not to the Gentiles nor the Samaritans.   The Samaritans were a half breed that originated from the northern kingdom of Israel while Judah and Israel were captive in Babylon. 

J. Vernon McGee said this about verse 7. 

How could it be “at hand”? It was at hand in the person of the King—He was in their midst.

At the turn of the century and at the conclusion of the Victorian era, there was a feeling of optimism throughout the so-called Christian world. All of the major denominations at that time took on the Herculean task of “building the Kingdom of Heaven” here on this earth. Each group thought that they had a contract from God to accomplish this purpose. Of course, the church was never called to build the Kingdom. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself will establish the Kingdom when He returns to the earth. The church is a called-out body from the world to manifest Christ and to preach His gospel throughout the world. Kingdom business is none of our business.

The Kingdom of Heaven is within us when we receive Christ.  [i]

III.  The Twelve Apostles Instructed 

Mat 10:8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Mat 10:9  Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

Mat 10:10  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 

The apostles instructed to go.   We as a church are commissioned to go unto all the world and preach the gospel. 

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 8:4  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 

The apostles were to preach the gospel, although not all will hear.  God chose this method to reach the lost of the world. 

1 Cor 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Cor 1:19  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1 Cor 1:20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1 Cor 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1 Cor 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1 Cor 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1 Cor 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Cor 1:25  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

 Matthew Henry gave the following comments about the power given to the apostles. 

He gave them power, exousian, authority in his name, to command men to obedience, and for the confirmation of that authority, to command devils too into a subjection. Note, All rightful authority is derived from Jesus Christ. All power is given to him without limitation, and the subordinate powers that be are ordained of him. Some of his honour he put on his ministers, as Moses put some of his on Joshua. Note, It is an undeniable proof of the fullness of power which Christ used as Mediator, that he could impart his power to those he employed, and enable them to work the same miracles that he wrought in his name. He gave them power over unclean spirits, and over all manner of sickness. Note, The design of the gospel was to conquer the devil and to cure the world. These preachers were sent out destitute of all external advantages to recommend them; they had no wealth, nor learning, nor titles of honour, and they made a very mean figure; it was therefore requisite that they should have some extraordinary power to advance them above the scribes.

(1.) He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out. Note, The power that is committed to the ministers of Christ, is directly leveled against the devil and his kingdom. The devil, as an unclean spirit, is working both in doctrinal errors (Rev. 16:13), and in practical debauchery (2 Pt. 2:10); and in both these, ministers have a charge against him. Christ gave them power to cast him out of the bodies of people; but that was to signify the destruction of his spiritual kingdom, and all the works of the devil; for which purpose the Son of God was manifested.

(2.) He gave them power to heal all manner of sickness. He authorized them to work miracles for the confirmation of their doctrine, to prove that it was of God; and they were to work useful miracles for the illustration of it, to prove that it is not only faithful, but well worthy of all acceptation; that the design of the gospel is to heal and save. Moses’s miracles were many of them for destruction; those Mahomet pretended to, were for ostentation; but the miracles Christ wrought, and appointed his apostles to work, were all for edification, and evince him to be, not only the great Teacher and Ruler, but the great Redeemer, of the world. Observe what an emphasis is laid upon the extent of their power to all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease, without the exception even of those that are reckoned incurable, and the reproach of physicians. Note, In the grace of the gospel there is a salve for every sore, a remedy for every malady. There is no spiritual disease so malignant, so inveterate, but there is a sufficiency of power in Christ, for the cure of it. Let none therefore say there is no hope, or that the breach is wide as the sea, that cannot be healed.  [ii] 

Mat 10:11  And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

Mat 10:12  And when ye come into an house, salute it.

Mat 10:13  And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Mat 10:14  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Mat 10:15  Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 

The apostles were to go from city to city.   They were instructed that if the people would not hear their message, they were to shake off the dust form their feet.  It is important to hear the word of God.   One day, when the lost stand before God, they will regret not hearing the gospel.

IV.  The Apostles are Warned of Persecution to Come

 Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Mat 10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

Mat 10:18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Mat 10:19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 

The early Christians suffered much persecution for their allegiance to Jesus Christ.  But they were no greater than their Lord, and he suffered first.  Christ sent them forth as harmless witnesses to the lost who were referred to wolves.  But they were to go forth in wisdom and recognize what they were up against.  Jesus told them that if they were called before governors and kings because of their testimony, in that day God would give them the words to speak.   What examples we have in the word of God where Paul spoke with such effectiveness and authority towards those who he had opportunity to witness.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, these were to speak the truth without fear of man. 

Mat 10:20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

Mat 10:24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

Mat 10:25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Mat 10:26  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

Mat 10:27  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Mat 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Mat 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Mat 10:31  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

Christ warns them of what they will face, and that how God will be with them in that hour.  He encourages them and promises that they are much more valuable than the sparrows.

God knows all that happens, and nothing skips by him.   He truly cares about you and I.
 

V.  The 12 Apostles Encouraged to Remain Faithful

Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Mat 10:35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Mat 10:36  And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 

The one thing God instructs us to do when we are saved is to confess Christ before others.  We are commanded to be proud of our allegiance to Christ, and to be faithful to Him.  Because Christ divides, he warns us that we may have our own families divided due to our becoming a Christian.   Salvation changes a person, and our wants and desires change when we become a new creature.   We will no longer want to run with those who are doing things that are against God, and they will not understand why we have changed.  But by our Godly lives, we may reach them with the gospel. 

W. A. Criswell in the notes of the Believers Bible said this: 

10:34 Jesus is not denying the personal peace which comes to those who have received Christ (Rom. 8:6). The history of Christianity has verified the claim of Jesus that men would be divided harshly, even within family units, over the gospel of Christ. No division is any more clearly drawn than that between holiness and sinfulness.  [iii]

Mat 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Mat 10:38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Mat 10:40  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Mat 10:41  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

Mat 10:42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

God teaches that we are to love Him above all others.  The person who does not follow Christ and be dedicated to His cause is not worthy of Jesus.  All who faithfully follow Christ shall be rewarded to the judgment seat of Christ. 

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

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