Matthew 10:1-25 Study
Notes prepared by WC McCarter from D. A. Carson
Jesus chooses the twelve to be Apostles from among the
multitudes of disciples.
Jesus had been demonstrating His authority in word (Matt
5-7) and in deed (Matt 8-9. Now He commissions His twelve to do what he had
been doing. The term “apostle” can refer simply to a messenger, a missionary, a
representative, or specifically to the twelve plus Paul who were chosen by
Jesus and commissioned to be the authoritative foundation of the church.
The lists of the twelve are found here as well as Mark 3,
Luke 6, and Acts 1.
Peter is always first and Judas is always last.
Peter was the first among equals. He was obviously the
leader. The first four names of all four lists are those of two pairs of
brothers. In each list there are three groups of four headed by Peter, Philip,
and James. It appears the twelve were broken into smaller groups, each having a
leader.
For this mission the twelve were restricted to only
ministering among the Jews in Galilee . Jesus
was to fulfill the Jewish history and seek the faithful remnant out first.
Remember, Jesus was a Jew. Salvation was for the Jew first and then for the
Gentiles. (Paul is clear about this).
The disciples were not supposed to take anything with them.
They would learn a few principles: the worker is worth his keep, rely on God,
and rely on the hospitality of others. A “worthy” person was the one who would
take them in, but not necessarily the most comfortable
place. They were not to “shop around.”
A household would be blessed by having the presence of the
disciples there because they were Jesus’ ambassadors. They would certainly face
opposition.
V16, the shepherd sends His sheep into dangerous territory.
The serpent theme is proverbial for prudence. The dove represents innocence.
This would be a difficult balance, but a needed one.
VV17-19 explicitly talk about persecution, but in V20 Jesus
promises that the Holy Spirit will help them. The Holy Spirit came with the
kingdom's dramatic entrance and is a vital part of the church's witness.
VV21-23, not only will the disciples be persecuted by Jewish
officials and even Roman rulers, but also by their own families. “All men”
hating them refers to all kinds of men. Christians must have enough faith that
they will lay down their life for Jesus if need be. V23 is difficult to
interpret. The coming of the Son of Man most likely refers to His coming in
judgment against the unbelieving Jews. This culminated in Jerusalem
and the Temple