The first phase of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee drew to a close after a hectic round of teaching, healing and performing miracles (Matthew 8-9).  The labourers were few (9:38) but it was now time for Jesus to work with the small band of disciples He had called (10:1-4) and hand His mission over to them.  Our reading today tells us that Jesus called the disciples to go and do the things that they had seen Him do.  The instructions Jesus gave are clearly important, because they are found in other Gospels (Mark 6:8-11, Luke 9:2-5 and 10:3-12), and each Gospel gives them different emphases.  Here, Matthew emphasises preaching the Kingdom of God (10:7) and the ministry of miracles and healing (10:8), and the disciples clearly needed to know more.

Firstly, it is worth noting that Jesus sent His disciples to work in places where His authority was already respected.  It was not yet time for the disciples to go out into the whole world (28:19f.), so their ministry was limited to Jewish regions of Galilee.  Also, by requiring the disciples to do what He had already done (10:7,8), they would never be able to claim credit for their work; they could only act in faith, and give glory to Jesus.  Then, by following Him, they would lay the foundations for the mission of the early church.  As he wrote, Matthew clearly had this in mind.

Jesus gave the disciples a clear ‘commission’ (10:5), and followed this by further instructions about what to do, what to take, and where to stay; it was all very basic, yet also essential.  All the instructions Jesus gave reflect a sense of urgency, and this is one reason why we tend to find them difficult today.  Where we think of taking out time to establish the right starting points for ministry, Jesus told the disciples to go with the minimum of fuss and the minimum of preparation.  No opportunity was to be lost by delay.

To begin with, Jesus summarised the mission with these words; ‘preach the good news that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.’ (10:7,8).  After this, he told the disciples to carry the bare minimum of personal necessities, ‘Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts, no food-bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the labourer is worth his keep’ (10:9,10).  We will look at the reason why Jesus may have said this later in the study, but here, we should bear in mind the way Jesus qualified both these commands.  In between these two, Jesus said something important that linked them together: ‘You received without paying; give, therefore, without charge’. The Kingdom of God comes free and with no charge.  This oft forgotten command of Jesus challenges all His followers, for although he does not forbid the proper organisation and financial management of the church, like the NHS in the UK, what is offered must be free at the point of delivery!

The last part of our reading is about hospitality.  If the disciples were called to work for free, then they would have to be welcomed and supported by others who opened their homes to them.  Jesus does not say who these others might be, but He must have meant other sympathetic Jews in the region to which they were sent.  The principle is straightforward; the missioner should only stay where there is a true welcome and therefore a hope of being accepted and heard.  In ancient times, the nature of the offer of hospitality indicated whether the hosts were open to anything a stranger might bring or say.  So here, Jesus effectively warns his disciples not to try and preach the Gospel and demonstrate it where people are unwilling to receive it.

It takes a little care to translate these instructions into a relevant code of practice for Christians and missioners today, but the effort can and should be made.  Jesus would one day say more to the disciples about what he wanted of them, but they had to start by doing His will, and copying Him.

Going Deeper

The Bible study goes deeper to look at these issues:

• The commission – where to go
• The commission – what to do
• The commission – what to take
• The commission – where to stay

Devotions for Wednesday 24th February

Read on / GOING DEEPER / APPLICATION / DISCIPLESHIP

5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following commission: ‘Do not disperse yourselves among the Gentiles, or enter a town of the Samaritans, 6 but concentrate on the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 As you go, preach the good news that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.  You received without paying; give, therefore, without charge.  9 Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no food-bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the labourer is worth his keep.

11 Whatever town or village you enter, search for one who is worthy, and stay with them until you leave.  12 As you enter the house, greet it.  13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come on it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from off your feet when you leave that house or town.  15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.

© All text and pictures on this page copyright Paul H Ashby 2010 - all rights reserved

The glory and majesty of Your work, Almighty God is ever present in the beauty of a raindrop and the majesty of the Universe.  Give us eyes to appreciate both the intricate detail of Your creation and its stupendous magnitude; and give us hearts and minds to value both.  May we never cease to find you at work throughout your world, and give You the praise which is Your due.  AMEN

Prayer ideas

Make a list of things that concern you at the moment.  Pray about them in order during the course of the day.

On-going prayers

• Pray for those who are growing old  Pray for those who are losing their memory and do not know either recognise this or know what to do
• Thank God for the beauty of joy and happiness, and seek it out
• Pray about bullying in the work-place, which is topical in the UK

You called Abraham to follow you into the unknown … and he did.

  You called Sarah to trust you and bear a son ... and she did.

    You called Israel to accept Moses’ leadership ... and they did.

      You called Caleb and Joshua to stand firm for You ... and they did.

        You called Deborah to lead God’s people ... and she did.

          You called Gideon to test you and then act ... and he did.

            You called Ruth to break down cultural barriers ... and she did.

              You called David to become a servant before he was a King ... and he did.

                You called the Queen of Sheba to honour Your greatness ... and she did.

                  You called Elijah to confront sin and wickedness ... and he did.

                    You called Wisdom to show God’s truth to the world ... and she did.

                      You called Isaiah to speak about God’s salvation ... and he did.

                        Lord God, You call us to follow in their footsteps ...

Matthew 10:5-15

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