Matthew 10 Part 1

When we find Jesus in the beginning of Matthew 10 He is gathering all of his disciples together. He has a mission for them and I think what he teaches them is valid for us also.

So the first thing he does is call the 12 Disciples together:

Simon, also called Peter and his brother Andrew

James and his brother John

Philip

Bartholomew, which is possibly another name for Nathanael

Thomas

Matthew

James

Thaddaeus who was also known as Judas son of James.

Simon

And Judas Iscariot.

So here is something cool about this motley bunch. They came from all walks of life. People of influence, fishermen, tax collectors, leaders, rich and poor. The point was it didn't matter who you were or what you did anyone could and can follow Christ.

So. He has them all gathered together and he lays some really heavy stuff on them, Jesus gives them the authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

Now hear that, Jesus gave them the AUTHORITY, not the ability but the authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every kind of disease and sickness. This tells me that they already had the ability, but up until this point they may have not fully realized it. Here though he tells them they have permission. They have the ability, and now they have the authority to do these things.

So yeah, that's super cool. Healing people, casting out demons and evil spirits. Rock on!

But wait! There’s more!

Now that they have this ability they are not to just sit around watching YouTube all day. They can't just update their Facebook status. They have to actually go out and do something about it. He sent them out and he sent them out with rules.

He told them to go to the lost sheep of Israel. Go and tell them all that “The Kingdom of Heaven has come near!”

He told them to go out and Heal the sick.

Raise the dead

Cleanse people with leprosy, which this Greek word was used for a variety of diseases that affected the skin.

Drive out demons

And that just as they receive, to give away freely.

Not to take anything with them.

WHOA wait.

What?

You ever go on an overnight stay someplace? Did you take anything with you? A pair of shoes, change of clothes, toothbrush. Extra cash?

I take a backpack to work every day with my lunch and other items in it that I may need. But he was sending these guys out and the told them do not take anything! No gold or silver. No bag for the trip, not even an extra shirt or sandals. He told them that they were out to do work and that that was and should be enough. When they got to a place to stay with someone that was worthy, that would have them until they left.

As they entered the home, they were to provide a greeting and to be at peace there. If it was not welcoming to leave. If the people of that town would not listen, to shake the dust off their feet and move on. If the people would not hear and turn to God that it would be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. And we know how it turned out for Sodom and Gomorrah.

The shaking the dust off thing was a sign. Doing this to a Jewish town showed that you were separating yourself from them that rejected the Messiah and to show them that they were making the wrong choice. That the chance to follow Christ might not come back around. We are not promised tomorrow, we must make the most out of today and do the right thing.

That’s no small task because it’s a very big order. To go out with nothing, proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of heaven fully reliant on the grace and goodness of God.

Next week we get sent out amongst the wolves.

Until then...

Press on. Fight the good fight, as a Soldier for Christ.