He Instructs and Commissions the Twelve

["Click here for Matthew's account"]
["Click here for Mark's account"]
["Click here for Luke's account"]

We will use, primarily, Matthew's account. We start our study of this event with the last four verses in chapter nine. In these verses, Christ takes notice of the vast multitudes that had been following Him, also the vast number of people that didn't follow Him but looked at Him as He passed through the countryside, with hungry eyes, seeking they knew not what. God had blessed the Jews sense their return from Babylon. The country was well populated.
Jesus was concerned for them. He pitted their sick and lame but pitted even more, their poor spiritual condition. Notice what He saw in these people:

They were depressed, "faint" as the King James puts it. They sought help for their souls from their spiritual leaders, but received only "vain notions" and old "clea-shas" from the Pharisees.
They were scattered as sheep having no shepherd. Lost souls are most frequently referred to as "lost sheep", for a reason, no creature is as helpless as a sheep without a shepherd. They are helpless, shiftless and exposed to all hazards, and almost unable to find their way home. Lost souls are in all ways, like this.

Jesus commands His disciples, as He does us, to pray for them. In these people He saw a great harvest just waiting for the laborers, but unfortunately, the laborers were few. This leads us into chapter ten.
"He called to himself, His twelve Disciples." He had been instructing these 12 men for some time now. He knew what He could expect from each one. This is the second time He has called these men. First, He called them to be Disciples, students of His ministry. Then He called them to be Apostles, ministers of His Gospel. As Disciples they were expected to follow Him , to learn from His teaching, and this they do because of the ability that He gave them. As Apostles they were expected to cast out unclean spirits, heal every disease and preach the "good news". It is interesting to note that Angel and Apostle are both literally translated the same, "one sent on a errand". Christ Himself is called an Apostle in Heb. the third chapter. All ministers, WHO ARE CALLED, are Apostles. Unless we are "called", we work in our own strength.
So He calls and commissions the twelve before He sends them out. Why were there 12 Disciples? These twelve, by their doctrine and message, would judge the twelve Tribes of Israel (Luke 22).
Note how they were sent out in pairs. Peter and Andrew, James and John, James and Thaddaeus, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, Simon and Judas. Notice the two sets of brothers, Peter and Andrew, James and John. Note that Judas was also commissioned and received the same power as the rest.
Matthew 10:5-15 records the instructions Christ gave to His Disciples before He sent them out. Notice the following:

Notice where they were sent.

Not to the Gentiles or Samaritans.
They were to go to the "House of Israel", Acts 3:26 says the first offer of salvation must be made to the Jews.

Notice the work to which He appointed them.

Preach as they went.
Proclaim the Gospel, saying that the Kingdom of God (salvation). was at hand. Mark 4:12 says, "Preach so that men will repent." There is no salvation without repentance. This was the same message preached by John the Baptist.

Notice the power that He gave them. Christ sent them out equipped to do a job. Notice what their powers were:

Heal the sick.
Raise the dead. (may have been limited to the spiritually dead.)
Cleanse lepers.
Cast out demons.

Notice how they were to "charge" for their services.

They were to be free. You have been given this power without charge, so you shall give it without charge. "Provide for yourself neither gold nor silver, accept nothing for your services accept your immediate needs." They must learn to be dependent on divine care.

Notice how they were to obtain their "immediate needs".

As they entered a town, they were to inquire as to who was worthy to house and feed a servant of God. It was expected that in every town there would be found someone looking for the promised "new covenant". Those that would meet their needs expecting no pay but a Prophets reward", i.e. their praying and their preaching. Then after finding such a place, they were to continue there until they left that town. They were cautioned not to move from house to house, seeking the best accommodations.

There is an interesting side light to this instruction. Matthew Henry believes this to be a command to all Disciples of Christ to make the best of what they have, and not be shifting at every dislike or inconvenience. "If the house be worthy, salute it, or let your peace come upon it."
Notice the instructions in manners.

Introduce yourself and be courteous. In the process of your conversation, introduce your mission, determine, by their reactions, if you are welcomed or not. If they welcome you and encourage your ministry, let your peace fall upon them. If they are not interested, let your peace return to you and depart. Matthew Henry says that it is wisdom, to listen to, but folly, to rely upon, common report and opinion.

Now, what about those who would not welcome them? Jesus instructed them to depart from that house or that city and as they go, shake the dust of that city from their feet. Notice that Jesus seems to indicate that there will be different degrees of punishment on the Day of Judgement. Speaking of the above city, Jesus said that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgement than for that city. Sodom and Gomorrah were exceedingly wicked (Gen. 13:13) for they would not receive the Angels sent to them, but abused them and would not listen to the message that they brought, and yet, it will be more tolerable for them than for those who do not receive Christ's ministers, on the Day of Judgement.
Matthew 10:16-42 explain the problems and persecution that Christ's ministers can expect to experience. Here Jesus tells them how to bare them and how to go on with their work in the midst of them. Less we forget, we are studying the instructions that Jesus gave His disciples before He sent them out. In these particular verses, He looks further than their present mission. He tells them of the troubles that they will encounter for several reasons. First, that they might be aware and thus be prepared for what lay ahead. Second, that they might be aware, if they were not already, of the "foreknowledge" of Christ.
Now lets see what it is that they will suffer and from whom:

Expect to be hated. (John 25:25) If the world hated Christ without a cause, how much more will they hate those who love and follow Him, particularly if they witness of Him. Today we may not be hated, but if you are witnessing to the love and power of Jesus Christ in your daily life, you will be disliked by most of those you meet each day.
They would be arrested as "trouble makers". The Jewish Leaders did not like "wave makers". The Romans, whose hold on Israel was shaky at best, frowned on anyone that disturbed the status quo. A whole book of the Bible is a record of this prophecy, it is called the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.
They must even expect to be put to death. WHY? The strength of Christ allows it and the wisdom of Christ permits it. The blood of the Saints is the seal of the truth and the seed of the church.
They must expect to be "branded", set apart to be persecuted, mostly on trumpeted up charges. They accused Christ of doing good in the name of the Devil.
They must not expect peace with this world. This may be one of the least understood and hardest to accept of all of the teachings of Christ. Christ that we may have peace with God, peace with our consciences and peace with our brethren, but no peace with the world. If we are in Christ, we will be at odds with the world and all that it stands for. Christ warns them not to look for peace but disunity. "I have come to set son against father, daughter against mother. A man's foes will be those of his own household. Why? The faith of those who believe condemns those who do not. There is no compromise with our religion. There is nothing more harmful to the work of Christ than a "luke-warm" Christian.

Now, from whom can they expect to receive this harsh treatment. From the Devil? No, from the next five groups of people.

From those whom they preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Matthew Henry says,"The un-sanctified" nature of man is the worse nature in the world.
From men "professing religion", those who have a form of godliness but deny the power of it. "They will beat you in their churches, where they go to exercise their "church discipline". Paul was beaten five times in their synagogues.
From "great men" and "men in authority". The powers (the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin) of the church would beat them which was the maximum punishment they could incur and them they could turn them over to the Romans to be killed like they did Christ.
From "all men". So few are they that love God that it appears at times that they would be hated by all men.
From their own kin or relatives. Brother against brother. A man's enemies shall be those of his own household. The strongest bonds of blood relationship are often broken by the enmity against Christ and his doctrine. Proverbs 28:19, "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city."

To counteract these five sources of trouble, we should follow these instructions:

Be wise as serpents. Do not needlessly expose yourself to their wrath. Use all "lawful" means of self preservation. Christ felt that is was wise to leave Jerusalem early in His ministry.
Be harmless as doves. Be mild mannered, do not harm or wrong anyone, remember, the Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove and we, like Him, should have a "dove-like" spirit.
Beware of men. Be on your guard and avoid dangerous confrontations. Know your enemies from your friends for even Christ was betrayed by a kiss.
Take on thought of how or what you will say. Rely upon the wisdom of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit for what you shall do or say, not upon your own wit. Rely upon the strength of God not upon your own.
When they persecute you in one city, flee to another. God will open doors to both enter and leave, but we must do the running. There is no reward in affliction if God offers the escape.
Do not fear those that can kill the body, but rather fear those who are able to kill both body and soul.
What I tell you in darkness, speak in the light. These instructions and most of the teaching of Jesus was not broadcasted for everyone to hear but the time would come when they would speak out and take the message to everyone.

Then Jesus lent this comfort, encouragement and prophecy:

Verse 23, "You will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." Here Jesus prophesied His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit. He would send them to preach the Gospel to the Jew first and before they had completed preaching in all the towns of Israel, He would be crucified, resurrected, and the Holy Spirit would come. When the Son of Man comes they shall be given great powers from on High (Pentecost).
Their sufferings would be a testimony to the Gentiles. Here we see another indication that salvation would be offered to the Gentile. Earlier, Jesus had instructed them to go only to the Jews, but, the Jews in their effort to kill them would have to bring them before the Roman courts, thus their testimonies would be heard by the Gentiles.
For these unlearned men it must have been encouraging to know, even if they did not understand, that they were not to fear that what they were to speak, would be given them.
He that endures to the end shall be saved. There is much in this verse that we do not like to talk about. Taken out of context, this statement could be used in support of apostasy. But this statement was given to the Disciples who were being instructed to take the Gospel to the world and if they were to endure to the end, they would have to be saved.
They were to rest assured that their temptation and trouble would not be more that they could stand nor would it be more than Christ would endure, nor should they expect less.
There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed.

The scriptures were limited to a few, now they would be available to all.
Access to the Thrown of Grace was restricted to the priests but now it was available to all.
The wisdom of God was limited to a few but now it would be available to all.
The "key" to eternal life was something only hoped for but now it was available to all that would claim it. (called)

The Providence of God shows concern about the Saints. If God is concerned about the sparrow, how much more is He concerned about you, why even the hairs of your head are numbered. This Matthew Henry calls a "proverbial expression" denoting the account which God takes and keeps of His people.
Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge before My Father who is in Heaven. It is our duty and need not only to believe in Christ but also to profess Him before men.
What then would Christ require from us to be His Disciples? What did Jesus tell the rich young ruler in answer to his question, "What must I do to be saved?" "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and go sell what you have and give to the poor." If salvation is worth anything, it is worth everything. If we love anything more than Christ, we are not worthy of Him. 10. He that receives you, receives Me. It is here implied that some would receive them and some would not. Kindness and support of God's messengers is a kindness shown toward Christ. Kindness is not rated according to the cost but according to the love and sincerity of the giver. The kindness and acceptance shown toward a Disciple of Christ shall be rewarded. This is called a "prophets or a righteous man's reward". These are spiritual blessings and if we know how to value them, we will consider them good payment.

This section of our study closes with the first verse of chapter 11. After having prepared the Disciples for what they would encounter and giving them the power to fulfill their mission, He sent them out to prepare the people for the ministry that He would bring. Obviously, they were reluctant to leave Him, so He leaves them , much like the mother had to leave her child on the first day of school.

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