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.
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;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
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:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
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.
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.
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.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
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.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
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.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
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.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
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?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
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.
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.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
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.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
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.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
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.
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.
Chapter 10 of the book of Matthew in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a pivotal chapter that portrays Jesus Christ in his role as a teacher and a leader. He is seen equipping his disciples with power and authority, and outlining the mission they are to undertake. The chapter is filled with profound lessons about discipleship, mission, and the cost of following Christ, and it offers a deep insight into the nature of the Christian journey.
The chapter begins with Jesus calling his twelve disciples and giving them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Here, we see Jesus not just as a healer and exorcist but as an empowerer, enabling his disciples to carry out the same works he did. This is a significant point that underscores the idea that the mission of Jesus is not a solitary venture but a collective one, involving those who follow him.
In verses 2 to 4, the twelve disciples are named, henceforth known as apostles, meaning 'ones who are sent'. This list of apostles includes Simon (also known as Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Lebbaeus, Simon (the Canaanite), and Judas Iscariot. Each of these apostles had their unique characteristics and backgrounds, yet they were all chosen by Jesus to participate in his mission. This highlights the inclusive nature of Jesus' mission and suggests that God's work is not limited by human distinctions and qualifications.
In verses 5 to 15, Jesus gives specific instructions about the mission of the apostles. They were to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, preaching that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the lepers, and casting out demons. The apostles were to depend on the hospitality of the people they ministered to, and those who did not receive them or heed their words would face severe judgment. These instructions highlight the urgency and gravity of the apostles' mission, as well as their dependence on God's provision and the openness of people's hearts.
Verses 16 to 23 describe the persecutions and trials the apostles would face. They would be like sheep among wolves, betrayed even by family members, hated for Jesus' name's sake, and driven from city to city. Yet, they were to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, trusting that the Spirit of their Father would speak through them. This section presents a stark picture of the cost of discipleship, emphasizing that following Jesus involves hardship and suffering, even to the point of death. Yet, it also promises divine help and preservation for those who endure.
Verses 24 to 33 call the disciples to fearless faithfulness. They are not to fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, they are to fear God, who values them highly and will acknowledge before his Father those who acknowledge him before men. These verses underscore the theme of fear and faith, reminding believers of their worth in God's eyes and the eternal consequences of their confession or denial of Christ.
Finally, verses 34 to 42 depict the divisive impact of the gospel. Jesus did not come to bring peace on earth but a sword, setting family members against each other. Those who love their family members more than Jesus are not worthy of him, and those who lose their life for his sake will find it. Those who receive the disciples receive Jesus and the One who sent him, and they will not lose their reward. These verses present the gospel as a disruptive force that demands total allegiance and promises eternal life and reward.
In conclusion, chapter 10 of the book of Matthew presents a comprehensive view of the Christian mission and discipleship. It shows Jesus empowering his disciples for mission, outlining the scope and nature of their mission, warning them of the trials they would face, calling them to fearless faithfulness, and highlighting the divisive impact of the gospel. It underscores the cost of following Jesus, the value of faithfulness, and the promise of divine help and reward. Thus, this chapter offers invaluable lessons for believers on their journey of faith, reminding them of their calling, their challenges, and their hope in Christ.
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