He called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to throw them out and to heal every disease and every sickness. (Matthew 10:1 CEB)
Did this mean that even Judas who later betrayed Jesus had these powers?
The first of the twelve apostles was Simon, better known as Peter. His brother Andrew was an apostle, and so were James and John, the two sons of Zebedee. Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were also apostles. The others were Simon, known as the Eager One, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus. (Matthew 10:2-4 CEV)
Missions
On their first missionary journey, what special instructions did Jesus give the disciples?
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. (Matthew 10:5-8 ESV)
What were they not to take on this training exercise?
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. (Matthew 10:9-10 KJV)
Where were they to stay?
And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. (Matthew 10:11-13a NASB)
What if they were not welcomed by an unworthy household?
But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! (Matthew 10:13b-15 NKJV)
Persecution
Are there dangers in the mission field?
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. (Matthew 10:16-18 NIV)
Should disciples worry about what to say if wrongfully arrested?
When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Matthew 10:19-20 NLT)
Do they even have enemies within and outside their own families?
Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake (Matthew 10:21-22a WEB)
Is there salvation for those who endure? Throughout the Bible, salvation is spoken of as was saved, am saved, am being saved and will be saved. It’s a process.
But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:22b CEB)
Should they just stand there passively taking persecution, or may they flee?
When people mistreat you in one town, hurry to another one. I promise you before you have gone to all the towns of Israel, the Son of Man will come. (Matthew 10:23 CEV)
Are insults to be expected?
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul [an insulting name of the devil], how much more will they malign those of his household. (Matthew 10:24-25 ESV)
Should they be afraid or bold?
Therefore, don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, proclaim on the housetops. (Matthew 10:26-27 HCSB)
Why not fear death?
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. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:28-31 KJV)
What about publicly confessing Jesus?
Therefore, everyone who confesses Me before people, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33 NASB)
What about peace on earth?
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ (Matthew 10:34-36 NIV cp. Micah 7:6)
Who comes first in our lives?
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (Matthew 10:37 NKJV)
Is this like taking up our own cross?
If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. (Matthew 10:38 NLT)
Does this have anything to do with living a life of self-sacrifice?
He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:29 WEB)
What of those who welcome Jesus’ disciples?
Those who receive you are also receiving me, and those who receive me are receiving the one who sent me. Those who receive a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Those who receive a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. I assure you that everybody who gives even a cup of cold water to these little ones because they are my disciples will certainly be rewarded. (Matthew 10:40-42 CEB)
If we are serious about spreading God’s Good News then we will share in the suffering and joys of Christ as did countless generations before us. What are our priorities? You decide!
