Matthew 10:5-15, Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts,10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Comments

Why the “house of Israel” and not the Gentiles and Samaritans? First, Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the culmination of God calling a people to himself when he called Abraham. The Jews expected God to keep his promise of sending a Messiah, and he was in Jesus. Second, Jesus himself spoke to a Gentile, Samaritan woman at a well (John 4) who came to faith in him. He came for other sheep and called them by name, but he began his work in the house of Israel. The mission of Jesus was never limited to one people. It only started there.

The apostles were to trust God for practical provision, find those open to hearing the message and who offered free hospitality, do what Jesus did—proclaim, heal, raise, cleanse, cast out—and move on when not welcomed. Remember, God replaces hearts of stone (those closed to God) with hearts of flesh (those open to God). Like the apostles, we are to do our part in mission while God does his. I have never converted anyone—that is God’s job. Instead, I am a bearer of the message and ministry of Jesus.

Prayer

Father, who changes hearts, send me out on mission today to seek the lost and be mistaken for Jesus.