Matthew 10

Matthew 10 records Jesus sending out His twelve disciples with instructions and authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons. This chapter is a mix of direct guidance for their mission and broader teachings on discipleship, foreshadowing the challenges and rewards of following Christ.

Matthew 10:1-4 (NKJV)
1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: 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 tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

Jesus empowers His disciples to perform miraculous works as they embark on their mission. This commissioning reflects His authority, which He extends to them as His representatives. The list of names personalizes the disciples, highlighting their varied backgrounds and hinting at the diversity of the early church.

Matthew 10:5-6 (NKJV)
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Jesus instructs the disciples to focus on the “lost sheep of Israel.” This mission emphasizes Israel’s priority in salvation history, fulfilling promises made to Abraham’s descendants. Though the gospel will later spread to all nations, Jesus starts with Israel, illustrating the order of God’s redemptive plan.

Matthew 10:7-8 (NKJV)
7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

The disciples are tasked with proclaiming the nearness of God’s kingdom, a message accompanied by miracles that demonstrate God’s power. Jesus reminds them to serve generously, as their power is a gift from God, showing that ministry should reflect God’s grace, not personal gain.

Matthew 10:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

Jesus directs them to rely on God’s provision through the hospitality of others, emphasizing simplicity and trust. By traveling light, they demonstrate their faith in God’s care, highlighting that the message they carry is more valuable than material security.

Matthew 10:11-15 (NKJV)
11 Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.
12 And when you go into a household, greet it.
13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 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.
15 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!

Jesus advises His disciples to seek out receptive individuals, staying with them to spread the gospel. Rejecting a place that does not welcome them shows respect for people’s choices. Shaking off dust symbolizes separation from unbelief, while the reference to Sodom and Gomorrah underscores the consequences of rejecting God’s message.

Matthew 10:16-20 (NKJV)
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

Jesus warns His disciples of the persecution they will face while spreading His message, advising them to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves." He assures them that when brought before rulers, the Holy Spirit will provide the right words to speak. While these words applied directly to the disciples’ ministry, the passage also serves as a prophecy for later times, particularly after the Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit empowered the early church. In these end times, as believers face persecution during the time of trouble before Christ’s return, the promise of divine assistance remains. The Holy Spirit will guide them, giving them wisdom and strength, just as He did for the disciples. This passage emphasizes that God's protection and empowerment will continue, assuring all believers that they can rely on the Holy Spirit in times of crisis to faithfully witness for Christ.

Matthew 10:21-23 (NKJV)
21 “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

Jesus forewarns His disciples of the intense persecution they will face, even from their own families. He describes how familial betrayal will occur, with brothers turning on brothers and children against parents, leading to death for the sake of His name. Despite the hatred they will face, Jesus promises that those who endure until the end will be saved, highlighting the importance of perseverance in the face of trials. In verse 23, Jesus advises His followers to flee to another city if they are persecuted, emphasizing the urgency of continuing their mission to spread the gospel. The phrase "you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes" likely refers to the ongoing spread of the message until Christ’s second coming, suggesting that the work of evangelism will continue despite opposition, and no one will have reached every city before His return. This passage speaks both to the immediate challenges of the disciples' ministry and to the broader trials believers will face throughout history, particularly in times of intense opposition.

Matthew 10:24-25 (NKJV)
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!”

Jesus prepares His disciples to expect similar treatment to His own. If He is slandered and rejected, they should anticipate facing the same. This passage calls them to accept suffering for His sake as part of discipleship, emphasizing the bond between a master and His followers.

Matthew 10:26-31 (NKJV)
26 “Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
27 Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Jesus encourages His disciples not to fear persecution or opposition, reassuring them that everything hidden will eventually be revealed, and what they speak in secret will be proclaimed openly. He emphasizes that they should not fear those who can only harm the body, but rather fear God, who has power over both body and soul. Jesus then assures them of God's deep care, using the example of sparrows—worth only a small amount but still under God’s watchful eye. If God values even the sparrows, how much more does He value His followers? This passage teaches that God is intimately involved in the lives of His people, and they need not fear because they are precious to Him. The message is one of divine protection and sovereignty, urging believers to place their trust in God’s watchful care, especially when facing challenges or threats.

Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV)
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus highlights the importance of openly acknowledging faith in Him. Acknowledging Jesus before others secures His advocacy with the Father, while denying Him severs this bond. This underscores the public nature of discipleship and the importance of loyalty to Christ.

Matthew 10:34-39 (NKJV)
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;
36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
37 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.
38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Jesus warns that His message may cause division, even within families. True discipleship requires total allegiance to Him, above all earthly relationships. The call to “take up the cross” symbolizes a willingness to sacrifice one’s life, illustrating the depth of commitment required.

Matthew 10:40-42 (NKJV)
40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.
41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Jesus teaches that welcoming and supporting His messengers, whether prophets, righteous people, or disciples, is equivalent to receiving Jesus Himself. He emphasizes that when acts of kindness, even something as simple as offering a cup of water, are done in honor of a disciple of Christ, they carry great significance and will be rewarded. The phrase "in the name of a disciple" highlights that these actions are done because of the person’s connection to Christ’s mission. It shows that God values even small acts of service when they are motivated by honoring His work through His followers. Jesus assures that no act of kindness done for His representatives goes unnoticed, and each act, regardless of its size, is significant in the eyes of God and contributes to the larger mission of His kingdom.