Matthew Chapter 10 "Mission of the Twelve Begun; Enmity, Encouragement" This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription/ location is provided by http://www.theseason.org/plough.htm Matthew 10:1 "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." Jesus Christ can give you power, which is authority, and it is a gift from God. It is God that does the healing, and the casting out of the demons, and unclean spirits, and you speak the words in Jesus name. Matthew 10:2 "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;" Matthew 10:3 "Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;" Matthew 10:4 "Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him." Matthew 10:5 "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:" God gave His disciples strict orders to stay clear, do not approach the Gentiles. This order was because it was not the time of the Gentiles yet. Jesus still had to pay the price on the cross, before the way would be open to all mankind. When they went out, this was their first priority to give the gospel. Matthew 10:6 "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Now does this say "go to the Jews", or "Go to Judah"? No. It says "Go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel". The sons of Judah know where they are, and who they are; there is nothing lost about them. In fact, when these Jews came to Jesus in their self-righteous attitude, they came to trick Him up, because of this He would answer their questions in parables to keep the kingdom message a mystery from them. Jesus didn't even imply that the disciples should go to the House of Judah. If you are lost, it means that that person doesn't know who they are. They are not in Jerusalem anymore, but gone to another area completely, and lost their identity to themselves. As a Christian, it should be your priority to learn who these lost "House of Israel" are, or you will not be able to rightly divide the Word of truth. To understand the parables that Jesus Christ taught you need to understand the parable of the sower concerning the children of the good and the bad; which is the prime root to the "key of David". This topic we will discuss in detail in Matthew 13. This is a very simple message, but it is a total mystery to much of the church world today, and they attach the Jews, good and bad, as the lost sheep of the House of Israel. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and that message continues right to today. So how do you prepare yourself to go out and plant the seed of the word of God, when the simplest parts of God's mystery are over looked? Matthew 10:7 "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." First, as you go, you tell those that you intend to give the gospel message to that the "kingdom of heaven is very close." Then the kingdom was at hand for the kingdom started at the crucifixion of Christ, for all those that accepted and repented. Matthew 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." The healing still applies today, and James 5:14 instructs us in how we are to approach the sick. "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:" It is the elders of the church who have the responsibility to know the Word; and they are to pray, and anoint the sick with the oil of our people [olive oil], and this is done in the name of Jesus Christ. It isn't the oil that heals or the laying hands on, but Jesus Christ and the Spirit of the Living God that heals. The raising of the dead, is the raising of the spiritually dead. The casting out of devils should be part of every Christian's life, as they order evil Spirits out of their lives and homes, and this is done with the anointing of the oil, and in the name of Jesus. Jesus name is your authority. Matthew 10:9 "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses," When you go out, don't even bring your wallet with you, God will give you all your provision. In Christ's day, it was customary for people to take in travelers. However in this day and age, this custom isn't accepted, because to the crime in the streets today. Today you need to plan ahead. Matthew 10:10 "Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat." Another words, where ever a minister goes to preach, he is worthy of his hire. We have established churches today, and this teaching holds true today. When you bring some pastor or teacher into your church that is not part of your congregation, at least expenses should be covered. However, if that person is not teaching the truths from God's Word, he then is not worthy of his hire. Matthew 10:11 "And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence." The term "is worthy", would be better translated "is Godly", or compassionate. When you are on a teaching ministry, don't move from one house to another, but stay at that same house. Why? Because on your first day in a town there was a ritual over how you were to be fed and housed, then things settled down, and you could get on with the work you were sent to do. You would have more time to preach. Matthew 10:12 "And when ye come into an house, salute it." "Salute it", means "salaam" in the Greek, you are to ask for God's peace on the house. Matthew 10:13 "And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you." There is a condition to the blessing that is placed upon the house. If there is peace in the house and honor given to the work of the Lord, then the house will be blessed; however, if there is resentment over have one of the Lord's workers stay there, don't ask God to bless it. Matthew 10:14 "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." When you are rejected in a house or city, and they will not listen to the words from the Scriptures, God's Word, don't let it bother you. It must be God's Word and not the traditions of men that you are teaching. "Shake of the dust of your feet", is an idiom or figure of speech, which is saying, "I'll have nothing more to do with them." It was done in such a fashion that it was clear what you were implying. Matthew 10:15 "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." Did you ever think of how much God loves His own, that He would punish an entire city for the way that they had treated His minister. When the answer is coming will be on the day of Judgment. On that day each person of that city will carry their part of the burden on that judgment day. Matthew 10:16 "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." A sheep is the most helpless animal there is, especially if there is a wolf around. There is absolutely no defense that a sheep can give. Christ said this to identify these disciples as His sheep, going forth to do a mission. Keep in mind, that wherever the sheep goes, the shepherd is the one with the responsibility for the sheep's safety. When the sheep goes forth, the protection around him also goes forth, and that protection is provided by the Heavenly Father, and His Spirit. This is the reason why the sheep are symbolic of God's people; for those elect of God can rely on God's protection totally. The Shepherd is Jesus Christ. A wolf is very cunning, but it is a stupid animal. The serpent is wise in that it hypnotizes the minds of his prey, and then brings them under his power. As a servant of God giving out the Word, you are to have the ability to get the other persons attention. You don't mess around with the serpents deception of his rattles, or body movement, but you challenge his head, his mind. Go for the victory, and in this case, the victory is the planting of the Word of God in his mind. Though the dove seems harmless, it is fierce in protecting it's young. The likeness of the dove is used as a comparison of the Holy Spirit. He is so peaceful when He ascends upon a person, and fills the person with joy and comfort, yet the Holy Spirit of God is the protector of God's elect. Matthew 10:17 "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;" Though it is written to include the missions of Jesus Christ's day, and the councils of that day were the Sanhedrin; it also applies to our generation, as we live in these final days of this earth age. When Jesus was asked by his disciples, What will it be like before His coming [second advent], Jesus answered; "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought before hand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit," Mark 13:11 Why would the elect of our generation be treated similar to these disciples of Jesus day? Because God's elect of our day know the truth, that the one presenting himself as the Christ, will be the Antichrist, Satan, and the world can't except that. The disciples that Jesus sent forth, also did not preach the same teaching as the accepted religious form of that day. Most Christians today say that they will be gone when the Antichrist comes, and that is the reason that they will be deceived. For the Antichrist will appear to them exactly as they were taught that the true Christ would come, and because of this, God will close their minds to the truth, and turn them over to the Antichrist. Though Satan carries the name of a dragon and serpent, he was created and is the most beautiful of all the arch angles. Satan looks like a man, but he is an angel. He is the son of perdition, and when he comes he will be given authority and supernatural powers by God. God's elect know this for they have studied His Word, and are alert to the prophecies as they come to pass. Paul put us on alert in II Corinthians 11:14 just how Satan will come to earth; "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." Jesus Christ is the "Angel of light", and when Satan comes, he will be transformed, or changed to appear, and sound, and speak, and do miracles, and wonders to look, and make you think that he is the Messiah [that's the rapture doctrine]. Only he is not, and then you will be tricked. That is why you study the whole Word of God. Matthew 10:18 "And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles." Jesus assured His disciples that they would be delivered up, and we in this final generation have the same assurances. Matthew 10:19 "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." This order that Jesus gave His disciples on their first missionary journey, is identical to the warning that Jesus gave to His elect, living in the final generation, recorded in Mark 13:11, and given above. This Speaking of the Holy Spirit of God through your mouth is the cloven tongue that was spoken on Pentecost day, that so many call the "unknown tongue" today. It was not unknown, for Acts 2:7, 8 specifies that everyone from all over the world heard the speaking in their own language. "And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?' [7] "And how hear we every man in our own tongue [language], wherein we were born? [8] That means in their own neighborhood dialect. No interpreter was necessary. Matthew 10:20 "For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." That Spirit is the Holy Spirit of God that will speak in you. Any man can babble on, and pretend to speak a new language (gibberish), but no man can imitate the Holy Spirit of God. Babbling is confusion, and God is not the author of confusion. This tongue is the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit of God. As used in the final generation, Peter calls our attention to it in the Book of Acts. Acts 2:16 "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:" Quoting from Joel 2:28-31. Acts 2:17-21 gives us the entire quotation; "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:" [verse 17]. Matthew 10:21 "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." In all of history there is no time where the fathers of a people would deliver their children to be killed. This is not the physical death, but the spiritual death. This is the instructions that Jesus is giving to His disciples before they went on their first missionary journey. Friend this is also the exact message that Jesus will give them later, as to how it would be just before His return to earth to set up His Millennium age kingdom. Mark 13:12; "Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death." Jesus explains why He came in the flesh in Hebrews 2:14; "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Jesus came to destroy Satan the devil. In one form or another, you will be delivered up to give account of Christ, and explain just why you will not take the Antichrist, as your Messiah. Satan is death, and your own families are the ones that will turn you over to them in ignorance. The reason the father delivers the child up to death, or Satan, the Antichrist, is that he thinks Satan is Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The instant you show or give any authority to Satan, you have taken the Satan's mark of the beast. Matthew 10:22 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Just as Jesus disciples were hated and despised for bringing that first gospel of Christ to the lost House of Israel, they endured, and came back to report to Jesus of their job well done. In Jesus message to the disciples concerning the final days in Mark 13:13, we read the exact same words; "And ye shall be hated of all me for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Matthew 10:23 "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." Friend, the Word of God has gone out by satellite, by radio, by Internet, by Bible distribution, and through missionaries going to every part of this earth, with the gospel of Christ. God's Word is in most every language and dialect of the world. The entire "House of Israel", Christian nations and cities of the world have been preached to, and the time of the end is here. The starting of that final generation occurred with the parable of the fig tree, the planting of the fig nation, the [Jews] in their homeland, and that occurred May 15, 1948, under the Belfour agreement, and the establishing of the tiny nation of Israel. The political beast is fully matured, in the United nations, while their ten agencies are the ten heads of power that give their authority over to its political head. The hidden ones are well set and do control the "four hidden dynasties of power, and their control began by way of their grip on Christians many years ago. The signs that Christ gave us that would happen prior to his return, in most cases are history to us today. It is time to wake up, and be alert, for the time of the false messiah could come about any time. Remember that the entire Russian empire unraveled in one weekend, and the world power and authority of the United Nations could come apart just as fast. Revelation 13:3; "And I saw one of his heads [the political beast's head] as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." A government receives its deadly wound when it looses it's authority to function as a government, and ceases to have power. When nations take back their power, and nationalism comes to life, the political beast dies. Matthew 10:24 "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord." The student is not above his teacher, and that is just the way it is. What is applied here, is that you need to keep in the Word. God has given us what we should know, and there is always more to know from His Word. We are to study until we reach the level of our teacher, Jesus Christ, and that is why this entire age we must continue to study. Matthew 10:25 "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?" It is sufficient that the pupil become like his teacher. Our end is to keep on studying to where you can have people rely on what you say. When Christ walked the earth, if they called Him Beelzebub [Satan, lord of the flies], know all the more that they will also say that you are of Satan. Jesus is saying don't worry about it, we will have the victory. Matthew 10:26 "Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known." God has already revealed everything that you will face, in His Word, and there will be nothing that you will go through that should be a surprise to you, for you can expect what is prophesied coming your way, as well as the protection that will be given. What is important is that you are obedient to God's Word, and His Son, and keep committed to serve Him. Matthew 10:27 "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." Those things that come to your mind while you study my Word, speak out those things and tell others. Jesus is also telling His disciples that when they hear Him teaching something, speak that message also. The "preaching from the housetops", means to spread the Word. The housetops were where people gathered at the close of the day. It was the place for the neighborhood chat and gossip. Matthew 10:28 "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." This is important that you understand that there is only one person that can kill both your body and the soul, and that person is the Almighty God Himself. He created both your body and your soul, and just as He created both, He also can destroy both body and soul. This also documents just where it is that the wicked souls will be destroyed. So the only thing that the true Christian has to fear, is to commit the unforgivable sin, and that can only be committed when you are delivered up to the synagogues of Satan, and you refuse to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you. As you do your witnessing the Holy Spirit will protect you all the way. Only God's elect will be delivered up, those bound in traditions need not fear of sinning this sin, for they will not be turned over to Satan, because they will be there already. Matthew 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." The value of the sparrow is one half of the smallest unit of money that existed, the farthing. Jesus is telling us that when just one of these little birds dies, God is aware of it. He is saying that we can know how much more God cares for us, then one of these little birds. Matthew 10:30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Matthew 10:31 "Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:32 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." You are to confess exactly what Christ told you to teach. Not some traditions, or church doctrines that sound good, and simply did not come from Scriptures. If God knows when every sparrow falls, and the number of the hairs on your head, then He knows your every need. When you take care of God's business on earth, then Jesus will take care of the attention of your affairs that is necessary before our Heavenly Father. Matthew 10:33 "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Jesus is now sitting at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, and He is letting you know, just as you tell others of the good things of Him, He will report good things of you. Jesus is also warning you that if those things are not true and of good report, then also Jesus will deny you before my Father Which is in heaven. Matthew 10:34 "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." The peace that comes on the earth is a false peace, but the sword of the Lord is a two edged sword, it is the tongue of Jesus Christ. That sword that is given here is our entire Bible, and that Word shall not be compromise with any part of humans unjust judgments. Jesus is telling us that when something comes in your life that seems unjust, and we have been compromising with Satan, it is what we should expect. Jesus came to bring the sword of truth, as spelled out in His Holy Word. He spoke it in person, and He wrote it through the prophets. That is the thing that He brought to us, and we can see the fulfillment of that Word. Matthew 10:35 "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." The variance comes into being when there is a difference between what the father's traditions teach, and his son following of what the Word of God has to say. When there is a difference in what the family members believe, then there will be discourse in the household. There are two different natures in these individuals, and two different frames of mind. Man's word changes every day, and so does the vocabulary of the traditions also change. Those changes are what is accepted as sin, and the standards that modern man lives by. However, God Word is fixed, and unchanging. It was the same yesterday, as it is today, and will be at the end of this earth age. Matthew 10:36 "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Matthew 10:37 "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." The comparison is not whether you love or do not love your family members, but whether they take priority over Christ and His work. Your worthiness to Christ is to what degree that you put His work over the wants of your family. Your family can turn on you, but God will never turn on you. Matthew 10:38 "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." Your cross is what you take when you expect to be crucified on it. In other words, what you are going to do daily for Christ, you would be willing to die for that cause. Don't take this statement too lightly. You pick up your cross when you are studying God's Word, then to what point are willing to die for that Word? Take it seriously enough that if you are delivered up, that would be your state of mind. Mathew 10:39 "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." This is a matter of just where you place your priorities. When we take up Christ's cross and go out to plants the seeds of truth, whatever we should lose in this flesh body or die, in dying we obtain our eternal salvation. Matthew 10:40 "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." To receive a person, is to give them your attention to what they are saying, or to what they may have a need of. However you receive a man of God, that is how both the Father and the Son of God will receive you. Matthew 10:41 "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." Many ministries are built around their begging bag type of ministry, and the Word of God is handled only secondary. When you see a man of God, and a ministry that is worthy of support then be faithful to it. Give as the Spirit of God lays on your heart. Those gifts go beyond just money, but in prayer or other ways that allow you to contribute. By your support of that work of God, you will receive your just reward and that is a surety. When a man comes to you with tears, or threats, you can be sure that that person is not of God, for that is not how our Lord operates. That is not "shaking off the dust", and heading to the next city. Christ doesn't want your gift if it is tricked or scared out of you. The sword of the Lord is also your telling that con artist just what you think of him, and where he came from. If you receive a person or ministry that is part of the work of God, then you also are participating in his work. The same rewards that the minister one doing the work is getting, that is your reward also. This applies also to giving tithes to where it should be given. How can you expect a blessing from God, when you throw your tithe after a person teaching against God's Word. Matthew 10:42 "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." God knows every hairs on your head, the tiny sparrows that fall and even the glass of water given in His name. He sees even the least part that you take in the promotion of the gospel, and the helping of one of God's own, and God will reward you greatly for it. You will never out give our Heavenly Father, when it is given in the right way, and not to a con artist. Know the Word of God, and know it when it is taught. Get in the habit of checking out the teacher.
PLEASE NOTE: These studies may be stored on your
private computer as a library, printed out in single copy
(or
you may print enough for a study group) for private study
purposes provided the Author and Source are included with
each and every excerpt or copy. |