These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."
“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town."
“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. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."
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After choosing His 12 apostles to help build and lead His church, Jesus gave them instructions as He sent them out to the towns and villages of Galilee and Judea. The entire 10th chapter of Matthew is dedicated to these instructions. We read only a portion today of the 38 verses of instruction.
He directs the apostles to only go to the spiritually lost Jews in Israel. They were not yet ready to reach Samaritans, who have no context for understanding hope in a messianic Son of David. Samaritans only recognize the five books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) as scripture. They reject Jerusalem as the capital and the Davidic line of kings. The gentiles have no context at all to understand the very Jewish notion that the one true God fulfilled His promise by sending the messiah. So the apostles kept their ministry at first only to Jews.
He told them to proclaim the kingdom of heaven is near. As proof of the claim He gave them authority to heal the sick and drive out demons. The words of the good news came with signs and wonders. Jesus gave this grace to the apostles. They did not earn it. Just as freely as they had received the gift of God's grace, they were to give grace freely to others by healing, liberating and giving hope with the gospel.
Jesus instructed them to rely upon the hospitality of God's people in the towns they visit. They were to take no bag of gold or any other special provisions for their missionary journey. They were to trust God to provide along the way. They were working for the Messiah, so they were going to be taken care of. "The worker is with his wages."
The apostles were to search for a home where they'd be welcomed and provided shelter and food. Hospitality to strangers was a custom among faithful Jews. When they were welcomed the apostles were to let the peace of Christ bless their hosts. However, if they were turned away, they were to keep their peace and not cause a ruckus. Instead they were to shake it off. It's as if Jesus is saying, "Don't get upset, but just forget about that town and move on. They'll face the consequences of their hostility to the gospel in due time."
Jesus says that it will be worse for a town that rejects the gospel than for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment. That is a harsh claim because God's wrath utterly destroyed these cities for their sin, turning them to ash and cinder. (Gen 19:24-25) The Old Testament prophets used the same warning. Sodom was always a metaphor for brash and shameless behavior. Sodom and Gomorrah were often used by the prophets to announce impending judgement upon unfaithful Israel or their enemies. If it will be worse for those who reject Jesus and His emissaries than Sodom and Gomorrah's fate, then that kind of warning ought to grab one's attention.
Jesus warned the apostles of the kind of resistance they would meet. He was sending them out like sheep surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves! Because of the resistance to their message that Jesus is Lord and King, the apostles will face fierce punishment like floggings, prison and trial before judges and governors.
I've always found the encouragement here to be inspiring.
Matthew 10:19-20 NIV
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
When I first began witnessing through a preaching ministry I struggled fearfully about what I was going to say. The thought that the Spirit would give me the words to say gave me confidence and courage. Jesus' words gave me peace and assurance. But I've not been dragged before government officials. My listeners were, for the most part, kind and open to the good news. My own insecurities were the most fierce. Knowing that God promised to speak through me set my heart at ease.
Christianity today is under attack in America because of some of our moral stances. The current political climate wishes to place a gag order on the church. In 2014, the city of Houston, Texas tried to force pastors to send their sermons into the mayor's office for pre-screening, to look for any so-called hate speech. (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/
In first century Palestine, no such liberties were acknowledged. Christians were imprisoned, tortured and executed by the state, both by Jewish authorities and the Romans. Jesus warns the apostles that severe times are ahead. Family's will be torn apart over the gospel. Believing in Jesus will be a crime. Jews will betray Christians to the authorities, including their own family members.
Matthew 10:22 NIV
You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
The apostles faced terrible persecution. According to Roman Catholic tradition, the apostles were killed as they carried out Christ's mission to preach the gospel. All except John died by some form of execution. John was exiled to the island of Patmos, perhaps until his death. Jesus told the apostles to flee to another town when persecuted. So there's no shame in protecting yourself from attack. Perseverance will be rewarded.
Few of us are answering a call to a traveling ministry of evangelistic preaching. We quietly serve our communities from a local church, often still held with respect. So Jesus' instructions to the apostles aren't quite relevant to American Christians. But remember those Christians in other countries, especially where radicalized Islam is the predominate religion. Horror stories of what is happening to Christians overseas shock me to the core. Jesus' counsel for them is incredibly relevant. Pray for the persecuted church and, should the day come in America where you are dragged into court for your beliefs, remember the promise that God will speak through you. Those who stand firm will be saved.
Christ promises a return to bring the kingdom of heaven in all its fullness. We are charged with preaching the gospel, until then, to every tongue, tribe, and nation. We will not reach everyone before the Son of Man appears. So stand firm in your faith and true to your calling. Allow no persecution to stop your mission to bring hope through the gospel and healing through they grace of our God. In the end you will be rewarded.
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