Matthew 10:2-4 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
The remarkable thing about the apostles is how unremarkable they were. They were just ordinary people, from ordinary walks of life, and weren’t even great role models. James and John were volatile (Luke 9:54), Thomas struggled with doubt (John 20:27), and Peter denied Jesus three times with a curse (Matthew 26:69-75). The success of Christianity wasn’t due to the greatness of the apostles, but to the greatness of Jesus Christ. But why twelve?
Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28), said Jesus.
The nation of Israel consisted of twelve tribes (Genesis 49:28), and the apostles will rule over them when Jesus Christ returns. Israel was the geographical center of God’s kingdom, and will be again. This reveals a rich continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Matthew 10:5-6 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.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he told his apostles to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). But, at this point, he restricted their mission to the nation of Israel. Christianity began within Judaism, and Jews should always be included in the outreach of the church. Wherever Paul evangelized, he took the gospel first to the Jew, then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16).
The Jews have been mostly unresponsive to the gospel, but this won’t always be the case. Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob (Romans 11:25-26), wrote Paul. This seems to mean that there will be a great turning of Jews to Christ near the end of this age.
This and other passages assume the continued existence of Israel, which is surprising in itself. They were deported to Babylon in the sixth century BC, and regathered in their homeland decades later. They were exiled again in AD 70, and regathered in their homeland centuries later.
Most people lose their national identity within a few generations of leaving their homeland, due to intermarriage. For the Jews to maintain their identity, and return to their homeland centuries later, is truly remarkable. If God preserved the Jews, and brought them back to their homeland twice, he can turn them to the Messiah in due time. What Jesus said to the apostles, he says to the church today: Go . . . to the lost sheep of Israel.
Matthew 10:8 Freely you have received; freely give.
Giving and receiving are both important to following Jesus Christ. The disciples freely received from him, and were to freely give to others. Some want to give without receiving; others want to receive without giving. But spiritual vitality requires both.
The Sea of Galilee has been teeming with life for thousands of years. Water flows in from the north, out at the south, and life continues to flourish. The Dead Sea also receives water from the north, but it has no outlet at the south. And it’s been dead for thousands of years.
If we receive from Christ, but don’t give to others, we’ll never flourish spiritually. If we give to others, but don’t receive from Christ, we’ll soon become depleted. Vital spirituality requires giving and receiving. Freely you have received; freely give.
Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
Where Christianity is well established, the message is often gradually changed. Jesus becomes a very nice teacher who taught his disciples to be very nice people. But that’s not the Christ we meet in the Bible. The Christ of the Bible is a powerful king who demands absolute allegiance (Luke 14:33), and threatens sinners with the fire of hell (Matthew 18:9). Not everyone wants to hear about him.
The gospel, in fact, is a dangerous message that creates opposition wherever it’s understood. This is clear from the book of Acts, where the disciples were beaten, imprisoned and killed for their faith. They may’ve been tempted to keep their faith private, at times, but that was never optional. They were sent out like sheep among wolves.
A member of the coast guard was sent out to save a boat in a terrible storm. I don’t know if I’ll make it back, he said. You don’t have to make it back, his captain replied, but you do have to go out. This was the attitude of Christ to his apostles. They did their job courageously, and so have many since.
Reflection and Review
Why is the existence of Israel surprising?
Why are giving and receiving important to spiritual vitality?
Why were the disciples willing to go out like sheep among wolves?
The remarkable thing about the apostles is how unremarkable they were. They were just ordinary people, from ordinary walks of life, and weren’t even great role models. James and John were volatile (Luke 9:54), Thomas struggled with doubt (John 20:27), and Peter denied Jesus three times with a curse (Matthew 26:69-75). The success of Christianity wasn’t due to the greatness of the apostles, but to the greatness of Jesus Christ. But why twelve?
Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28), said Jesus.
The nation of Israel consisted of twelve tribes (Genesis 49:28), and the apostles will rule over them when Jesus Christ returns. Israel was the geographical center of God’s kingdom, and will be again. This reveals a rich continuity between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Matthew 10:5-6 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.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he told his apostles to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). But, at this point, he restricted their mission to the nation of Israel. Christianity began within Judaism, and Jews should always be included in the outreach of the church. Wherever Paul evangelized, he took the gospel first to the Jew, then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16).
The Jews have been mostly unresponsive to the gospel, but this won’t always be the case. Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob (Romans 11:25-26), wrote Paul. This seems to mean that there will be a great turning of Jews to Christ near the end of this age.
This and other passages assume the continued existence of Israel, which is surprising in itself. They were deported to Babylon in the sixth century BC, and regathered in their homeland decades later. They were exiled again in AD 70, and regathered in their homeland centuries later.
Most people lose their national identity within a few generations of leaving their homeland, due to intermarriage. For the Jews to maintain their identity, and return to their homeland centuries later, is truly remarkable. If God preserved the Jews, and brought them back to their homeland twice, he can turn them to the Messiah in due time. What Jesus said to the apostles, he says to the church today: Go . . . to the lost sheep of Israel.
Matthew 10:8 Freely you have received; freely give.
Giving and receiving are both important to following Jesus Christ. The disciples freely received from him, and were to freely give to others. Some want to give without receiving; others want to receive without giving. But spiritual vitality requires both.
The Sea of Galilee has been teeming with life for thousands of years. Water flows in from the north, out at the south, and life continues to flourish. The Dead Sea also receives water from the north, but it has no outlet at the south. And it’s been dead for thousands of years.
If we receive from Christ, but don’t give to others, we’ll never flourish spiritually. If we give to others, but don’t receive from Christ, we’ll soon become depleted. Vital spirituality requires giving and receiving. Freely you have received; freely give.
Matthew 10:16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
Where Christianity is well established, the message is often gradually changed. Jesus becomes a very nice teacher who taught his disciples to be very nice people. But that’s not the Christ we meet in the Bible. The Christ of the Bible is a powerful king who demands absolute allegiance (Luke 14:33), and threatens sinners with the fire of hell (Matthew 18:9). Not everyone wants to hear about him.
The gospel, in fact, is a dangerous message that creates opposition wherever it’s understood. This is clear from the book of Acts, where the disciples were beaten, imprisoned and killed for their faith. They may’ve been tempted to keep their faith private, at times, but that was never optional. They were sent out like sheep among wolves.
A member of the coast guard was sent out to save a boat in a terrible storm. I don’t know if I’ll make it back, he said. You don’t have to make it back, his captain replied, but you do have to go out. This was the attitude of Christ to his apostles. They did their job courageously, and so have many since.
Reflection and Review
Why is the existence of Israel surprising?
Why are giving and receiving important to spiritual vitality?
Why were the disciples willing to go out like sheep among wolves?