Matthew10

Jesus commissions his twelve disciples, granting them authority over unclean spirits and diseases, and sends them specifically to the lost sheep of Israel. He instructs them to preach the kingdom, travel lightly, and prepare for severe persecution, emphasizing that enduring to the end and fearing God, not man, is paramount. The chapter concludes with warnings of familial division due to allegiance to Christ and promises of rewards for those who receive His messengers.

Jesus Commissions the Twelve Apostles

1
Yeshua called his twelve talmidim and gave them authority to drive out unclean spirits and to heal every kind of disease and weakness. ​
2
These are the names of the twelve emissaries: First, Shim`on, called Kefa, and Andrew his brother, Ya`akov Ben-Zavdai and Yochanan his brother, ​
3
Philip and Bar-Talmai, T'oma and Mattityahu the tax-collector, Ya`akov Bar-Halfai and Taddai, ​
4
Shim`on the Zealot, and Y'hudah from K'riot, who betrayed him. ​

Instructions for the Limited Mission

5
These twelve Yeshua sent out with the following instructions: "Don't go into the territory of the Goyim, and don't enter any town in Shomron, ​
6
but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Isra'el. ​
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As you go, proclaim, `The Kingdom of Heaven is near,' ​
8
heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those afflicted with tzara'at, expel demons. You have received without paying, so give without asking payment. ​
9
Don't take money in your belts, no gold, no silver, no copper;
10
and for the trip don't take a pack, an extra shirt, shoes or a walking stick -- a worker should be given what he needs. ​
11
"When you come to a town or village, look for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave.
12
When you enter someone's household, say, `Shalom aleikhem!'
13
If the home deserves it, let your shalom rest on it; if not, let your shalom return to you.
14
But if the people of a house or town will not welcome you or listen to you, leave it and shake its dust from your feet! ​
15
Yes, I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the Day of Judgment for the people of S'dom and `Amora than for that town! ​

Warnings of Persecution

16
"Pay attention! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves, so be as pru dent as snakes and as harmless as doves. ​
17
Be on guard, for there will be people who will hand you over to the local Sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues.
18
On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as a testimony to them and to the Goyim. ​
19
But when they bring you to trial, do not worry about what to say or how to say it; when the time comes, you will be given what you should say.
20
For it will not be just you speaking, but the Spirit of your heavenly Father speaking through you. ​
21
"A brother will betray his brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death.
22
Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever holds out till the end will be preserved from harm. ​
23
When you are persecuted in one town, run away to another. Yes indeed; I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Isra'el before the Son of Man comes. ​

Fear God, Not Man

24
"A talmid is not greater than his rabbi, a slave is not greater than his master.
25
It is enough for a talmid that he become like his rabbi, and a slave like his master. Now if people have called the head of the house Ba`al-Zibbul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! ​
26
So do not fear them; for there is nothing covered that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be known. ​
27
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops.
28
"Do not fear those who kill the body but are powerless to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gei-Hinnom. ​
29
Aren't sparrows sold for next to nothing, two for an assarion? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's consent. ​
30
As for you, every hair on your head has been counted.
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So do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.
32
"Whoever acknowledges me in the presence of others I will also acknowledge in the presence of my Father in heaven. ​
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But whoever disowns me before others I will disown before my Father in heaven.

The Demands of Loyalty

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"Don't suppose that I have come to bring peace to the Land. It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword! ​
35
For I have come to set
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a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, so that a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.
37
Whoever loves his father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me. ​
38
And anyone who does not take up his execution-stake and follow me is not worthy of me. ​
39
Whoever finds his own life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for my sake will find it. ​

Rewards for Receiving the Messengers

40
"Whoever receives you is receiving me, and whoever receives me is receiving the One who sent me. ​
41
Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive the reward a prophet gets, and anyone who receives a tzaddik because he is a tzaddik will receive the reward a tzaddik gets.
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Indeed, if someone gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my talmid -- yes! -- I tell you, he will certainly not lose his reward!" ​

Study Notes for Matthew 10

Verse 1

Jesus grants the Twelve specific authority (power) over spiritual and physical ailments. This power confirms their mission and validates their message that the Kingdom of God has arrived.

Verse 2

The term 'apostles' (Greek: *apostoloi*) means 'sent ones' or 'messengers,' emphasizing their official role as Jesus' authorized representatives.

Verse 3

Matthew is specifically identified as 'the publican' (tax collector), highlighting the diverse and often marginalized backgrounds of those Jesus called to ministry.

Verse 4

Judas Iscariot is explicitly named as the one who betrayed Jesus, providing a somber foreshadowing of the persecution and internal strife that would mark the mission.

Verse 5

This initial mission is geographically limited to Jewish territory, reflecting the priority of the covenant people (Rom 1:16) before the universal Gentile mission begins after the Resurrection.

Verse 6

The disciples are sent to the 'lost sheep of the house of Israel,' echoing prophetic language (Ezek 34) and confirming Jesus' role as the true shepherd.

Verse 7

The message is identical to that of Jesus and John the Baptist (Matt 3:2; 4:17): the Kingdom of Heaven is imminent and active in their ministry.

Verse 8

The mandate to 'raise the dead' indicates the magnitude of the delegated power. The command 'freely ye have received, freely give' emphasizes that ministry must be characterized by generosity, not profit.

Verse 10

The instruction to travel light demonstrates radical dependence on God’s providence and the hospitality of the community. The proverb justifies this: the missionary is worthy of financial support.

Verse 14

Shaking off the dust was a symbolic Jewish action, signifying a complete break and transference of responsibility, marking the city as having rejected God's offer.

Verse 15

This severe judgment means that rejecting the Kingdom message delivered by Jesus' authorized messengers brings a condemnation even greater than that incurred by the famously wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Verse 16

The contrast between vulnerable 'sheep' and hostile 'wolves' introduces the reality of persecution. Disciples must combine wisdom and caution ('serpents') with moral integrity ('doves').

Verse 18

Persecution is reframed as an opportunity: being brought before authorities provides a platform for 'a testimony' (witness) to Jesus' message before rulers and Gentiles.

Verse 20

This verse promises divine inspiration during trials, assuring the disciples that their defense will be the direct word of the Holy Spirit, speaking through them.

Verse 22

Endurance (*hypomonē*) is a key theme; salvation is promised to those who remain faithful to Christ through the period of tribulation and suffering.

Verse 23

The phrase 'till the Son of man be come' likely refers to Jesus’ resurrection, subsequent vindication, and the establishment of the church's authority (Pentecost), emphasizing the urgency of the mission.

Verse 25

If Jesus, the Master, was called Beelzebub (a derogatory term for the prince of demons), the disciples should expect the same slander and opposition.

Verse 26

This assurance means that though the truth may be hidden now, it will ultimately be revealed; therefore, the disciples should not fear proclaiming the message openly.

Verse 28

This is the central command to prioritize the fear of God (who has eternal power over soul and body) over the fear of men (who can only inflict physical harm).

Verse 29

The imagery of the sparrows, which are nearly worthless, illustrates God’s detailed providence and care, assuring the disciples that nothing happens outside the Father’s knowledge.

Verse 32

This is a pivotal statement on salvation: eternal recognition by Christ is contingent upon public confession and loyalty to him during life on earth.

Verse 34

The 'sword' signifies the divisive nature of the Gospel. While the Kingdom brings peace with God, it inevitably creates conflict and separation within human relationships because it demands absolute allegiance.

Verse 37

Discipleship requires placing Christ above all earthly loyalties, including the most fundamental bonds of family, demanding radical obedience.

Verse 38

'Taking his cross' means embracing the path of self-denial and suffering, being ready for public shame and execution, which was the Roman method of capital punishment.

Verse 39

This paradox affirms that true spiritual life is found only through sacrificial service and willingness to abandon earthly security for the sake of Christ.

Verse 40

This establishes the principle of identification: those who receive Christ’s messengers are considered to have received Christ himself, and ultimately, the Father who sent him.

Verse 42

Jesus assures that even the smallest act of genuine hospitality or kindness given to a disciple ('one of these little ones') will certainly be rewarded by God.

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