Matthew 10: The First Sending (2)
Pray Psalm 126.4, 5.
Bring back our captivity, O LORD,
as the streams in the South.
Those who sow in tears
shall reap in joy.
Sing Psalm 126.4, 5.
Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns
Restore our fortunes, LORD our King! Let grace like flowing streams prevail.
All they with tears of joy shall sing who sow while yet they weep and wail.
Read Matthew 10.1-15; meditate on verses 5-15.
What were they to preach? How would you preach that?
Prepare.
1. Where did Jesus send His disciples?
2. What did He send them to do?
Meditate.
This first mission of the disciples was a limited one. They were only to go to Jewish towns and homes (vv. 5, 6). As Jesus had come unto His own people (Jn. 1.11), so the disciples must limit their ministries to the people of Israel, at least for now.
But what a mandate they were given! Preaching the Kingdom, healing, cleansing, raising the dead, casting out demons—all the works they had seen Jesus do, now they were empowered to do as well (vv. 7, 8).
They were not to worry about their daily needs (vv. 9, 10); God would take care of that, and Jesus had already taught them to look to Him for their provision (Matt. 6.1-10). The people they ministered to were used to providing for those who taught them. It was God’s Law, as Paul explained (applying that Law to himself) in 1 Corinthians 9.13, 14 (cf. Lev. 6.16, etc.).
In verses 11-15 Jesus explained how the leading of the Spirit would work in this mission. Wherever they went, they were to look for a household that was welcoming to them and their message. They should use that as their base of ministry for as long as they stayed in that place. They would be able to discern such a household by simply knocking on the door and greeting the people with the peace of God. Those in whom the Spirit of peace was working would welcome them and care for their needs. If the house they greeted was not welcoming, they should simply move on in peace. People and towns that did not receive their message should be given a visible sign of God’s rejection: shaking the dust off their feet, so that not a trace of it remained with the men of peace. But they must not judge or condemn. God would take care of that in His own time (v. 15).
Like the disciples, we are sent to bring the peace of Christ and His Kingdom to the world. God will provide for us as we go into our Personal Mission Fields. We’re not looking for arguments, and we don’t pass judgment. We offer the peace of the Lord, and all the blessings that attend to that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We cannot make people believe. Hopefully, we can help them understand. And this is all we are charged with by the Lord.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Solomon gave his son guidance for doing his kingdom work.
We have been given the same guidance for doing our own:
“My son, if you receive my words, and
treasure my commands within you, so that
you incline your ear to wisdom, and
apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you
cry out for discernment, and
lift up your voice for understanding, if you
seek her as silver, and
search for her as for hidden treasures;
then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and
find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
He guards the paths of justice, and
preserves the way of His saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice,
equity and every good path” (Prov. 2.1-9).
Saturated in the Word of God, following Jesus the Savior King, and being led by the Helper Holy Spirit, we are prepared to launch out into the deep, marching straight into the fields ripe for the harvest, with the same gusto that encompassed and invigorated the original disciples on their task. Remembering always, that our witness is rendered in the process of our lives.
We need not fear regarding what to say, as Jesus gave the disciples the talking point,
“The Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 10.7).
As we rejoice with those early messengers, we would do well to contemplate Judas for a moment. As a warning. He healed the sick, cleansed lepers, cast out demons, and raised the dead. He preached about the Kingdom. So, what happened? Why did he end up betraying Jesus? How did this dramatic change occur?
Well, Judas did not watch his deviations. He began to be more interested in other things than in Kingdom living. It was a slow descent into hell. He was a man who had everything going for him; and ended with Jesus’ ignominious words about him: “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born” (Matt. 26.24). Clearly, he lost his first love.
He was much like the church in Ephesus of which Jesus spoke: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil…you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My Name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Rev. 2.2-5).
As we are sent to live each day—on our mission mandate—may we never deviate from the Word,
nor vacillate in following God’s Law. The danger is there. The danger is real. Even one of the twelve veered off the way set out for him to follow. He should have chosen a better path (Prov. 4.14-17).
Caveat Lector.
Reflect.
1. Jesus sends us like He sent those first disciples (Jn. 20.21). What will that mean for you today?
2. Small deviations can ruin us. What about small good works, consistently done?
3. What’s the best way to prepare for entering your Personal Mission Field every day? Why?
Do you perceive the unparalleled magnificence of their ministry? Do you comprehend the dignity of the apostles? They are not authorized to speak of things perceivable by the senses. They do not repeat what Moses said or the prophets before them. Rather, they spoke of new and strange things. Moses and the prophets spoke of temporal promises of an earthly land. The apostles proclaimed the kingdom of heaven and all that this implies. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 32.4
Pray Psalm 126.1-3, 6.
The Lord has set us free from the chains of sin and fear. Look ahead to your day: What opportunities for sowing the good seed of the Kingdom await you? Commit them to the Lord even now.
Sing Psalm 126.1-3, 6.
Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns
When God restored our fortunes all, we were like those who sweetly dream.
Our mouths with joy and laughter filled, made Him our constant song and theme.
Then the astonished nations said, “The LORD has done great things for them!”
Indeed, great things our God has done, Whose Name we praise, Amen, Amen!
They who in tears of sorrow sow and cast their seed on every hand,
with joy shall reach their heav’nly home, and bring the harvest of their land.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
We invite you to join us in ReThinking Church. We explain further at our ReThinking Church page, here.
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter presses ahead in a series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column addresses the question, “How to Church?” Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
