Some people work just to gain things for themselves. Jesus does not want disciples to be like this. We are to work because we want to spread God’s word.
Matthew 10:5–15
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Jesus sent out the 12 disciples. They would do more together than they could do alone. He gave instructions to the 12. The instructions were about a special task that He had for them to do. The rest of chapter 10 described this.
Verses 5–15 referred to an immediate task.
Verses 16–25 referred to a task that was for the future. The disciples would be working among Gentiles (people who are not Jews). This would be after Jesus had died and come back to life.
Verses 26–42 gave some general teaching about how to be a disciple. This teaching is for everyone, in every age, who follows Jesus.
Jesus wanted His disciples to go to Galilee. (Compare Matthew 28:18–20.) God had a plan for all the nations. The Jews had a special place in this plan. Jesus was born into a Jewish home. So, God was giving Jews the first chance to accept Jesus. Then, they would take God’s good news to the other nations. (Compare Romans 1:16; 2:9–10 and Acts 13:46.)
Verse 6 described Jews. They were like sheep that had no leader. This seems to refer back to 9:36 and to Ezekiel chapter 34.
The 12 disciples had a message that they must declare. It was the same message as that of John and Jesus. (Read 3:2 and 4:17.) Jesus had declared God’s word and healed people. In a very special way, the disciples must work for Jesus and do these things as well.
Jesus’ disciples must have the right attitude toward physical things. The things of God must come first in their lives. The way that they lived should show this. God gave freely to them. So, they must give freely to other people (verse 8). They had something that was very precious. They should not keep it to themselves. They should not demand payment for it either. They should give it freely. The disciples must trust God completely.
Jesus’ words showed something else too. The disciples’ work helped other people. And these people should work for God too (verse 10. Compare Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Corinthians 9:7–14 and 1 Timothy 5:8.)
Jesus meant that some of His teaching would be for that time only. But, there are principles that are for all ages. The principles apply to a person who does Christian work today. He or she must not be anxious about things. But God’s people have a responsibility for these workers too. They must make sure that workers have what they need.
It was not easy to find hotel rooms for travelers. So, it was important to look after them. (Compare Matthew 9:10; Luke 5:29; 19:5, 10; John 12:1–2; Acts 16:14–15; 18:26; Romans 16:1–2; Philemon 7, 22; 2 Timothy 1:16 and 3 John 8.) This sort of care is still important today. It is evidence that a person is a real disciple. (Read Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:10; Titus 1:8 and Hebrews 13:2.)
The disciples must avoid places that might spoil their work. They must stay in one place in each town. They must not give people the wrong impression. So money, possessions or comforts must not be important to them.
In Israel, there was a usual practice. A person would greet the people of the house as he entered. The disciples must do the same. But, people would not always welcome them. The Pharisees had a custom, when they returned to Israel from a foreign land, they would shake the ‘foreign’ dust off their feet. This showed that they were separate from the bad people who were not Jews.
Here, Jesus referred to Jews. Some of them would refuse to believe the disciples’ message. The disciples must behave towards these people as if they were not Jews. They had lost their rights to the benefits of God’s kingdom. They would have God’s judgement. They had had great advantages. So their judgement would be worse.
Questions
1. We should obey Jesus completely. What things could stop you from doing this?
2. People in many countries have heard the Good News (the gospel). This is a great honor. What meaning does this passage have for them?
3. We must tell the Good News about Jesus. This is our
responsibility. What methods should we be using today?