Matthew 9:35-38 & Matthew 10:1-15
Q.1. Where did Jesus exercise His ministry? What was His focus? How did He feel about the people? What were His disciples to do about the lost? – (Mt.9:35-38)
Though Jesus preached and healed in all the cities and villages around Galilee, He particularly taught in the synagogues, where people had a Biblical foundation – proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom (Mt.9:35). The Jews knew that the Messiah could be identified by being able to heal. Jesus revealed His credentials by – healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness (Mt.9:35). Judaism dominated the religious scene. It featured a large group of priests who were commissioned to lead people to God. They failed dismally (Mt.23:1-39). Jesus was genuinely concerned about people – Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd (Mt.9:36). His assessment was that only a few workers were genuine. He urged His disciples – plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest (Mt.9:38). Such earnest prayer will invariably stir us into action on behalf of the lost.
Q.2. How did Jesus plan to fulfill His mission? What kind of men formed His apostolic band? Why did He restrict their ministry to Israel? – (Mt.10:1-6)
The plan of Jesus was to equip and send FEW, in order to reach MANY. His plan was to multiply workers. – Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness (Mt.10:1). They were to preach – … saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Mt.10:7). His strategy has not changed. Hebrews explains the unique purpose of the miraculous signs of the apostles – 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will (Heb.2:3-4). Jesus chose ordinary men. There was nothing outstanding about the Twelve. We know that two sets of brothers were fishermen. There was a former tax-collector. Also, a religious zealot, Judas Iscariot, was identified as – the one who betrayed Him (Mt.10:4). Jesus was born of David’s line, to be Israel’s Saviour (Lk.1:31-33). The Gospel was first offered to the Jews, until they rejected it (c.f. Acts 13:46-47; 28:23-28; Rom.1:16). Israel was lost and needed a Saviour, so Jesus commanded – 5 … “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mt.10:5-6 c.f. Mt.9:36). Jesus offered Himself as Israel’s Messiah. He understood that exposure to the needs of the people would fire up compassion in His disciples.
Q.3. What was to characterize their ministry? Why? How were they to be supported? What instructions and warnings did He give them? How were they to respond to rejection? Why? – (Mt.10:7-15)
As explained (in Q.2. above), the disciples were to – Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give (Mt.10:8). However, the real focus was to be on preparing people for the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt.10:7). They were to travel lightly and accept support along the way, since – the worker is worthy of his support (Mt.10:10). They were not to be particular about their accommodation or be greedy for personal gain (Mt.10:9 & 11). They were to impart a blessing wherever possible. However, God’s blessing would be withdrawn from those who refused to receive the liberating message of the Gospel (Mt.10:12-14). Rejecting the Gospel is tantamount to rejecting God, so will have more serious consequences than that of the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Mt.10:15).