My Corner Online
Reading through the Gospels #98
JESUS SENDS OUT THE TWELVE DISCIPLES
Mark 6:6b-11; Matthew 9:35-10:42; Luke 9:1-5
[Originally posted October 6 2015 " I finally found time to scrap my first "harvest" themed Digital Bible Journaling
page. "Harvest" is the theme for the Facebook Group and the freebies I used on this page are in that group for download. On this page, I was glad that I went back and included the first verse as it added so much meaning to the last two verses which are often taken out of context of the first verse."]
Matthew 9:35 begins with Jesus continuing to preach, but He had compassion on the crowds of people "because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." So not only was Jesus and the disciples rejected, but also the people following them. What a scene that must have been with lovers and haters protesting against those that loved Jesus. We see this today in political rallies where protestors show up amongst supporters and make a scene.
Matthew continues with Jesus speaking to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." In this case, the laborers were really a few, 12 in number, plus Jesus. Jesus commands His disciples to pray for more people to preach.
Jesus sent out his 12 disciples in groups of two (pairs) and gave them authority to heal unclean spirits. I ponder why in twos and not alone or in threes or fours? It is best to serve God with others, not alone, so that there is encouragement when hitting the rough spots to keep going and to make decisions together. Limiting it to groups of two allowed for more places to be reached with the message.
Jesus's instructions to the disciples continues for a whole chapter 10 in Matthew! Jesus names the 12 apostles, Simon (called Peter), Andrew (Simon Peter's brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James' brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus, so there were 2 James), Thaddaeus, Simon (the Zealot, so there were two Simons), and Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Jesus). In Matthew that the twelve are called apostles which means "one who is sent out." I like to think of apostles as "teachers" and disciples as "learners," as in the simple way to teach young Sunday School children. Apostles are also considered "messengers." A list of the 12 apostles can also be found in Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:13-16, and Acts 1:13.
They were to take nothing but a staff, no food or money or bag, only sandals and one tunic (not two tunics). Now that is the bear minimum! That is true trust in God to go out in faith that He will provide along the way. Having less stuff in my own house keeps me more dependent on God. I am enjoying becoming more and more a minimalist. It keeps me from getting distracted doing other things such as caring for my things. It gives me more time to rest and my home feels so nice uncluttered and open. Matthew and Luke record that Jesus told them not to take walking sticks. Why the difference? I do not like it when scripture does not fit together, but refuse to allow it to cause me doubt and let the devil in my mind to work.
Jesus instructs to "proclaim as you go, saying 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand." The 'kingdom of heaven' is a ruler (God) and His followers (believers). The kingdom being "at hand" means it is readily accessible. It is not something about to happen. It is here and everyone can access it by believing in Jesus. At the time the words were spoken, Jesus's death was about to happen.
In Matthew we read even more instructions, to not go among the gentiles or the Samaritans, but instead to the house of Israel. As they began their ministry, they were only to go to the Jews. A Gentile is anyone not a Jew and the Samaritans from intermarriage between Jews and Gentiles after the captivities (2 Kings 7:24). Romans 1:16 says that preaching should be to the Jews first and then the gentiles. Jesus's message is for all people, but God had a plan to use the Jews to help spread the news to the gentiles. In Jesus's plan, the Jews had been hearing their whole life of a messiah that was coming. Their hearts were already prepared to accept Jesus.
Jesus gave them further instruction, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." The shaking of the dust from the feet was a sign to separate themselves from those who did not believe and rejected the message. All the disciples could do was to share the message and it was up to the individual whether to accept or reject it. They were not to take it personally when rejected, but keep moving on.
With Jesus's authority, they cast out demons and healed the sick. Now there was not just 1 performing miracles, but 13! In Matthew 10:8, the disciples were instructed, "You received without paying; give without pay." The followers of Christ took care of the physical needs of the disciples without pay and the disciples performed miracles without pay. Jesus did not want the Pharisees or anyone else to have any excuse to bring up money as an issue. Jesus wants this to be all about Him and not about anything else, especially money. God gives to us freely and we give freely. In addition, this is a good example for us to follow today in that we should care for our ministers, those who give up so much to spread the word of God, that they be cared for in physical needs.
In Matthew, Jesus warns the disciples about how rough it will be, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." and He continues on about being arrested and taken before the courts. Without any food or possessions, they were certainly sheep who needed the Good Shepherd to care for them amongst the wolf packs of protestors who would use any resources they had to attack. The disciples need to be wise to avoid the wolves, but yet maintain their innocence of any wrongdoing, resisting any temptation to fight back physically.
PERSECUTION WILL COME
Mat 10:16-25 Jesus warns of persecution by being taken before courts, synagogues, and rulers, being flogged, all while being a witness for Christ. Yikes! Jesus warns that they will be hated for His sake, but not to be anxious because it is God speaking through them. It sure is intimidating thinking forward about what I might say when I tell others about Jesus, fearing the rejection, or even yes physical painful persecution for opening my mouth. I sure would stumble on my words! I do not speak as well as I write, so I am certain that I would be fumbling about not making any sense. I need to worry about that though because the Holy Spirit will help the right words that need to be said to those individuals to come to mind and come out of my mouth. Jesus warns that families will be divided and persecution to the point of death will even come from parents and siblings. Yikes! The very ones that are supposed to love you will persecute you! I'm not sure if that hurts more emotionally and mentally or physically. Jesus tells the disciples that if they endure to the end, that is physical death, they will be saved. Will one surrender their faith to be like the world who is persecuting them by rejecting Jesus or will one die for the sake of Jesus Christ never losing faith? Jesus tells them to just keep going from town to town because they will not be able to get to them all before the 'Son of Man' comes. Jesus even uses the word "flee" which means running away for your life. The faster you go, the more likely you escape earthly death and can reach more people. Jesus is the 'teacher' and 'master' in verse 24 and He was not treated well, so the disciples should not expect to be treated any better than Him. The peoples called Jesus Beelzebul (Satan) which is no small accusation and the disciples should expect to be called false names as well. Romans 8:29 refers to being 'conformed to the image of the Son.' We all want to become more and more like Jesus every day; however, that image may come with the price of persecution.
HAVE NO FEAR
Mat 10:26-33 Jesus encourages them to have no fear, "do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." We are to fear God who can kill the soul. Some differentiate the soul and the spirit, but I believe it is the same. My soul is what has eternal life with Jesus. To kill the soul is to have eternal separation (death) with Jesus. What does it mean to fear God above all things? This fear is a reverence for God to honor Him with my life and to avoid what displeases Him. In Hebrews 12:29 God is a consuming fire. Do not approach a fire on a whim. You can enjoy the fire, but fear its dangers and fear its consequences. What will happen on the Last Day when Jesus comes again? Unbelievers will rise bodily, just as believers, but they will rise to eternal death. Believers will rise bodily to eternal life.
Jesus tells the disciples in the dark (private) but they are to go out into the light and shout it from the rooftops (public). Jesus reminds them that God cares for even a sparrow worth only a penny. God numbers the hairs on my head! He knows me that well! I mean really! It's not like I know how many hairs are on my head, so God knows me even better than myself! Then comes a key statement in verses 32 and 33 in that Jesus will acknowledge me if I acknowledge Him to other people. If I will not acknowledge Jesus to other men (reject Him) then He will not acknowledge me in heaven. What great encouragement from Jesus to testify to others about Him to grow His kingdom.
(created June 14, 2022)
NOT PEACE BUT A SWORD
Mat 10:34-39 Oh, I do not like this verse because of my sinful human self. I prefer to think that Jesus came and died on the cross to bring peace on earth, which He did do, but here Jesus challenges the thought with just the opposite. Jesus says He has not come to bring peace, but the sword. This sword is for unbelievers. This sword cuts the fine line between those going to be with Jesus for eternal life and those who are being separated from eternal life with Jesus. The peace Jesus (the Prince of Pease; Isaiah 9:6) brings is for believers only. Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When Jesus comes again, "of peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7) As I say often, we try to make the Bible about us, but it is all about Jesus. We try to make God's peace about us because we want peace on earth so badly. However, God's peace is yet another way of saying eternal life for believers. Jesus's death on the cross and resurrection is where God's peace is found.
Even people in one household will be cut to go one way or the other. Human families will not all stay together. Many people nowadays pray for and fear the worst for their loved ones, being unable to imagine not being with their earthly family for eternity. Here in Scripture Jesus lets us know that this will happen. We should expect it to happen. That does not mean we should stop trying to tell our family about Jesus, but to recognize that rejection of Jesus does happen.
We are to love God above all things, even our family (first commandment). We are to trust and rely on God wholeheartedly. Go to God first! Whatever I set my heart on and put my trust in is my god. Do I trust in other things or people first? God, my God! From which I expect all good and in who I take refuge in all distress. I expect it from nowhere else by God. Jesus bore his cross as He walked to His death. We are to bear our cross as well as we die to sin and live for Christ. Persecution will happen when we tell others about Jesus and that suffering is our cross. That suffering could be even bodily death itself. Life is not going to be easy. Jesus never promises an easy life. If we are looking for a good life on earth (an easy life often translates into the root of all evil which is money; many translate easy life as one without money) and we find it, then we may very well miss out on eternal life. Having a good life with all that you need does not necessarily mean a peaceful life. Peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) comes from Jesus, not the world.
REWARDS
Mat 10:40-42 Jesus tells the disciples that whoever receives (believes) in what they tell them about Jesus, also receives Jesus. And those who receive Jesus also receive the one who sent Him, God the Father. Scripture interprets Scripture, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17. This is why it is so important for us to share God's Word in that when we tell others, they hear and the Holy Spirit does the work. Unless people reject Jesus, there is the gift of faith at work.
Then Jesus compares the Old Testament prophets to the New Testament self (Jesus) in that the person who believed what the prophets said and took heed of it were rewarded and that one who believes a righteous person will be rewarded too. A righteous person is only made right by Jesus's forgiveness found in believing what He did for you on the cross. I am a Saint and a Sinner at the same time, and only a Saint by Jesus declaring me righteous. I already have the reward of eternal life with Jesus. I can share The Word with others and they too will also have the reward. Jesus starts out these instructions on the 12 disciples being harvest workers by telling them that they should take nothing but a staff, no food or money or bag, only sandals and one tunic (not two tunics). The disciples are to go to the homes and allow the community to feed them as they work. Here in verse 42 Jesus reminds them that those who give them a cold glass of water are those that are new believers. Someone who sends them away without a cold glass of water would be those rejecting the message that they are bringing. We as humans on earth cannot know someone's heart as God would know it, but Jesus gives the disciples something to look for that is a sign of peace from other Christians.