The Gospel According to Matthew
Copyright© 2006, Darroll Evans

 

Chapter 10

 

Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

 

This is the appointing of the Apostles.  In the appointing, Jesus gave them what was needed to carry on their mission.  He gives us what we need to do the job set before us.

 

Church ordination is wonderful, but unless we are God-ordained any effort on our part is useless.

 

Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits.  They could cast them out unclean spirits.  They could also heal all various sicknesses and diseases.

 

The authority to heal has never been rescinded.  But, that is not a directive to reject medical advice and help. 

 

Some say that God does not heal today.  Others go so far as to teach that today’s spiritual healing is demonic.

 

God still heals!  And, He has given medical practitioners the knowledge to help the process.  However, no matter which area of healing is used, prayer is an important ingredient in the healing process.

 

Matthew 10:2-4

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

 

This is the list of Apostles.  They were as diverse Christianity.

 

Matthew 10:5-6

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

 

Jesus sent His Apostles out to proclaim His message. 

 

There is one thing that many do not understand.  The Apostles were originally sent only to preach to physical Israel!  They were not sent to the Gentiles.  Most Jews and most Gentiles don’t know that.

 

The Apostles were also not sent to the Samaritans.  Samaritans were a mixed blood group in the area north of Judea.

 

After the resurrection, Paul would be sent to Samaritans and other Gentiles.

 

The Apostles were originally sent only to the lost (Gr. apoloolota-apolwlota) sheep of the house of Israel.  Being “lost” is not a term of derision or disdain.  Instead, it is a term used to describe those spoiled by death or living in a condition of ruin.

 

The lost are not lost because they woke up one morning and decided to become lost.  They are lost because of sin that infects humanity.

 

Matthew 10:7-8

7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

 

He told the Apostles to go, and preach.  Christ told them to proclaim, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

 

Christ Jesus commanded the Apostles to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils.  That admonishment has not changed!

 

Freely we have received, and freely we must give.  Think about that!

 

Matthew 10:9-10

9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

 

Jesus did not send His Apostles on a mission to collect funds. He told them not to take the various forms of commerce. 

 

Purse (Gr. zoonas-zwnaV) is an ancient money belt.

Scrip (Gr. peeran-phran) is an ancient travel bag used to carry food.

 

The Apostles were not to take extra coats, or sandals, or the ancient walking staff.  God provided all they needed. Jesus said, “The workman is worthy of his meat.”  However, they did not collect a tithe.  That would have been biblically illegal!

 

Matthew 10:11-15

11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.

13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

 

When they entered a town, they were to ask who in that town was “worthy” (Gr. axios-axioV), who is praiseworthy.  They were to stay with that person.

 

When they came into that home, they were to “salute” (Gr. aspasasthe-aspasasqe), or greet those in that home.

 

If they found the Home worthy, if they received the word of God, they were to bring peace to it.  But, if they rejected the message, they were to reject the household as those in it rejected the message.

 

We need to stop begging people to accept Christ!  Instead, we need to present to gospel and let the Holy Spirit decide who will accept it and who will reject it.

 

In the case of rejection, the Apostles were to shake off the dust of your feet.  That was a gesture of great disfavor.

 

Those who rejected the message of the Apostles bring negative judgment upon themselves. John 3:18--- He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

All those that now reject Christ are under condemnation.  However that situation changes daily as people come to Christ and are chosen to live in His light.

 

Matthew 10:16-18

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

 

Christ calls on His followers to be tender, but strong.  We must understand how to react to various situations.

 

He told the Apostles to be cautious of others.  He warned that others may deliver them to the councils (Gr. Sunedria-Sunedria), the Sanhedrins. 

 

There were two Jewish bodies that used the name Sanhedrin.  The large body, or great Sanhedrin had seventy members. The small body, or lesser Sanhedrin has twelve members.

 

(Due to the timing, it was probably the lesser Sanhedrin that judged Jesus.)

 

“They will scourge” (Gr. mastigoosousin-mastigwsousin) is not to be mistaken for the scourging Christ received. 

 

This whipping was 39 stripes with a single lash whip was used when Jew punished Jew. Sadistic Roman soldiers using as cat-of-nine-tails beat Christ mercilessly.

 

Paul received 39 lashes on five occasions. 2 Corinthians 11:24---Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

 

Romans soldiers beat prisoners until they were no longer amused.  Christ was whipped far more than a mere 39 times.  That is evident to all who have read the Bible, except those who have ignorantly accepted the 39 stripes myth.

 

Romans used the cat-of-nine-tails. Multiply 9 times 39 and you get 351 lashes.  However, even that is far short of what they did to Christ Jesus.

 

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (Gr. mooloopi- mwlwpi) ye were healed.

 

The Greek word translated “stripes” in 1 Peter 2:24 is singular.  That indicates that no stripes were evident.  It was a single wound.  That is enhanced by the use of the Greek definite article to accentuate the inhumanity of Jesus’ beating.

 

Many Roman prisoners died from the scourging and never were placed on a crucifixion cross.  They were going to die, so there was no incentive to keep them alive. Jesus lived through the scourging, because He had to be crucified!

 

Verse 18 applies to Paul more them the others.  He preached the gospel in his defense to Roman Prefects, Jewish Kings and Roman Judges.

 

Matthew 10:19-20

19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

 

Jesus told His followers to not become anxious about what to say when an evil society puts us on trial.  God will tell us what to say.  In fact, the words will not be ours, but the Holy Spirit will speak through us.

 

That was true then and is now.

 

Many of our brothers in Christ are now facing tribulation at the hands of evil men.

 

Matthew 10:21-22

21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

 

Families shall be separated and already are being separated on the issue of Christ Jesus.  His Sonship is a stumbling block even to many that attend Church.

 

Attending Church is not an adequate sign that a person is a Christian.  God looks on the heart!

 

Christians are already hated within the nation they birthed, America, and they are hated in the world to which they seek to bring salvation in Christ.  The loving ones are hated.

 

We shall be persecuted because of the name of Christ Jesus!

 

In the world today, God is not an offensive title.  There are many so-called gods.  However, the name Jesus is offensive to all Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and most Jews.

 

The bible is blunt.  He that endures to the end shall be saved.  How do we do that?

 

Enduring to the end is not accomplished in “our’ strength.  It is accomplished by faith in Christ Jesus.

 

Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

 

Jesus said, “When they persecute you in one city, flee to another.”  Then, preach the word there. 

 

Christ continued, “You shall not have traveled through the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.” That is very controversial.

 

What do you think Jesus meant?

 

Matthew 10:24-25

24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

 

Then, Jesus spoke a proverb. “The disciple is not greater than his master, nor the servant (Gr. doulos-douloV), a slave greater than his owner.”

 

Jesus told them, “It is enough for the disciple (Gr. matheetee-maqhth) to be as (Gr. hoos-wV), like his {the (Gr. ho-o) Greek definite article} master, and the slave as (Gr. hoos-wV), like his {the (Gr. ho-o) Greek definite article} owner.”

 

The definite article is overlooked in many commentaries.  It points to a specific Master and Owner, Christ Jesus.

 

Jesus said. “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much worse shall they call those of his household?”

 

In ancient times slaves often ran households, and were given great power within the home.

 

Jesus was telling the Apostles that if they say slanderous things against Him, they will do the same and worse to His followers.  Jesus was not noted for His flowery compliments.

 

Matthew 10:26-27

26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

 

Christians are not to live in fear.  Death is not a valid concept among Christians!

 

All evil shall be revealed and so shall all righteousness!

 

Those things Christ taught in private to His followers are to be taught openly by them!

 

Matthew 10:28-31

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

 

We are not to fear or revere those whose power is temporal.  We are to respect God, who has power over all.

 

Destroy (Gr. apolesai-apolesai) speaks of ruin.

 

Hell (Gr. geennee-geennh) indicates the valley of Hinnom, Jerusalem’s garbage dump. 

 

The fire has gone out! If the valley of Hinnom is indicative of eternal death, we must know that death is NOT eternal. 

 

Revelation 20:14 tells us that death will be cast into the lake of fire.  However, Revelation 21:4-5 tells us that there will be no more death, and that ALL things will be made new.

 

Theses verses are not contradictory; instead they show a continuation or progression of God’s plan for the ages.

 

Most of what we think we k now about hell comes from Dante’s Inferno, not the Bible.

 

Again, death is not eternal!

 

Your birthday, and the date of your physical death are fixed.  The hairs on your head are numbered.  You are precious in His sight!

 

Matthew 10:32-33

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

 

“Shall confess me” literally means “shall confess in Me.”  It means to come into agreement with Christ.

 

If we, in the presence of men come into agreement with Christ, He will, in the presence of the Father come into agreement with us. And the reverse is also true.

 

Deny (Gr. arneeseetai-arnhshtai) means to contradict.

 

If we contradict Jesus before men, He will contradict us before the Father. How will he do that?

 

Matthew 7:22-23

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

Just because men seem to be doing the work of God does not mean they are.  Their hearts are the only standards by which to judge the value of their work, and only God can see that.

 

Matthew 10:34-42

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

 

Christ came to do radical social surgery!  The sword of the Spirit will cut away the ungodly no matter where they are.

 

Emotion does not indicate spiritual condition.

 

The cross (Gr. stauron-stauron) was not invented by the Romans.  Greeks and Phoenicians used variations. Some had cross bars, others did not.  This minor point is a bone of contention to the immature.

 

Christ does not call us to lives of luxury.  He calls us to lives of service.

 

In verse 38, we find that each Christian must take up the cross.

 

That has been falsely taught as taking up a burden to follow Christ each day.

 

The cross is not a sign of burden or weakness!

 

Instead, the cross is the sign of victory over Satan and the effects of sin!

 

Christians are called to victory, not defeat!

 

To the lost, the cross is a sign of terrible burdens!

 

To the saved it is a sign of the victory Christ gave us as the result of the crucifixion and resurrection!

 

Without the crucifixion there could be no resurrection!  Without the resurrection, there could be no victory over Satan and the sin he brings!

 

Verse 39 appears to be a contradiction.  It is not!  The key to understanding is found in the phrase, “for my sake.”

 

Receiveth (Gr. dechomenos-decomenoV) speaks of learning.  Whoever receives or learns the teaching (of the gospel) receives Christ.

 

All people are judged by our actions toward Christ.  What have been your actions toward Him?

 

The question is not---Do you know Christ?  The question is---Does Christ know you?

 

Chapter 11
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