5 “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. 11“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12And when you go into a household, greet it. 13If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
The remaining chapter is Jesus’ instructions to the apostles about to do mission to Israel. This is not the same as sending of the seventy to Israel (Lu 10:1) or the Great Commission to the world.
10:5
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them,
Jesus sent out the twelve apostles on a mission tour. “These twelve” is emphatic in the Greek—the emphasis is on the ministry of apostles as over against others.
saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
Jesus explicitly said that their mission was not to the Gentiles but to the Jews. They were not to go to the half-Jew and half-Gentile Samaritans either.
10:6
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
The apostles were to go strictly to the lost in Israel (Jews). Later they would make a push towards the Gentiles after Israel rejected Jesus as Messiah (Mt 28:19).
10:7
And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
The mission of this chapter had to do with announcing the nearness of the “kingdom of heaven.” This kingdom was the fulfillment of four unconditional covenants such as the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. The King and His kingdom were near for acceptance. The words “at hand” means imminent. The kingdom had not come yet but it was pending.
10:8
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.
The apostles were to use their credentials of four miracles to establish the authenticity of the message of the kingdom of heaven. The Jews demanded a miracle “sign” (1 Co 1:22).
Freely you have received, freely give.
The apostles were not to receive remuneration for their ministry. Their ministry was to be grace oriented.
10:9, 10
Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
The apostles were not to make advance provision for the tour. Jesus did not want His people to burden themselves with material things. Ministers of Christ cannot put themselves in bondage to these things.
Their labor was worthy of support by those to whom they ministered. “Nor sandals” may mean extra sandals.
10:11
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.
“Worthy” people would provide their housing. These were people who accepted their message as valid. The apostles were not to stay at the most convenient place or with the wealthiest people.
10:12
And when you go into a household, greet it.
They were to give gratitude towards those who provided housing.
10:13
If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it.
A “worthy” household was a group of people who accepted and believed in the gospel.
But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
If some went negative to the message, the apostles were to withdraw their peace. Worthiness of a household meant their willingness to support the apostles in their mission.
10:14
And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
Rejection of the apostles was rejection of King Jesus. By the symbolic action of shaking off the dust from one’s feet, the apostles demonstrated the negative volition and guilt of those who would not support their ministry. The apostles were to deem them pagan and worthy of death.
10:15
Assuredly,
“Assuredly” is a formulaic term (amen) that always calls for strong attention to the following statement.
I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
Rejection of Jesus as King of Israel would bring judgment upon those who rejected Him. It was not until Israel formally rejected Jesus as Messiah that He turned from Israel to the church (Eph 2:14). The Great Commission of the church is the mission of the church.
PRINCIPLE:
Materialism must not burden ministers of Christ.
APPLICATION:
Ministry is not a matter of asceticism but of efficiency. That is why ministers should not orient to materialism lust. Money-hungry ministers who operate on materialism lust are hirelings, not true ministers of Christ.
