JESUS SENDS OUT THE TWELVE (vs. 10-42)
THE TWELVE DISCIPLES OF JESUS:
- Simon Peter
- Andrew
- James – son of Zebedee
- John
- Philip
- Bartholomew (also known as Nathanael)
- Thomas
- Matthew – the tax collector
- James – son of Alphaeus
- Thaddaeus (also know as Judas – son of James)
- Simon – the Zealot
- Judas Iscariot – the traitor
INSTRUCTIONS OF JESUS TO HIS DISCIPLES:
- Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. (v. 5)
- Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. (v. 6)
- Preach this message: “The kingdom of heaven is near”. (v. 7)
- Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. (v. (8)
- Do not take along any gold or silver or coper in your belts. (v. 9)
- Do not take any bag for the journey or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff. (v. 10)
- When you enter a town or village, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. (v. 11)
- Give your greetings as you enter the home. (v. 12)
- If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. (v. 13)
- If anyone will not welcome you or listen to y8our words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. (v. 14)
- You are like sheep among wolves. So, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. (v. 16)
- Be on guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. (v. 17)
- When you will be brought before governors and kings ands arrest you, do now worry about what to say or how to say for the Spirit of your Father will speak through you. (v.15-19)
- All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (v. 22)
- When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another . (v. 23)
- A student should not be above his teacher nor a servant above his master. But it is enough for the student to be like his teacher and the servant like his master. (v. 24-25)
- Do not be afraid of them. (v. 26)
- What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. (v. 27)
- Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (v. 28)
- Apart from his will, your Father will not allow any sparrows to fall to the ground. Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid because you are worth more than many sparrows. (vs. 29-31)
- Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (v. 32)
- Whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my father in heaven. (v. 33)_
- I did not come to bring peace to the earth but a sword – man against his father, daughter against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, members of household became enemies. (vs. 34-36)
- Anyone who loves anybody more than me is not worthy of me. (v. 37)
- Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (v. 38)
- Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (v. 39)
- Anyone who receives you receives me and also the one who sent me. (v. 40)
- Anyone who receives a prophet or a righteous man will receive a prophet or righteous reward. (v. 41)
- Anyone who gives to children a cup of cold water will certainly receive his reward. (v. 42)
THOUGHTS:
Jesus said that those who minister are to be cared for. Make sure you take care of the pastors and missionaries who are serving God.
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire from heaven because of their wickedness. Those who reject the Good News will be worse off than the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah who never heard of the Good News at all.
Preaching the good news of salvation may encounter persecution. But we can be confident because Jesus had overcome the world. And those who endure to the end will be saved.
Jesus cares for the sparrows and you are worth more than the sparrows. So God had considered you more valuable than them. You do not need to be afraid of personal threats or difficult trials because God is with you. But it does not mean that God will take away all your troubles. The real test of value is he will hold you up under the wear, fear and stress of every life. Those who stand up for Christ in spite of their troubles will receive the great long lasting rewards.
The opposition of the Pharisees are like ravaging wolves. The disciples are sensible and prudent and their only hope is the protection of the shepherd. When we face similar hostility, our attitude should be like the disciples finding a balance between wisdom and vulnerability to accomplish God’s work.
Christ does not mean that we should have conflict at home. He was stressing that following him demands a decision. We have different values, morale and goals that will set us apart from each other. We should not neglect our family but our commitment to God is more important because He should be our first priority.
To take up our cross and follow Jesus means to be willing to publicly identify with Him, to experience certain opposition and be willing to face suffering for His sake. We can take up our cross only if we loosen our greedy grasp on earthly values (wealth, power, prestige, popularity, security, leisure) so that we can be free to follow Jesus. In doing so, we will inherit eternal life.
The example of giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty child by Jesus is a good model of unselfish service. A child usually won’t return a favor. But God will notice very good deed we do to others. Can you show love by doing an unselfish service for others?