at 10{
Matt 10:1. The Lord now, in compassion upon His people, calls His twelve disciples, and gives them authority and power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and sickness. This is another proof to them that He was Emmanuel, who could not only heal and deliver, but could also confer on others the same power.
Matt 10:5-6. This mission is to the lost sheep of the house of Israel only; Gentiles and Samaritans were as yet left out, but a Gentile centurion and a Canaanitish woman, exercising faith in the Lord, were not shut out. Needy ones always found a refuge in the Savior, but as yet the message was sent to Israel only. (See John 12:20-2420And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. 22Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:20‑24).)
Matt 10:7. It is the gospel of the kingdom, that is, the announcement that the King is to appear.
The gospel of the grace of God is to all, and could not be preached till atonement was accomplished (Acts 20:21-2421Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:21‑24)): "How am I straitened till it be accomplished!" (Luke 12:5050But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! (Luke 12:50).) His heart of love desired to flow out unhinderedly to all.
Matt 10:8. These are the signs of a deliverer, coming to meet man's deep need, confirming the Word as His message. (Heb. 2:3-43How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:3‑4).) What mercy and grace are expressed in it: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye have received, freely give." This power was given them; it was "the powers of the world to come" (Heb. 6:55And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (Hebrews 6:5)), that is, the millennial kingdom will be characterized by this power; Satan will be bound and man delivered.
Matt 10:9-10. They were not to make provision for the way, they were to depend entirely on the One who sent them, Emmanuel was there. Miracles might prove this to the world. His care over His own proved it to their hearts, they "lacked nothing".
This was during the time of His presence on earth; see the difference when the Lord is away. (Luke 22:35-3735And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. (Luke 22:35‑37).)
Matt 10:11-15. These were as ambassadors, and serious indeed it was for those who did not receive them; it would be worse for them than for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment.
From Matt 10:16, the teaching is more general, and looks on to the time when the Son of man will come. (Matt 10:23.)
The rejection of Christ and consequent scattering of the Jews and destruction of Jerusalem, His atonement and glorification, the Holy Spirit sent down, the Church gathered and caught up and the Jews gathered back to their own land (though not mentioned here), have all come in before the coming of the Son of man.
Matt 10:16. The Lord sent these servants forth as "sheep in the midst of wolves". They were to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves". Like the Lord Himself in this, wisdom from above it would surely be.
Matt 10:17. "Beware of men." Alas! men are opposed to God and to His people, and under the power of Satan; so they persecute the saints of God.
Matt 10:18. The Lord had an object in allowing His servants to be brought before "men" for His sake, as a testimony that they had rejected Him.
Matt 10:19. They could therefore face their trials with the calm, quiet assurance that it would be given them what to say at the right time; "the Spirit of their Father" would speak in them.
Matt 10:21. Their brothers, fathers, children, would rise against them and cause them to be put to death; and they would be "hated of all men for My (His) name's sake". All this shows the terrible enmity of man's heart against the Lord.
Matt 10:22. "But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." Notice, the end is the coming of the Son of man. This is the endurance of the saints at the time of the great tribulation, when Satan tries to get them to worship the beast. (Rev. 14:9-129And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:9‑12).)
Matt 10:23. During the time when the Jews are back into their own land (but not now), this testimony will be carried from city to city of the land of Israel, and before they are finished, the Son of Man will have come. What a deliverance it will be for them!
Matt 10:24-25. The disciples and servants were to be as their Master, that is, rejected and spoken against. It was their privilege; it is ours also. (Phil. 1:2929For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Philippians 1:29).)
Matt 10:26-27. Fear them not, proclaim the truth. They are to make known the things which the Lord has communicated to them. He will charge Himself with their care.
Matt 10:28. The enemy may be allowed to kill their body; but, if so, it was as a testimony for the truth. So they were to fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Gehenna-figurative of the place of eternal torments.)
Matt 10:29-31. The comparatively worthless sparrow cannot fall to the ground without your Father, and He has numbered the very hairs of your head: "Fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows".
Matt 10:32-33. "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in Heaven." Those who deny Him, deny His person and His work. Peter denied that he knew the Lord with oaths and curses; this was certainly very bad, but Peter did not deny that the Lord Jesus was the Son of God. He was a weak believer, but not a blasphemer; afterward he could say, "Ye have denied the holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you." (Acts 3:13-1513The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (Acts 3:13‑15).)
Matt 10:34-36. Here again the state of man's heart is seen as enmity against God and all that is His, and is stronger than all the ties of nature. The love of Christ in the believer is also to prove stronger than all human love.
Matt 10:37-39. The Lord challenges their hearts to find a worthy object in Himself, dearer than all earthly ties, dearer than life itself. To put self first, is to fall and lose much spiritually.
Matt 10:40-42. In receiving these witnesses, they received Him, and His Father also, who sent Him. And receiving them (in spite of an opposing world), even to the giving a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, would bring them a sure reward. God takes knowledge of how each one acts toward His Son, and judges or rewards accordingly.