Bible Commentaries

Jesus Taught The Apostles
- Matthew Ten -

In Matthew chapter ten we see that Jesus called the twelve apostles, gave them power and a charge to carry out. Jesus specifically told them what they were to do. He said, "Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:6-8) He also instructed them on how they were to react during this time of work. Jesus taught them the great lesson of how prudent and wise they were to be in spreading the gospel message. "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16)

The apostles of Jesus Christ were special men with a special mission. "Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him." (Matthew 10:2-4) The apostles were (1) God called men (2) with a God appointed mission, and (3) God given power.

Jesus sent out the apostles - Matthew 10:1-15 : In this limited commission the Lord sent the apostles to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." The apostles were sent forth to "preach and to heal." Their message was to be "the kingdom (church) of heaven is at hand." They would see the kingdom come with power. (Mark 9:1, Acts 2:1-47) The apostles were to work miracles and freely do good works.

They were worthy of support from those they taught. "The workman is worthy of his meat" seems to be almost a proverb. These apostles were workmen, or laborers in God's vineyard. They were carrying out His mission and were entitled to food and raiment.

Those that rejected the preaching of the apostles would feel God's wrath, a wrath even more severe than His past judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19) He said, "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. 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." (Matthew 10:14-15)

Jesus taught the apostles to not fear men - Matthew 10:16-26 : The apostles were taught to both expect and prepare for persecution. They were to accept their cross and take it up for Jesus. Just as He continued His work, while persecuted, the apostles must also continue their work while suffering persecution. Jesus used the expression, "sheep in the midst of wolves" to show how severe persecutions would become.

The Lord warned the apostles to prepare for persecution. They would be hated, beaten, refused and rejected. But Jesus said, "Therefore do not fear them." No doubt the worst of all the persecution came from rejection and hurt by their own kin. "Brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child..." (Matthew 10:21-22) Jesus has always dealt fairly with humanity telling them both the best and the worst that they can expect in His service! "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12)

Jesus taught the apostles to fear God - Matthew 10:27-33 : Tribulation does not take away God's love for His people. He told the apostles, "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." (Matthew 10:28) A lack of the fear of the Lord causes people to thoughtlessly expose their souls to eternal ruin and damnation.

God cares even for the sparrows and you are "of more value than many sparrows." Surely God would not feed and protect the sparrows then starve and desert His saints! "The very hairs of your head are all numbered." If God numbers the hairs, how much more does He takes care of the head, life and soul of His faithful servant. God takes great care in His work of providence. He cares for all of His creation, especially man. God's precious children and faithful ministers can know beyond doubt that God cares for them! Do not fear death for no man can harm your soul. Fear God!

If Christians confess Jesus in the day of persecution, He will confess them in the Day of Judgment. Christians should never be ashamed to confess what they believe in their heart about Jesus. Our confession ought to be both by words and deeds. It must be a sincere confession of the Lord that is visible, and open, before men. Christ will deny those who deny Him. Sadly, He will even do more. He will banish them from the presence of God forever. "It is a dangerous thing for any to deny and disown Christ before men; for they who do so will be disowned by Him in the great day, when they have most need of Him: He will not own them for His servants who would not own Him for their master."

Jesus taught the apostles how to find life - Matthew 10:34-42 : The Jews had the belief that outward peace and prosperity would come in the days of the Messiah. Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34) The "sword" is the word of God or the gospel that often leads to the separating of people. The Gospel separated people that wanted to hold to the world from the Lord. The gospel even brings divisions, and discords in families as some accept it while others reject Christianity.

Jesus taught that you must be willing to give up anything or anybody to serve the Lord. Jesus Christ must be before any other. Serving God must be worth everything to you! Everything and everyone in your life must yield to your service to the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ must come before (1) family (2) safety (3) ease, or (4) life itself! Christianity is worth every thing; all that believe the truth will make every thing else yield to it.

Some would receive the apostles and would be rewarded. Whatever is done to the Lord's faithful servant, whether in kindness or in unkindness, is done to the Lord Himself. Jesus looks at Himself as being treated as His faithful minister are treated; "He that receiveth you, receiveth me." Even a "cup of cold water," a thing ever so small, given in the name of the Lord will be rewarded. The rewards are great for those who will be God's faithful servant.

There are no living apostles in the church today. However, Christians today can learn much from the lessons Jesus taught His apostles.