Matthew 10

10:1  And he called unto him his twelve disciples¹, and gave them authority over unclean spirits², to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.

1. And he called unto him his twelve disciples. At this point Matthew gives the names of the apostles, for a complete list of which,see Matthew 10:2.

2. Unclean spirits. See Mark 1:23.

10:2  Now the names of the twelve¹ apostles² are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter³, and Andrew his brother; James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother⁴;

AFTER PRAYER JESUS SELECTS TWELVE APOSTLES. (Near Capernaum.) Matthew 10:2-4 ; Mark 3:13-19 ; Luke 6:12-16
1. The twelve. See Mark 3:14.

2. Apostles. The word "apostle" means "one sent". Its meaning was kindred to the word "ambassador" ( 2 Corinthians 5:20 ), the messenger whom aking sent to foreign powers, and also to our modern word "missionary",which also means "one sent". Christ himself was an apostle ( Hebrews 3:1 ),and so sent them ( John 20:21 ). The word "apostle" is translated"messenger" at 2 Corinthians 8:23 ; Philippians 2:25 . The apostles were to be with Jesus,that they might be taught by his words, and that they might becometeachers of that word and witnesses as to the life and actions ofJesus. A necessary condition, therefore, to their apostleship was thisseeing of Jesus and the consequent ability to testify as to hisactions, especially as to his resurrection ( Acts 1:8 Acts 1:21 ; Acts 22:14 Acts 22:15 were from Galilee save Judas Iscariot. Mark and Luke give the names ofthe apostles at the time when they were chosen, but Matthew gives themat the time when they were sent out.

3. Simon, who is called Peter. See Mark 3:16.

4. And Andrew his brother; James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother. This selection of brothers suggests that the bonds of naturemay strengthen those of grace. See Mark 3:17.

   NOTE.--The names of the apostles are recorded four times in thefollowing arrangements and orders. Some think that Matthew divided theminto groups of two, so that he may show us who went together when Jesussent them out in pairs ( Mark 6:7 ). But it is idle to speculate asthe differences in arrangement. We note, however, that the twelve aredivided into three quaternions, or groups of four, and that each has afixed leader.

   ---------------------------------+---------------------------------- MATTHEW 10:2-4 | MARK 3:16-19 ---------------------------------+---------------------------------- Simon, called Peter | Simon, surnamed Peter and Andrew his brother | and James the [son] of Zebedee James the [son] of Zebedee | and John the brother of James and James his brother | and Andrew ---------------------------------+---------------------------------- Philip | and Philip and Bartholomew | and Bartholomew Thomas | and Matthew and Matthew the publican | and Thomas ---------------------------------+---------------------------------- James the [son] of Alphaeus | and James the [son] of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus | and Thaddaeus Simon the Cananaean | and Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, | and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him | who also betrayed him ---------------------------------+----------------------------------

   ---------------------------------+--------------------------------- LUKE 6:14-16 | ACTS 1:13 ---------------------------------+--------------------------------- Simon, named Peter | Peter and Andrew his brother | and John and James | and James and John | and Andrew ---------------------------------+--------------------------------- and Philip | Philip and Bartholomew | and Thomas and Matthew | Bartholomew and Thomas | and Matthew ---------------------------------+--------------------------------- and James the [son] of Alphaeuss | James [the son] of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot | and Simon the Zealot and Judas [the son] of James | and Judas [the son] of James and Judas Iscariot, | who became a traitor | ---------------------------------+---------------------------------

10:3  Philip¹, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;

1. Philip. See John 1:43.

   For notes on Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus,and Lebbaeus Thaddaeus, see Mark 3:18.

10:4  Simon the Cananaean¹, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him².

1. Simon the Cananaean. See Mark 3:18.

2. Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. See Mark 3:19.

10:5  These twelve Jesus sent forth¹, and charged them, saying, Go not into [any] way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans:

1. These twelve Jesus sent forth. See Mark 6:7.

10:6  but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel¹.

1. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This first commission "restricted" Christ's messengers to the Jewish people, andthe parts of Palestine which they inhabited, but his second commission"impelled" them to go everywhere and to preach to every creature( Mark 16:15 ). As Jesus himself was sent only to the Jews, so duringhis days on earth he sent his disciples only to them. Alsosee Matthew 15:24.

10:7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand¹.

1. As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. It was set up about a year later, on the day of Pentecost, under the directionof the Holy Spirit ( Acts 2:1-4 ).

10:8  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give¹.

1. Freely ye received, freely give. Here is the true rule of giving. Paul repeats it at 1 Corinthians 16:2 . If we would obey this rule, we wouldmake this a happy world.

10:9  Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses¹;

Matthew 10:9 Matthew 10:10
1. Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses. See Mark 6:8.

10:11  And into whatsoever city or village ye shall enter, search out who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go forth¹.

1. And there abide till ye go forth. See Mark 6:10.

10:13  And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you¹.

1. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. The form of salutation onentering a house was, "Peace to this house". The apostles are told tosalute each house, and are assured that the peace prayed for shallreturn to them if the house is not worthy; that is, they shall receive,in this case, the blessing pronounced on the house.

10:14  And whosoever shall not receive you¹, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.

1. And whosoever shall not receive you, etc. See Mark 6:11.

10:15  Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment¹, than for that city.

1. It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment. See Matthew 11:24 for a comment on similarremarks. God judges all men with reference to their opportunities.

10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves¹: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

1. I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. At this point Jesus passes from the first, or temporary, to the second, or final,commission of the apostles, for all the persecutions enumerated wereencountered under the latter.

10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in theirs synagogues they will scourge you;

1. Councils, and . . . synagogues. Both Jewish powers. On the synagogue, see Mark 1:39.

10:18  yea and before governors and kings¹ shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

1. Before governors and kings. The phrase indicates Gentile powers, for most all governors and kings were then appointed by Rome.

10:19  But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak¹: for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak.

1. Be not anxious how or what ye shall speak. For comment on similar words, see Luke 12:11.

10:21  And brother shall deliver up brother to death¹, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.

1. Brother shall deliver up brother to death. Jesus here foretells the intense religious bigotry with which his ministers should beopposed. Having foretold persecution, he here predicts actualmartyrdom.

10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake¹: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved².

1. Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. The term "all" is used in its general and not in its absolute sense. The apostles hadsome few friends among the unbelievers. Jesus gives the exact cause ofthe hatred. It would not be because of any personal faults orpeculiarities, but simply because of adherence to Christ.

2. But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. Since the persecution was unto death, the endurance which should meet it mustbe to the end of life.

10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next¹: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

1. When they persecute you in this city, flee into the next. The apostles were not to meet obduracy with obduracy. Moving as swiftly asthey could along the line of least resistance, they would not be ableto evangelize all the Jewish cities before the time set for theirdesolation--before the Son of man should come in the demonstration ofhis judicial power and destroy the Jewish nationality.

10:25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub², how much more them of his household!

1. It is enough for the disciple that he should be as his teacher. Jesus applied similar words to the Jewish teachers. See Luke 6:40.

2. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, etc. Jesus here warns the apostles that they cannot expect better treatment thanhe himself received. Nor should they ask exemption from what he himselfsuffered.

10:28  And be not afraid of them that kill the body¹, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

1. Be not afraid of them that kill the body. See Luke 12:4.

10:31  Fear not therefore¹: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:31
1. Fear not therefore. See Luke 1:30.

10:33  But whosoever shall deny me before men¹, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

1. Whosoever shall deny me before men. For comment on similar remarks, see Luke 12:8.

10:36  and a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household¹.

1. A man's foes [shall be] they of his own household. For comment on similar language, see Luke 12:53.

10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me¹; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

1. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Love for the old religion would make the members of the Jewish andpagan families persecute those who apostasized from it to give theirhearts to Christ. But if the Jew and the pagan thus held "their"religions at a higher value than the ties of kindred, much more shouldthe Christian value his religion above these ties.

10:38  And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me¹.

1. And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. This is doubtless an allusion to the manner of hisdeath, and being the first of the kind it must have been very puzzlingto his disciples, unless explained by prior words of Jesus, of which wehave no record. As such allusion its full meaning is this: "If I bearfor each the vicarious cross and suffer for each the full measure ofthe divine displeasure, then each should be willing cheerfully tofollow me that he may obtain the benefits of my sacrifice, and if thelight cross of human displeasure deter him from this, he is not worthyof me".

10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it¹.

1. He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Jesus declares that all self-seeking isself-losing. He that makes his own life the chief object of hisendeavor really fails the more he seems to succeed. He who saves andhusbands his powers to expend them on those lower carnal joys which asinner calls "life" shall lose those higher spiritual joys which Godcalls "life", and vice versa. For a comment on similar expression,see Mark 8:35.

10:40  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me¹.

1. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. Having depicted in all their darknessthe persecutions which awaited the apostles, Jesus here, by an easytransition, proceeds to declare the honor of their apostleship in thatthey were representatives directly of Christ, and indirectly of theFather.

10:41  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet¹ shall receive a prophet's reward²: and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

Matthew 10:41 Matthew 10:42
1. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet. That is, because he is a prophet.

2. Shall receive a prophet's reward, etc. Whoever honors a prophet, a righteous man, or a disciple, as such recognizes that person'srelation to God as the ground of that act; and to that extent honorsGod in the act, just as he who performs a similar act in the name of afriend thereby honors that friend. A prophet's reward is notsynonymous, however, with final salvation, for salvation is a matter ofgrace and not of reward.