Sending out the Twelve

Setting and Overview
Chapter 9 of Matthew closes a long section with Jesus instructing his disciples to pray for workers to be sent into the ready mission fields. Chapter 10 begins a new section with Jesus sending the first such workers out: The Twelve. The first fifteen verses tell us who is in that group and instructions that Jesus sends them out with. Those instructions are very specific and many are situational, yet through those we can also truths and application that help us to understand how we should go into the ready mission fields today.

Exposition
Matthew 10:1 is the first time that Matthew mentions the Twelve as a group, but we get the impression that this is not a new distinction. The authority that he gives them is the same authority that we have seen him exercising, and the number 12 immediately brings to mind the twelve tribes of Israel. The order of the list here is close to similar lists in Mark, Luke, and Acts, with each always in the same group of 4, Peter always first, and Judas Iscariot always last.
Jesus sends them first to the lost sheep of Israel, bringing to mind the promises of Ezekiel 34. There may have been some practical reasons to restrict them from going to the Gentiles and Samaritans, despite the success seen in John 4. That prior success may have enticed them to go first to such groups, but other evidence showed that they probably weren’t ready for that (Luke 9:52-56.) The more important reason however, was likely to emphasize that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and that salvation was coming to the Jews first. The message that they are to take, “The Kingdom of heaven is near” matches what John the Baptist and Jesus himself preached, and the acts they are to perform will demonstrate the truth of their words. This message is continued by the early church (Acts 1:3, 28:30-31.) Unlike so many others, they are not supposed to minister in order to receive blessing, but instead in reflection of what they have already received. Furthermore, they are to go out with only the bare necessities, forcing them to be dependent on others to provide for them, setting a standard for how the church should provide for ministers (I Timothy 5:17-18) and how ministers should not pursue financial gain (I Timothy 6:6-11.)
Especially because they have gone out with so little, the disciples would have likely been tempted to look for the wealthiest places to stay and seek support, but Jesus commands them to base such decisions on who is worthy, which is confirmed by verse 14 to be tied not to previous moral reputation, but rather to a willingness to receive the Gospel. When that message, and the peace that accompanies it is rejected, then they are supposed to adapt the Jewish practice of shaking off the dust, a practice of removing any association of an unworthy people or area destined for destruction. Here, however, the association is not one of heritage but rather of acceptance of Jesus.

Examination and Application
Although much in those verses is specific, we can still learn an apply much as well. The disciples were relatively unremarkable men who were given remarkable authority (John 14:12, Acts 1:8, 4:13, II Corinthians 3:5-6) and were told to do remarkable things (Matt 28:18-20.) The last exhortation still applies to us today, and we are likewise empowered to carry it out. We are also expected to declare and live out the kingdom (Matthew 5:3-12) in such a way to influence the world (Matthew 5:13-16.) We further bless others not to receive a blessing but because we have already been blessed (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13, John 15:12-13, I Peter 2:13-3:16.) We are told to willingly sacrifice our material blessings in order to support the ministry, and when are ministers ourselves, to gladly accept such support but be content with the minimum needed to continue our work (I Timothy 5:17-6:11.) Finally, we should use discernment as we carry out the Gospel, taking it to wherever we can, but ultimately looking to those who are willing to receive it (Acts 13:44-52.)