Matthew 10

Matthew 10 (NKJV)

The Twelve Apostles

1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 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; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

Note: This is the same kind of power Mark 16 says the believer has. When He said in Acts 1:8 that when the Holy Spirit came you would be filled with power. In the Greek that word is Dunamis which means the power to do miracles. So being filled with the Holy Spirit can only happen if I believe in Jesus which then evokes Mark 16 in my life and I can do what the Apostles were commissioned to do.

Sending Out the Twelve

5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.

11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

Note: At that time the message was for the Jews but after the resurrection Paul brought the message to the Gentiles. We need to continue this job of going. Acts 1:8 says; Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. For us it is Corona, California, The United States, and the end of the earth. Your area you live is the very place that God has planted you to win to Jesus. They may not all receive you, but let the compassion of Christ be in you for them and pray for them.

Persecutions Are Coming

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21 “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

Note: We haven’t experienced this extreme persecution in America but is going on around the world. Everyday many people are martyred for their faith in Jesus. We need to stay grounded in the word and steadfast in our relationship with Jesus so that we can continue to stand for Jesus no matter what comes our way.

Jesus Teaches the Fear of God

27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Note: I said in on Sunday January 4, you are God’s favorites, holy and beloved. Fear God! He has a plan for your life and He numbers our days. Worship Him and Him alone. Give Him all the Glory. Sometimes you may not feel like it because you are going through a tough spot, but that is the time to look up and glorify God and break the back of the enemy so that the enemy or your soul has no hold on you.

Confess Christ Before Men

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Notes: Romans 10:9 tells us that “If we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Let your confession be big. Confess the forgiveness, confess the healing. When my body gets out of alignment with the word of “by His strips I am healed,” I confess Jesus as my healer. I don’t confess how I feel, I confess Jesus in every circumstance. He is my provider!

Christ Brings Division

34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Note: This seems kind of contrary since Jesus is peace, but He saw what was coming. He knew that there would be conflict if we make a stand with Jesus. That is the dividing line. Households will be divided, Father and son divided. It goes on. So don’t let it surprise you when it happens to you. When people don’t like you because you’re a Christ follower, don’t get mad about it. Just know it was prophesied long ago.

A Cup of Cold Water

40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Note: There may be times when you are the one receiving. Don’t be afraid to share a meal or even a cold cup of water with on that comes to you in the name of the Lord. Also don’t be afraid to step out and go to people. The only thing you need is the word of the Lord.