The First Commission

Good morning and welcome to Mission Church. Our mission is to partner with God to see His Kingdom come in Centennial Hills as it is in Heaven, and we are working toward this goal by making disciples who love Jesus, live like Jesus, and lead others to Jesus.

If we haven't met yet, my name is John Lee, and I have the honor of serving as the pastor here at Mission Church.

Please grab your Bible and turn to Matthew 10. As many of you know, we are sojourning through Matthew’s firsthand account of the life and ministry of Jesus, which we’ve titled “The King and His Kingdom.”

So far in our study, we've encountered Jesus, heard His teachings on discipleship, and witnessed His powerful works. We’ve had front-row seats to incredible miracles—such as the healing of a leper, the restoration of sight to the blind, the raising of a young girl from the dead, and the expulsion of demons. All of these works confirm Jesus's identity as the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of David, who has come to seek and save the lost.

Until now, our focus has been primarily on Jesus. But like a great player who becomes a coach, Jesus trains, equips, and adds workers to His team.

Last week, we got a sneak peek, but this morning we will see the work of Jesus expand as He commissions His team to preach the good news of the Gospel to the Jewish people in Galilee. What we witness in our text today is the First Commission given to the disciples.

If you’re able, I invite you to stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Matthew 10:1–15 (CSB)

1 Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: 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 Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5 Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan town. 6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9 Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts. 10 Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker is worthy of his food. 11 When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 Greet a household when you enter it, 13 and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Pastor: This is the Word of Lord.

Congregation: Praise Be to God

Let’s Pray

Over two hundred years ago, a young couple named Adoniram and Ann Judson embarked on an incredible journey that would test their faith and commitment to the Lord in ways that most of us can barely imagine. They were pioneers in the modern missions movement, but their story is not a story of immediate success or comfort. Instead, their journey was filled with sacrifice, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to God’s call.

Before they even set sail, Adoniram penned a heartfelt letter to Ann’s father, not just asking for permission to marry his daughter but outlining the immense hardships they would face. From perilous sea voyages to potential persecution and even death, he described it all. Yet, he ended his letter with a vision of eternal reward, where Ann would be welcomed into glory, having played a role in rescuing countless souls from eternal despair.

Remarkably, Ann’s father agreed, and the Judsons set off for Burma (which is now known as Myanmar). And their mission was full of extreme challenges — in fact — Ann eventually lost her life in the mission field. However, the Judson legacy continues to impact thousands of lives in Myanmar to this day.

Now — the Judson’s story isn’t just about their personal sacrifice — rather it’s a powerful reminder of the urgent call to share the Gospel, even when you’re faced with overwhelming odds. And its a call that — if we’re honest— seems pretty unusual to us—in fact — the Judsons sense of urgency and sacrifice might seem extraordinary, but it’s actually quite normal in the context of God’s Word.

And — as we continue our journey through Matthew, over the next few weeks we are going to witness how Jesus calls His followers to live in faithful obedience to His urgent mission.

Now — In our passage today, we’ll see how Jesus equips us with His authority and promises to provide us with everything we need. The truth is — in spite of our feelings of inadequacy, our doubts about His provision, or our fears of rejection, we are called to respond to God’s commission with obedient faith.

We will uncover this truth from our text through three key scenes:

I. The Messengers and their Mission vv.1-6

II. The Message and the Method vv. 7-10

III. The Reception and its Consequences vv. 11-15

I. The Messengers and their Mission

Remember—when Jesus saw the crowds, He was moved with heart-wrenching compassion for them. Why? Because they were lost, weary, and burdened—like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus didn’t just feel sorry for them; He acted. He told His disciples to pray, to ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into His harvest field.

But here’s what’s interesting: as they prayed, they became the answer to their own prayers. Jesus called these men to Himself and began preparing them to be sent out, not just to anyone, but to the lost, broken, and weary people of Galilee. Look at verse 1.

Matthew 10:1–4 (CSB)

1 Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: 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 Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

At this point, Jesus had many disciples, but He specifically chose twelve men to be part of His inner circle. These twelve didn’t volunteer or apply for the role. Instead, Jesus handpicked them from a larger group of followers for a unique and intentional purpose.

Now, Matthew has already introduced us to a few of these men, but here the number is expanded to twelve. Why twelve? This number is symbolic. It points back to the twelve tribes of Israel. In other words, Jesus is doing something incredible here—by calling twelve men and sending them to minister specifically to Israel, He’s initiating the restoration and renewal of God’s people. This is the beginning of a new chapter for Israel, a kind of renewal for the Old Testament church. You see — when Jesus chooses twelve disciples He is signaling that the church is now the heir of all of the blessings and the promises God made to Israel.

Consider what Peter would later say to the church in 1 Peter 2:9.

1 Peter 2:9 (CSB)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

These terms— “a chosen race”, “a royal priesthood”, and “a holy nation” once uniquely applied to Israel in the Old Testament—but now they describe everyone who believes in Jesus. You see, there is one thing that unites the Church, and that’s faith in Jesus.

Think about it: we often look for unity in other things—hobbies, education, social status, ethnicity—but the Church is unique. We’re not united by what we do or where we come from; we’re united by one thing—one person—and His name is Jesus Christ. And just as Jesus united the twelve, He unites us today.

And don’t miss this—not only did Jesus call and unite these 12 guys but Jesus also gave them authority. Underline or make note of that word: authority. Before Jesus sends the twelve disciples out into the mission field, He empowers them with His authority. This wasn’t just any authority; it was the same power Jesus Himself demonstrated—authority in His teaching, in healing the sick, and in casting out demons. And Jesus didn’t just give them the power to do these things; He gave them the right to exercise that power.

Now, this should blow our minds when we consider who these twelve men were. They weren’t particularly impressive. In fact, they were nobodies. The most "important" among them were a few blue-collar fishermen. That’s the top of the hierarchy in this ragtag group. These weren’t leaders, scholars, or people of influence. And yet, they were given the monumental task of continuing Jesus’ mission.

Here’s something even more significant—not only were these men disciples — disciples are learners —-disciples are followers — anyone can be a disciple — but Matthew calls these 12 men by something that carries much more weight and is much more exclusive… look at verse 2 -

Matthew 10:2 (CSB)

2 These are the names of the twelve apostles…

Now, apostle is a word that carries more authority than just disciple. Anyone can be a disciple, but not everyone is called to be an apostle. The word apostle comes from the Greek word meaning "to send" or "to send out." In fact, look at verse 5,

Matthew 10:5 (CSB)

5 Jesus sent out these twelve…

These two words — sent out— is derived from the Greek verb apostello—which literally means to send out with a mission. So, the idea here is that Jesus is sending His "sent ones"—His apostles—with a specific authority and purpose. An apostle isn’t just a follower or learner like a disciple; an apostle is someone who is sent out to represent the sender. That’s what Jesus is doing with these twelve men. He is commissioning them, giving them His authority, and sending them to speak and act on His behalf. They aren’t just going out on their own; they are going with the authority and power of Jesus Himself.

Now, it's important to understand the difference between Apostle with a capital "A" and apostle with a lowercase "a."

In Acts 1, we learn that to be a capital "A" Apostle, a person had to meet specific qualifications. They had to be part of the original band of disciples and be an eyewitness to the resurrection of Christ. This means that the office of capital "A" Apostle was limited to the first-century church, and no one today holds that title or authority.

However, there are some false teachers and churches today who refer to their leaders as Apostles and claim they carry the same authority and power as the original twelve Apostles. Let me be clear—they don’t. If you ever find yourself in a place where someone claims that title in the way the original Apostles did, run.

While there are no capital "A" Apostles today, there is a sense in which all believers are apostles with a lowercase "a"—meaning that we are all sent out by Christ to share the Gospel and to speak and act on Christs behalf….and like the apostles we too have been given authority — not through our own strength, but through the authority of God’s Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Now, before we move on, it's crucial that we don't miss the strange and beautiful paradox here: Jesus chose the obscure and unimpressive to declare His gospel. What He was showing us is that the power of the gospel doesn't depend on the popularity or abilities of the people who represent it. Rather, the message itself—the gospel—is the very power of God.

In other words, Mission Church, if we are going to be successful in our mission to see God's Kingdom come in Centennial Hills as it is in Heaven, it won't be because of how amazing we are. It will be because of how amazing the One we represent is, and because of the unstoppable power of the gospel we proclaim.

This leads us to the second scene in our narrative —- and its here that Jesus gives specific guidelines and instructions for these disciple’s First Commission…

II. The Message and the Method

Matthew 10:5–6 (CSB)

5 Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan town. 6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

So here’s what’s happening: Jesus is sending His Apostles to minister only to the Jewish people. No one else. In other words, the mission field for this "First Commission" was Israel alone. Now, at first, this might seem a little confusing, right? I mean, isn’t Jesus for everybody?

We’ve already seen in Matthew 8 that Jesus said Gentiles would come flooding into the Kingdom. Not to mention how He praised the faith of the Roman centurion, and even back at His birth, we saw foreign wise men coming to worship Him. So what’s going on with this restriction to the Jews?

Well, here's what’s important to remember: after His resurrection, Jesus will reverse this restriction. In the Great Commission, He sends His disciples to all nations. But right now, with this first mission, we learn two key things about God’s plan in this specific moment in history.

First, there was an urgent need for Israel to hear the message of the Gospel and have a chance to repent and trust in Christ before it was too late. Why? Because the first step in God’s plan was always to offer the Gospel to Israel, and then, through them, take it to the nations. Paul echoes this same priority in Romans 1:16 when he says the gospel is "for the Jew first, and also for the Greek."

But the heartbreaking reality is that Israel, as a whole, wanted nothing to do with Jesus. And yet, in His grace, God was offering Israel one more chance to be His representatives to the nations, just as He had planned from the beginning.

Don’t miss what Jesus is doing here! When He talks about the Jews as "lost sheep," He’s filled with deep compassion for them. These were people whose religious leaders had failed them, leaving them spiritually lost, with no real guidance or care. But when Jesus calls them "the lost sheep of Israel," He’s pointing to something much bigger than just their current situation. He’s reminding them that they are part of the family of Israel, the descendants of God’s covenant promise.

Remember back in Genesis 12:1-3, God made a special promise to Abraham. He promised to bless Abraham’s descendants, and through them, to bless the entire world. That promise was passed down from generation to generation—from Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, who became Israel, the father of the nation.

So when Jesus sends His disciples to the "lost sheep of Israel," He’s reconnecting them to that ancient, two-thousand-year-old promise. It’s like He’s saying, "We’re fulfilling God’s word to Israel first, and through this, the whole world will be blessed." Jesus’ mission wasn’t just about that moment—it was about God’s faithfulness to His promises throughout history.

And friends, here’s where we can take comfort: we serve a faithful God who keeps His promises. No matter where you find yourself today, you can rest in the truth that God is the One who saves. He began the good work of salvation in you, and He promises to sustain you, grow you into the likeness of Christ, and one day—He will finish the good work He started. You will stand before God, made whole and complete. Why? Because we serve a God who is faithful and keeps His promises!

But here’s another important point: Why does Jesus send His apostles to the Jews first, and not to the Gentiles yet?

The second reason is simple: these guys just weren’t ready for the full mission yet. These guys just weren’t ready for the full mission yet. They weren’t prepared for what they’d encounter when taking the Gospel to the nations. Later, after Jesus rose from the dead and their training was complete, Jesus sent them to make disciples of all nations. But there was an order: first the Jews, then the Gentiles.

And Mission Church, here’s the principle for us: last week, we talked about being workers in the harvest, and the first place we need to focus on is the people we know and love.

This reminds me of a humbling experience from when Stacy and I were newly married. We both felt a call to ministry but weren’t sure what that looked like. Stacy, having lived in Japan, had a deep love for the people there, and I just wanted to serve God anywhere. So, we met with a mission agency about possibly moving to Japan as missionaries.

I’ll never forget the conversation with the agency representative. He asked me, "Have you ever been to Japan?" My answer: "Well, no, but Stacy has, and I’d like to go!" Then he asked, "What short-term mission trips have you been on?" And I had to say, "Well, none, but I’d like to!" Finally, he asked, "What countries have you visited?" To which I half-jokingly replied, "Does California count?"

He wasn’t amused. Then he hit me with a tough question: "Whom among your neighbors and friends are you reaching for the Lord?" And I had to say...none.

That day was a humbling one for me. I realized that my willingness to go didn’t make up for my lack of faithfulness where God had already planted me. So I made a commitment that day: I was going to grow where the Master Gardener had planted me until He felt fit to transplant me somewhere else.

And friends—God is calling you to the same task. We are called to be His witnesses in every space and place where you live, work, and play. And get this — It’s not just about where you go, but what you have to share. We carry a message of hope, truth, and life. And we don’t just keep it to ourselves. Look at verse 7—Jesus says,

Matthew 10:7–10 (CSB)

7 As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9 Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts. 10 Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker is worthy of his food.

Now, the disciples couldn’t preach the cross yet because that hadn’t happened, but the message they were given was the same as John the Baptist’s and Jesus’ message: “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” The kingdom has come. God reigns, and He has kept His promise. The long-awaited Messiah has arrived to rescue and redeem sinners!

Not only that, but Jesus gave the Twelve the power to confirm their message by performing the same miracles He had done. These miracles weren’t just for show; they verified their words: The King has come!

This phrase highlights that everything the disciples had received—salvation, authority, power—was a gift from Jesus. And brothers and sisters, the same is true for us. Everything we have—our forgiveness, adoption, justification—none of it came by our own works, but by Christ’s.

Think about that: What do you have that is not a gift from God? Your health, your spiritual gifts, your possessions—all of it is a gift from the Lord. Why? So that we might use it all to further His Kingdom.

Now— imagine for a moment—you are one of these disciples. For the last several months you have watched as Jesus healed the lame, gave sight to the blind, cast out demons, and raised the dead. And now, He looks at you and says— it’s your turn. Oh, and by the way, there’s no need to stock up on supplies—what you have is sufficient, and God will provide the rest.

How would you feel? It’s a radical call, isn’t it?

The disciples were to live out the message they proclaimed—a message of humility, reliance on God, and the life-giving power of the Kingdom. And just like them, we too are called to represent Jesus, not for what we can gain, but for the hope and healing we can bring to others.

Mission Church, let’s not miss this! The message of “freely you have received, freely give” applies to us today. Knowing that everything we have comes from the One who gave it all for us, we can confidently and faithfully pursue Christ’s call to make disciples wherever He sends us. Why? Because we know that in every step of the journey, God will provide.

Jesus continues and he concludes this section of the narrative by pointing our attention away from ourselves and to those who are waiting to hear our message.

III. The Reception and It’s Consequences

Alright, so there are certain passages in Scripture that hit a little harder? They’re the ones that make us squirm a bit in our seats because the truth is so raw. And our final movement this morning? It’s one of those. But before we get there, let’s take a look at what Jesus says in verse 11-13

Matthew 10:11–13 (CSB)

11 When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 Greet a household when you enter it, 13 and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.

Jesus is laying out some basic guidelines here—things that were already known about hospitality. As the disciples traveled through the towns and villages of Galilee, Jesus wasn’t concerned about their comfort. He didn’t want them stressing over where they’d sleep or what they’d eat. The mission was the priority. Their job was simple: Go to the next town, preach the Gospel, heal the sick. And as they did that, Jesus said to find a “person of peace”—someone who would graciously open their home to them.

Now imagine being one of the disciples for a second. You’ve just rolled into a new town, no hotel reservations, no Airbnb lined up. Your focus is solely on the mission—sharing the good news and bringing healing. As you’re doing that, you start looking for that one person who says, "Hey, why don’t you stay with me tonight?" It’s not just about physical needs being met. This is a sign of receptiveness to the message.

And here’s where it gets interesting: Jesus says if you find someone who welcomes you, give them your peace—not just any peace, but the peace of Jesus Himself. In other words, this household would be receiving Jesus’ blessing. That’s huge! But, on the flip side, if a house or a town doesn’t welcome you—if they reject your message—you’re to withhold that peace. No blessing. You take it back and move on.

Then Jesus drops this curious line in verse 14. Let’s read it.

Matthew 10:14 (CSB)

14 If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.

This sounds weird to us….but it was actually a practice the Jews were very familiar with. You see, they considered Gentiles—non-Jews—to be unclean. And that uncleanness extended to the land, the homes, even the dust of Gentile territories. So, whenever a Jew had to pass through a Gentile area—maybe on a business trip or visiting family—they would literally shake the dust off their clothes and feet before reentering Israel. It was a way of saying, "I’m leaving behind everything unclean." It was a symbolic way of cleansing themselves from any defilement.

But here’s where it gets even more intense. Jesus tells the disciples to do this not in Gentile towns, but in Jewish towns—among their own people! If a Jewish town rejected the message of the kingdom, the disciples were to treat it as if it were unclean, just like Gentile territory. Can you imagine the shock that would’ve caused?

By shaking off the dust, the disciples were making a bold statement: rejecting the gospel and its messengers was as serious as being outside of God’s covenant people. In other words, rejecting the message of Jesus made them spiritually unclean in the eyes of God.

And then, as if to drive this point home, Jesus takes it a step further in verse 15.

Matthew 10:15 (CSB)

15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Now, here’s the thing—Jesus isn’t exaggerating to make a point here. He’s not using hyperbole. What He’s saying would have been absolutely overwhelming for the apostles to hear. And honestly? It should hit us just as hard.

Let’s take a second and talk about Sodom and Gomorrah—because if you’re not familiar with these cities, they’re the rock bottom when it comes to human corruption and sin in the Bible. They’re notorious for being the most wicked cities in all of Scripture. In fact, they were so consumed by evil that God unleashed His unrestrained judgment upon them. If you read Genesis 19, you’ll see how fire and brimstone rained down from the heavens as a result of their sin.

Recently, there’s been a fascinating documentary where archaeologists believe they’ve pinpointed the site of Sodom and Gomorrah. They found artifacts that give us a glimpse into just how catastrophic that destruction was. For instance, they discovered pottery that looked as if it had been glazed—a technique that wasn’t even practiced at the time! This suggests that the temperatures during the fire were incredibly intense.

Can you imagine the sheer devastation this would have caused for the people living there? It wasn’t just a simple fire; it was a powerful force that wiped out everything in its path. The evidence paints a vivid picture of how immediate and destructive God’s judgment was.

Now don’t miss this — Jesus is saying — as intense as my judgement was for Sodom and Gomorrah — its going to be worse for anyone who hears the gospel and refuses it. In other words — anyone today who has the opportunity to repent of their sin, receive Christ’s offer of free forgiveness, and submit to Him as their King and does not — must understand the fate they are choosing— a fate that is very real and could take place at any moment!

If you weren’t sure ….this is that uncomfortable truth I was telling you about and this truth has two major applications for us today.

First, I want to ask you something incredibly important: Have you received Christ’s free gift of grace? Have you recognized your sin and repented? So, what is repentance? It’s recognizing that you’ve disobeyed God—that what you’ve done is wrong—and then turning away from it.

But it’s not just about intellect; it’s a change of heart. You not only see that you’re wrong, but you also develop a deep hatred for your sin. This leads to a real change in your life. You don’t just feel guilty and go back to your old ways; you turn from your sin and turn towards faith in Christ.

Friend, the message of the gospel is that the Kingdom of God is at hand. King Jesus has come to seek and save the lost. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He accomplished everything necessary for you to be reconciled to a holy and just God. Right now, King Jesus is seated on His throne in heaven, ruling and reigning, and one day He will return to judge. And on that day, there won’t be time left to settle accounts.

The truth is, we’re not promised tomorrow. This could be your last opportunity to repent. If you’ve heard this gospel and reject it, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for you. Will you not repent? Will you not receive Jesus as your Savior and submit to Him as your King?

The second application is about the urgency of the mission God has given us. Brothers and sisters, in our city of 2.9 million people, only 6% claim any relationship with Jesus. In neighborhoods like Centennial Hills, Sky Canyon, and Providence, we are one of the few churches pointing people to Him.

All around us are people who are lost and without hope because they are without Christ. Tell me—how can we sit idly by?

Like the Apostles, we’ve been given a commission.

Matthew 28:18–20 (CSB)

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Friend, like the disciples, you have the authority of God in His Word, and you have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. May we leave here this morning with a clear understanding of what’s expected of us who call Christ our King.

Let’s remember our mission: to partner with God to see His Kingdom come in Northwest Las Vegas as it is in heaven, pursuing a greater love for Jesus, living lives that reflect Him, and urgently reaching the lost with the message, “Repent! For the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Let’s pray.