Jesus Sends The Apostles

Announcements

Chair Example

Up front is an example of the chairs we are being given

Tracts

While I understand the use of tracts to give out information to non-believers, tracts are also useful to believers so we can read something succinct and be able to have good conversations with people

Some of the most common questions today are “Who is Jesus?” “How can I trust the Bible?” and “What is the Gospel?Well I got three tracts taken from a book series, and I would encourage you all to take them and read themThey will help you in evangelism, even if you don’t give them outBy God’s grace, you might even encounter someone soon who poses these questions… I did recently

Children’s Teacher Meeting March 14th

Rachel is going to be holding a mandatory children’s meeting after service on March 14th

The purpose will be to build into our teachers so they can build into the kids

Please mark it on your calendars, if you are a children’s teacher

Egg Hunt Potentially on Saturday, April 3rd

Talk to Rachel if you’d like to help

We are going to use the remaining candy from our Candy Drive Thru, but will still need more candy

We ordered 800-something eggs

I’ll be making a flyer to distribute once we get more details hammered out

Baptist’s Favorite Holy Day

Potluck today

Psalm 40:4-5

4 Blessed is the man who makes

the LORD his trust,

who does not turn to the proud,

to those who go astray after a lie!

5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God,

your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;

none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,

yet they are more than can be told.

Introduction

There is a weightiness, a heaviness, when it comes to preaching and proclaiming God’s Word. There is also a heaviness that should be present as we read it… The question to preachers is often “how much of the text” or “how long of a sermon” are necessary.

But, the real difficulty is ensuring that you’re preaching the text correctly, much like when we read Scripture we should wonder if we’re reading it correctly. Are we really understanding it? Did we really get the context as we went through it? Those are weighty questions, and not just because we want to be right about something… But because we want to read, much like I need to preach, in a way that glorifies (that honors) God.

One of the most difficult challenges we face as modern Bible readers, for instance, is trying to find the distinction between the “prescriptive” (what we are told to do in Scripture) vs. the “descriptive” (what we are told about for our benefit).

What makes this such a challenge is that very often the “prescribed” and the “described” are in the same sentence, or maybe the same “linking” of thoughts put together in a paragraph in most translations.

Other times, it’s difficult to determine the distinction because we realize that all Scripture is profitable, that it all has implications and applications for our daily lives. Therefore, (and this is a wrong assumption) when it comes to our reading of a text we might determine that every word of what we read is somehow geared or catered toward us. It’s wrong because while all the words of God were recorded in the Word of God for our benefit, they were all written to specific people at specific times declaring specific truths. We must, then, determine what the text meant to them to determine what it means for us.

There are other challenges we face as we read Scripture and have it come as a surgical blade to our hearts for transformation, but I’m convinced that the level of difficulty in discovering the “prescribed” from the “described” remains pretty high, regardless of how long we’ve been Christians.

--

Such is the trouble as we approach our text for today. In it, we find that Christ gives authority over some incredible things.

Our text for today covers three things. (1) An introduction from Matthew (2) Who was told to go /and/ (3) Where they were told to go. In most Bibles, I’ll be cutting short a paragraph, but it’s because I want to ensure we have the time and liberty to go over their particular tasks next week, and how they might relate to our own actions as Christians today. Let’s read:

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 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 Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Matthew’s Introduction (v. 1)

This first verse is a summary of what we call “chapter 10” by Matthew.

It wasn’t uncommon for Matthew to give us introductions at the beginning of his major sections, like we had in chapter 4, then a summary in chapter 7, and another summary in chapter 9. Sentences like 10:1 are here to indicate a change of scenery or purpose. In this case, Matthew is telling us a change of both, but primarily of purpose.

In fact, v. 1 serves as a literal answer to the prayer that Jesus told His disciples to pray in 9:37-38 which says:

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

--

Note: Christ is the Lord of the harvest, and in 10:1 He is showing that literally happen.

We don’t know the timeframe between 9:38 and 10:1, but it is logical to assume that some time had passed between these moments. Matthew begins ordering the rest of his gospel thematically, not only in narrative format, which makes it difficult for us as readers to track with him, sometimes, because he uses sayings like “after this” and “then.”

In fact, later we will turn briefly to Luke 10, which covers a similar situation to ours today in Matthew 10. It shares some extremely similar details to ours, except it’s not just the Apostles Jesus sends out, but 72 disciples He sends ahead of Him. In fact, He says stuff to them that’s very similar to what Matthew says here.

Now, before we dig too far into the weeds here, I want to make clear that Matthew 10 and Luke 10 are showing different situations, but Jesus encourages the 72 in like manner to the 12 Apostles. We will gather something from that similarity in a bit, but in saying that they are different situations will help us avoid a harmonizing problem.

Many have suggested that either Matthew or Luke are wrong. Is it 12 or 72 persons Jesus sent out? Both, He probably sent the 12 out first, then later gave the same charge to 72 others. Harmony problem: solved.

--

Notice that Christ called these men to Himself to send them out, and He is also the One giving them authority over unclean spirits and all manner of sicknesses. All true authority comes from God, and He dispenses that authority as He sees fit, and in what portions He sees fit.

Christ gave these men this authority to prove they had come from God to do these things, just as His own miraculous works showed that He Himself had come from God. However, in giving this authority, it proved that He was more powerful than these 12 men were. This authority was granted as proof of His ministry, showing Him distinct and special from the other traveling Rabbis of the first century.

In the first century, there were plenty of traveling teachers who claimed miraculous powers. However, only Jesus did them, and only Jesus empowered His Apostles to do the same.

--

Therefore, the purpose we should get from Matthew 10:1 is that these 12 were distinct, and the authority given to them was given by Christ Himself.

Who was told to go (vv. 2-4)

It’s interesting to note that the 12 are only called “Apostles” once in all of Matthew’s gospel, and v. 2 is where it is. Matthew uses the word “Apostles” which is a noun of the greek verb ἀποστέλλω which means “sent out.” So, Matthew is referring to the twelve “Apostles” as the “sent ones.” More specifically, it is “those sent by Jesus,” which would be the implication of this title in the context of our section.

“The twelve ‘sent ones’” are clearly listed. These were:

1. Peter

2. Andrew

3. James

4. John

5. Philip

6. Bartholomew

7. Thomas

8. Matthew (the author of this gospel)

9. Another James

10. A guy named Thaddaeus

11. Simon the Zealot

12. and Judas Iscariot (who betrayed Him)

These men were thus ordained specifically for the tasks that Jesus gave in verse 1, and also for the direct commands in later verses. This means that we should not read the next section as direct commands to us as Christians today. Since these men are specifically listed by Matthew as those whom Jesus charged with these specifics, we must realize that we are not called to the same ministries as the Apostles, but we can look at the commands and warnings Christ gave them and prepare some implications for ourselves.

And it’s here that I really have to caution us, because we really have to be careful when we read these verses together to try and not get wrong ideas. When Jesus gave them “authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction,” it was to them, the Apostles. This is NOT authority given to us.

“Don’t Christians have authority over demons?” you may ask me. No, not directly like the Apostles had here. You and I have no authority over demons, or diseases, or afflictions, or cancer, or COVID. Only God has authority over these things, which is exactly why it’s miraculous and special that Jesus gave this authority to the Apostles.

--

Now, I realize that there are some out there who try to logic it out that Christians have the Holy Spirit, therefore they have the “power” of God in them. But, listen, the Holy Spirit is not a power, it’s a person! To have God Himself residing within Christians is an incredible gift, an incomparable grace where we are convicted of our sins not of our own consciences, but of God Himself doing so.

We are comforted by God the Spirit, we are helped by God the Spirit, we are strengthened, emboldened, given words before kings by God the Spirit.

But, make sure you hear my words clearly…. None of those are actions of us, they are actions of God.

Read the Apostle Paul, who is not listed here but is sent out and considered an Apostle beginning in Acts 9, and you’ll hear him frequently attributing success to God and not to Himself. To strength of God and not of Himself. For instance:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Therefore, most of Matthew 10, as we spend the next few weeks in it, will be “descriptive” instead of “prescriptive.” Our application will not be necessarily by literal command given to us, but by implication of what Christ says concerning the world and how they relate to His people.

--

It’s also worth noting that Judas, the one who betrayed Christ, was given these same commands, these same powers, yet his deception and defection would have awarded him that dreadful saying Christ made in 7:22-23...

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Therefore, we should continue with carefulness, knowing that even miraculous signs and wonders do not prove a person’s faithfulness. Only close communion with Christ, resulting in serving Him faithfully throughout our days.

--

There are countless implications of that reminder. God’s gifts and providing on an unbeliever might not be because of favor or love, but to further their condemnation for not turning to Him.

Not only that, but just because someone appears holy on the outside, doesn’t mean they have the Holy Spirit inside, transforming and redeeming them. Only Jesus knew what Judas was going to do in betraying Him. The rest of the Apostles were stunned when it happened.

In Matthew 26, the scenario plays out where Jesus warns them of the betrayal of one of them:

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”

I’m certain that many of us will be surprised who is not in the presence of Christ someday. We won’t be shocked like we would be on earth, but now is the time for you who do not have salvation to turn to Him. He died for the salvation of lost souls. Look to Him, know His forgiveness, and do not prove to be a snake among the flock of God like Judas did.

He did mighty miracles “in Jesus’ name” and even with Christ’s authority transmitted to Him. But, even Judas did those things to his peril. If you feel a sense of fakeness in your faith, or if you are an outright liar. Repent before it’s too late.

Where they were to go (vv. 5-7)

Moving to our last few verses, it’s important to not forget the purpose of them being sent out with this miraculous authority. I said it before, that Jesus gave these men the authority to do these things to prove His ministry as special and distinct from all the other travelling rabbis of the first century.

How do we know this? Well, first let’s point out that this “power” He gave these men wasn’t something they should’ve marveled at because:

1. Again, It wasn’t theirs, but from Jesus and His authority // This power was not their own, but given to them and it flowed from the gracious hand of Christ

2. When that 72 I mentioned came back, this was the dialogue they had with Jesus:

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Therefore, do not rejoice, they are told, at these miraculous things you are doing, but instead rejoice in the fact of their salvation!

--

Now, in concluding our section and before I make some final remarks, I want to remind us that these statements are not directly to us. When we read verses 5-7, we see some commandments of Christ that would seem really odd for us to employ. They are:

1. Go nowhere among the Gentiles or Samaritans

2. Stay among the lost sheep of the house of Israel

3. Proclaim “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

Most of us, I’m assuming, have Gentile (or non-Israelite) blood in our veins. Is this a command for you? The command to avoid Gentiles and proclaim only to Israelites? No, of course not. These words confirm that this was a command for these Apostles, going only to towns specifically nearby Jesus and His ministry at the time, doing these incredible things.

Even the statement “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” means that it’s nearby. Not just near, in terms of time, but also in terms of space. Jesus was nearby, He was coming into these towns too.

Jesus is the King of heaven, and therefore that kingdom is nearby. Christ is not just a travelling king, working like an ambassador for the kingdom (that’s our job in 2 Cor. 5:20), but He was the King who was travelling in His country that was living in rebellion.

--

Therefore, you and I are still in God’s kingdom… But if we are living in rebellion against the King and His authority, then I must remind you that there are grave consequences for rebelling against this King and His kingdom.

We cannot go somewhere “at hand” to see Jesus with our eyes like they were during the time period of Matthew 10, but His kingdom is still at hand.

We are now, ever since Acts 2, called to go into Gentile areas. That counts here in Toledo. We are to proclaim the gospel, the reconciling work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the salvation of souls, even here. Especially here, since this is where you and I now live.

Conclusion

In closing, there are three primary implications of this text for you and I.

1. We do not have the same authority as the Apostles, nor do we have the exact same charge, therefore we must put all our hope and trust in the Lord and His authority

2. Even if someone knows the Bible well, or performs incredible signs and wonders, or has been provided incredible mercy in this life, it does not mean they are saved (like Judas). Therefore, we must challenge others and ourselves to have close communion with Christ, and remind and be reminded constantly of the gospel and its implications on our lives and attitudes

3. Where the King reigns is where His kingdom is. It is always “at hand,” even though not like the day when Jesus walked the earth. Therefore, we must not live (or encourage others to live) unholy lives with deceptive hearts (like Judas, again), and instead live lives of repentance… Leaving behind all that hinders us from delighting in God and His kingdom.

--

Even the descriptive portions of Scripture are filled with necessary truths and implications for our daily lives. Let’s pray.