Leave the Bag Behind

Matthew 10:8-15

ETS: Jesus gave the apostles specific instructions as they were being sent out.

ESS: We should go out in a specific manner in alignment with the instructions of Jesus.

OSS: [MO: Consecrative] {SO: I want the hearers to commit to going forth in a manner focused only on the Kingdom of God and not on themselves.}

PQ: How are we supposed to go forth? (regarding the manner in which we go)

UW: Ways

Intro.: Jesus commissioned the apostles, and He delegated the authority and ministry to them. However, before they left to go, He gave them specific instructions regarding the manner in which they were to go.

Beginning job at Nabors Home Center; first task: “put this piece of equipment together and display it.” (Goal of prompt: I was left wondering exactly what was expected of me. I wasn’t sure of the manner I was supposed to put it together, the time frame, or even the place to display it. The instructions were vague. This was not so with the instructions given by Jesus to the apostles.)

TS.: Let us examine together the ways that we are to go forth.

We should go forth seeking only Kingdom gain. (vv. 8-9)

Freely give

Not acquiring payment

not for personal gain.

We should go forth trusting God’s Kingdom provision. (v. 10)

Don’t take a traveling bag…or an extra...

Take only what is necessary. Trust God to provide.

We should go forth enabling Kingdom witness. (v. 11)

Worthy in this verse does not mean worthy in a sense of satisfactory per our standards. Worthy means a place that is of suitable character and noble reputation among the village. 1 Cor. 15:33 states that “bad company corrupts good morals.” The apostles did not need to stay anywhere that would pose a threat to the message they were proclaiming or the ministry they were providing. They needed to stay among worthy people.

Stay there until you leave: a temptation would have been for the apostles to take advantage of the relationships they formed (i.e. they might make friends with someone who became a believer because of their ministry who has a more luxurious place to offer).

We should go forth blessing Kingdom people. (vv. 12-13)

Middle-east context and emphasis on words.

Again, worthy here does not mean that they are of suitable appearance, status, etc.; rather, worthy here means they are open to the Gospel. The world of missions calls this, “people of peace.”

We should go forth leaving behind Kingdom hindrances. (vv. 14-15)

Per Jewish tradition, when they would travel outside of Palestine into Gentile territory, before they crossed back into Palestine, they would dust their feet off as to not carry across any polluted sand from the Gentile territory- they viewed it as pagan because of their background.

Thus, Jesus instructed the apostles to leave behind any dust that might pollute or hinder their ministry moving forward because of their rejection of the Gospel.

Furthermore, Jesus said it would be more acceptable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for those villages or cities that rejected the Gospel. Yes, Sodom and Gomorrah rejected Godly truths and standards/morals. However, they had not been introduced to the Gospel, which is a greater standard than the law. As such, one author suggested that the greater the standard, the greater the responsibility. Obviously, the Gospel is held higher than the law- as such, those who reject the Gospel are actually rejecting a higher standard than that of the law like Sodom and Gomorrah.

CONCLUSION:

The gist of this message and the instruction of Jesus to His apostles is this: the manner we go forth in matters, and we should not go forth in a manner that focuses on or promotes selfish or material gain. This is not about us. It is about the Kingdom of God and His glory being spread across the earth through the Gospel.

Use the luggage bag as an example and visual illustration here.

Last week, I said that some of you needed to pick up the jacket meaning you needed to commit to going. However, before you go- let me caution you to leave behind your bag. You need to not go expecting to gain personal materials or hoping for some kind of personal gain. Sure, God will bless your efforts, but this is not about you. Will you go forth even if God doesn’t bless your efforts? You need to go forth leaving behind your bag- let go of whatever it is that may hinder you along the way. Take only what is necessary and trust God to provide the rest.