Marching Orders

Opening Psalm: Psalm 112

Scripture Reading: Psalm 50:3-6

Psalm 50:3–6 ESV

Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah

Sermon

Good Morning Church! I was Glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord!

I Must confess, I have a problem that gets me in trouble sometimes (mostly with my wife…). I like to eaves drop. Maybe it is because I am inherently curious, maybe it is because of my ADHD i like to focus on other people’s conversations other than my own, maybe it is because when I was an RA over here at Garcia hall on the NMSU campus, it was not only encouraged, it was required and it became a bad Habit, whatever the reason, I really like to listen to what other people are saying. I should probably be clear, I don’t do this in a sneaky or underhand way, I just like when the booth behind us talks really loud so I can know what is going on in their lives.

Well I bring this up because today, we are all going to do a little eaves dropping, but in this case I know it is OK, because one of the members of the conversation wrote it down and it is part of God’s holy Word.

Lets read God’s word thing morning. Our passage for the day is Matthew 10:5-15

Matthew 10:5–15 ESV

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Let begin with a word of prayer.

This week we are tackling the first large portion of the second large portion of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew, the Missions discourse. In case we have all forgotten, Matthew is best understood as a series of discourses, or speeches if you will, followed by narratives (or stories) that highlight what what just spoken of. Our last speech was the sermon on the mount, and after that we had all the miracles of jesus, which showed that he had authority over all things. Well what is he going to do with that authority? short answer: send out his disciples.

And so he does. Starting in chapter 10 Jesus sends out the twelve. Last week we named them all. but I want us t remember that specifically he is talking to these twelve. This is kinda technical, but important for us to understand. there is a difference between words written directly to us, and words spoken to the disciples that are then given to us. that is why I said we are eavesdropping. This message, and hear me clearly here, was not ORIGINALLY intended for us. jesus spoke these words to the twelve. But then, the Holy Spirit told Matthew to write it down. That thing that you were told Matthew, well, now I want you to tell the whole world about it. It becomes for us, but that is secondary to the disciples. Why is this important, and isn't that splitting hairs?

No it is not splitting hairs, because yes it is important, because as we will see there are some highly specific orders given to the disciples, and if we take a “these are primarily for me” stance, we will be led to some weird conclusions. Instead we will hear the words of the Lord, and ask: what PRINCIPLES now apply to me. This is seen clearly here n the first point. Lets ask: what is the mission here?

Well in our text it is ONLY to the Jewish people. Matthew 10:5-6

Matthew 10:5–6 ESV

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

So a “primary” reading here would mean that we are not to preach to gentiles, only to Jewish people. Reading this in this way makes me think I am wasting my time here with you all. It also leads to a contradiction, why here does Jesus tell us to only preach to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” but in the Great commission that we have been reading EVERY WEEK he tells us to go and make disciples of all nations? so which one is it? The answer is to look for the principle, which means that the mission is SPECIFIC

The Mission: SPECIFIC

The twelve here are sent out with specific orders, Yes, Samaria is right over there, but don’t go there yet. Its not time. Yes there are gentiles all around, but that is NOT for you to do, at least not yet. (as we look at the scope of church history, this was to become mainly Paul’s job, so God would get there, but NOT RIGHT NOW!) And that is the point, God is not here placing he whole lot of every lost person in the lap of these twelve. It is a specific group that they are sent to. There is a specific group that God has called THEM to go and reach with the hope of the kingdom, there are certain people and places in their lives FOR NOW. That may change, and in fact, in their lives it does change. but God is not calling them to be, to quote my dad, “All things to all people all the time”.

And this is why it is so important for us to understand this principle. And I think we need to look at this for our lives at two levels. One is corporate, the other personal. Lets start big picture: Hear me clearly on this the CHURCH and by that i mean the global body of all believers who’s head is christ, the CHURCH is called to go into all the world and make disciples of all nation.s But us, this church grace bible church is not called to go into ALL THE WORLD, but we are called to go and make disciples. the question is what is our calling.

The Message: THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!

-The message to be proclaimed by the disciples is exactly the same as that of John the Baptist and of Jesus himself. - France, 382

-It was not their business to work out the solution to contemporary problems, but to sound out the message Jesus was proclaiming. - Morris - 246

The Means: WHATEVER GOD PROVIDES

-Gospel goers depend on Gospel givers - O’Donnell, 286

-Here is an opportunity to exercise the practical trust in God’s provision which they have been taught in Matthew 6:25-33. France 384

-Contrast this command with my present experience for planning a trip this summer. - its crazy what Jesus is asking of them!

-That God would surely supply their need is the unspoken thought, and they are not to rely on their own resources and ingenuity. - Morris, 248

-They must go expecting to be poor but to have enough, Green 136

-one is struck by the relative lack of funds and equipment the disciples are to take. This reminds believers today that their ultimate ministry resource is the Lord’s power, not their own provisions. - Turner 272

The Outcome: MIXED

-The thought of the negative outcome which could, in some cases, lead to persecution, becomes the focus of the rest of Jesus’ Missions Discourse, but that is for another Sunday!

-how they treat the disciples becomes a reflection of how they treat Jesus, so why are we surprised there is a mixed response. This is why we can say with assurance that “the ‘peace’ that will rest on the ‘worthy’ is not just a social formality, but a real mark of God’s blessing or judgement.” - France 381

-The servant of Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behoves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase their condemnation.- Matthew Henry

-We should not miss the christological claim that is implied. If the punishment of those who rejected Jesus’ followers who brought his message was greater than that of notorious sinners of old, then how great must we understand Jesus to be? - Morris, 251

-This bifurcated response to the messengers of messianic peace prepares for the sobering teaching of Matthew 10:34. -Turner 272