The Command of Jesus (Matthew 10:1-20)

The Command of Jesus

[Matthew 10:1-20]

As we welcome the new year, we received a message during the New Year Joint Worship to love our neighbors with the affection of Jesus Christ. We were encouraged to love our neighbors with the affection of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:8), pray for them (vv. 9-11), and participate together in the work for the gospel (v. 5). Following that, during last week's Mission Sunday worship, through Pastor Emeritus Chang Kim, we learned about the missionary success in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 1:5-10). To succeed in missions, like Paul, we must first proclaim the gospel with words but also with power, the Holy Spirit, and great conviction (v. 5). When Paul conveyed God's message, the Thessalonians received it not as human words but as God's word (2:13). Despite many hardships, they received the word with the joy of the Holy Spirit, becoming imitators of Paul and the Lord (1:6). Furthermore, they became an example to believers in Macedonia and Achaia (1:7). The news of their faith in God spread so widely that there was no need for Paul and his companions to say anything (v. 8). They turned from idols to serve the living and true God, eagerly waiting for Jesus to return (vv. 9-10). Paul's successful mission in Thessalonica was rooted in his deep affection for the Thessalonians, willing to give not only the gospel but even his life for them (2:8). Why did Paul love the Thessalonians so much? The answer is found in 1 Thessalonians 1:4 - "For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you." Ultimately, Paul's successful mission was because God loved and chose them. Therefore, as the Lord has sent us into this world, we, too, are recipients of the sending. We have the responsibility to go to our homes, workplaces, and neighbors with the message of Jesus Christ. We are sent, and in our sending, we must proclaim the gospel with the affection of Jesus Christ, loving our neighbors as Paul loved the Thessalonians—with deep affection, fervent prayer, and tangible support for missionaries.

In today's passage, Matthew 10:1-20, we see a scene where Jesus calls His twelve disciples (Mt. 10:1), sends them into the world, and gives them instructions (v. 5). I want to meditate on three statements Jesus made to His disciples in this scene and glean the teachings God provides us.

The first statement from Jesus is, "Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel."

Look at Matthew 10:5-6: "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.'" Do you think when the Lord sent us into this world, He commanded us only to go to those Koreans who do not believe in Jesus? Or do you think the Lord commanded us to go and proclaim the gospel to all people in the world? In the so-called Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus told His disciples, "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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." However, in today's passage, Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus sends His disciples, saying, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Why did Jesus not send His disciples to all Gentiles and nations but specifically said, "Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel"? A similar statement is found in Matthew 15:24 when a Canaanite woman approached Jesus, seeking healing for her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus responded, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Did Jesus truly send His disciples only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel? To answer this question, we must first understand who the "lost sheep" are. Look at Jeremiah 50:6 - "My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold." The "lost sheep" Jesus mentioned refer to God's people. More specifically, from the Old Testament perspective of the Old Covenant, they were the Jews. However, from the New Covenant perspective of the New Testament, they are the people whom God loves and chooses, whether Jews or Gentiles. So, when Jesus commanded His disciples to "go rather to the lost sheep of Israel," it was not a command to avoid the Gentiles at all costs. Instead, it emphasized giving priority to the Jews (MacArthur). That's why Paul said in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." When Jesus instructed His disciples to go to the lost sheep of Israel, He wasn't saying to avoid the Gentiles. It was about prioritizing those who needed spiritual healing and acknowledging their own spiritual sickness and need for a physician (Lk. 5:31-32) (MacArthur). Therefore, the command to go to the lost sheep of Israel meant that His disciples, first recognizing their spiritual need, should go to those in the Jewish community who were spiritually sick and needed a physician. Now, what did Jesus command His disciples to proclaim to the lost sheep of Israel? Look at Matthew 10:7 - "And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" The disciples were to proclaim the same message that John the Baptist had previously declared, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt. 3:2). Jesus also echoed this message, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (4:17). Ultimately, Jesus instructed His twelve disciples to go and proclaim the same message He had proclaimed: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." When we hear about “the kingdom of heaven,” we often think of a place we enter after death. The Bible describes this kingdom as a place where there is no more sorrow, pain, or death (Rev. 21:4). It is a place without curses, no more night, no need for lamps or the sun because God's glory illuminates everything (22:3-5). We will see the Lord face to face (1 Cor. 13:12). While we might associate the kingdom of heaven primarily with the afterlife, it also has a present reality. Jesus' message of "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" calls people to repentance, to turn from their ways and embrace God's rule in their lives here and now.

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Are you ready to enter this kingdom? In Matthew 7:21, Jesus said, 'Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.' Jesus emphasizes that only those who do the will of His Father in heaven will enter the kingdom. Doing the will of the Father essentially means doing the work of God (Jn. 6:29). So, what is the work of God? It is believing in the One whom God has sent. In other words, those who believe in Jesus enter the kingdom of heaven. Do you believe in Jesus? We are first called to go to the lost sheep in our homes and share the gospel of the kingdom. Following the Lord's command, we need to proclaim the gospel with the power He has given us. As Jesus said, 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth' (Acts 1:8). We are to share the gospel with our family members who do not know Jesus, and then extend our witness to friends, coworkers, and neighbors. May the Lord continually expand the reach of our gospel proclamation in these areas.

Jesus' second statement is, "Find a worthy person among them and stay there until you leave."

Look at Matthew 10:11 - "Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart." After instructing the twelve disciples to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (v. 6) and proclaim, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (v. 7), Jesus tells them, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay" (v. 8). How can they heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons? It is because Jesus called the twelve and gave them authority over unclean spirits and the ability to heal every disease and every affliction (v. 1). These abilities were freely given by the Lord. Therefore, Jesus says to them, "You received without paying; give without pay." In other words, with the freely received power, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, proclaiming, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand," and use that power to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. After that, Jesus instructs them in verses 9-10 on what not to bring. For example, Jesus tells his disciples not to take gold, silver, or copper, not to take a bag, two tunics, or sandals. Why? The reason is that Jesus wanted his disciples to fully trust and rely on Him. The Lord had already prepared generous people to provide for their needs, both from the towns they visited and from those who would benefit from their ministry (MacArthur). Then Jesus instructs his disciples, "And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart" (v. 11).

As I meditate on these words of Jesus, I began to ponder who the worthy person that Jesus mentioned might be. Who exactly are these worthy individuals Jesus is referring to? Here, worthy individuals are those who receive Jesus' disciples with an open heart for their message (MacDonald). However, how could Jesus' disciples identify such people? Perhaps, they had to meet them in person and proclaim the gospel to find out. Therefore, Jesus instructs them to stay at the house of those who receive the gospel and whom the disciples consider as prepared by the Lord until they leave the area. Jesus also wishes them peace as they enter that house (v. 12). However, if anyone refuses to receive the disciples or listen to their words, Jesus instructs them to shake off the dust from their feet as a testimony against that house or town (v. 14). When thinking about these worthy individuals, I was reminded of what the Apostle John is talking about in 3 John, specifically about Gaius, who walks in the truth (3 Jn. 3-4). When John heard about Gaius walking in the truth, he greatly rejoiced (v. 3). But what does it mean for Gaius to walk in the truth? It means that he loved the brethren, even extending love to strangers, showing hospitality (vv. 5-6). Those who received love from Gaius were encouraged to go out for the sake of the Name, receiving nothing from the Gentiles (v. 7). Therefore, John wrote in his letter to the beloved Gaius (v. 1), "You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God" (v. 6). In a Korean Modern Bible translation, it is expressed as, "You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God's service." This person is what Jesus refers to as the worthy person in Matthew 10:11. Jesus instructs His disciples to find such individuals, stay in their homes, and bring peace to them (v. 12). However, looking again at 3 John, besides Gaius, there is another person mentioned by the name of Diotrephes (3 Jn. 9). About Diotrephes, John says he loves to be first, rejecting the authority of the apostles (v. 9), speaking malicious words against them (v. 10), and even refusing to welcome the brethren and hindering those who want to do so, expelling them from the church (v. 10). Can you imagine what would happen if Jesus' disciples, following the command of their Lord, went to the lost sheep of the house of Israel but instead of meeting someone like Gaius, they encountered someone like Diotrephes? Such a person would not only refuse to welcome the disciples into their home but would also not listen to their words (Mt. 10:14).

Here, we need to keep in mind some important teachings that Jesus gives us as we engage in spreading the gospel. Among these crucial lessons, first, we must completely believe and rely on God. We should trust that the Lord will supply and fulfill our needs. Additionally, we are instructed to seek out the worthy person among those we encounter, as commanded by the Lord. We need to find individuals who welcome us and have open hearts regarding the gospel we proclaim. Of course, we must also believe that such individuals have been prepared by the Lord in advance. Once we find such a person, we have the responsibility to handle the task of seeking and recognizing them with faith. After finding them, we should enter their homes, following the Lord's command, and pray for peace.

The third saying of Jesus is, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves,

so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

Look at Matthew 10:16 - "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." In order to triumph in spiritual warfare, we need wisdom. This wisdom involves coming with the cunning of serpents. Why should we come with the cunning of serpents? The reason is that although we are sent into this world as sheep, there are many false prophets who wear sheep's clothing on the outside but are actually ravenous wolves on the inside (7:15; 10:16). To succeed in spiritual warfare according to the words of the Lord, we must come with the cunning of serpents. What does it mean to come with the cunning of serpents? There are two interesting interpretations:

First interpretation:

The content related to the serpent carries a highly negative connotation for us. It doesn't feel good, and when we look at Genesis 3:1, the serpent appears in a cunning and deceitful manner. However, the serpent is not only deceitful but also a symbol of wisdom. Therefore, the Egyptians represented the serpent as a symbol of wisdom in their hieroglyphs. When the Lord speaks of the wisdom of the serpent, He is emphasizing that, above all, the serpent deals with various difficulties that come its way with caution, avoiding the troubles it faces. Among animals, the serpent is said to be the best at understanding and swiftly avoiding difficulties that come its way through quick and technical evasion. Thus, the Lord is instructing disciples to exercise wisdom, discernment, and vigilance in the face of threats, opposition, and intimidation from those who seek to hinder the gospel of Christ in a world that targets their lives. He is advising them to possess the power of prudent wisdom to anticipate and avoid anyone plotting harm or intending to harm the kingdom of God, its people, and the church. The wisdom of the serpent, in this context, means exercising careful discernment. The wisdom of the serpent implies the ability to discern and judge all matters. Such serpent-like wisdom advises us not to react impulsively to impending challenges but to apply wisdom, navigate through them, and accomplish what needs to be done, considering the potential consequences (Internet).

Second interpretation:

When Jesus spoke of sending out your disciples to various towns, His words were, "be wise as serpents." In the symbolic meaning of the Jews, this can be summarized as 'speak wisely.' In the symbolic context of the Jews, the serpent is connected with 'wisdom,' and the reason for this association is the split tongue. While all other animals have one tongue, the serpent has two. From the perspective of the ancient people, the 'tongue' as a bodily organ enables one to speak well, and having two tongues instead of one was seen as a way to speak more effectively. Speaking well was considered synonymous with being wise. The Pharisees and scribes were known for quoting the Torah and speaking wisely, but their words were compared to deadly poison. In contrast, disciples should speak words that bring life, not words filled with lethal venom. The emphasis is on speaking wisely as a serpent that brings life, testifying to the gospel that points to Jesus Christ (Internet).

I believe both interpretations make sense. The key point here is that as Christians, while spreading the gospel and living a worthy life of the gospel in this world, we must speak and act wisely. Wisdom is essential.

Let's take a look at the latter part of Matthew 10:16 where Jesus says, "be innocent as doves." What does this phrase mean? Personally, when I think of "dove," the prophet Jonah from the Old Testament comes to mind. The reason is that the name "Jonah" means "dove." Moreover, the meaning of the name "Jonah" includes "foolish, insensitive, lack of discernment" (senseless). In Matthew 10:16, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples and tells them, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Here, "innocent" in "innocent as doves" translates to the Greek word that literally means "unmixed, pure" (Walvoord). This word appears only twice in the New Testament, aside from today's passage: Romans 16:19 and Philippians 2:15.

The first scripture is Romans 16:19: "For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil."

In Matthew 10:16, "innocent" is translated as 'harmless' in Romans 16:19. When the Apostle Paul told the saints in the Roman church to "be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil," considering today's passage, it can be understood as "be innocent as doves" meaning "innocent as to what is evil." Paul desired the saints in Rome to be wise in doing good and harmless in avoiding evil (Rom. 16:19). Additionally, when Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, we see that he wished the Corinthian saints to be like infants in evil but mature in understanding (1 Cor. 14:20). Thus, he prayed to God for them, saying, "we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed" (2 Cor. 13:7). Paul prayed to God that the Corinthian saints would not engage in any evil, desiring them to do what is right even if it meant he appeared as one rejected.

The second scripture is Philippians 2:15: "that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

Here, "innocent" is translated as 'blameless.' When I think of the term 'blameless,' I am reminded of the character Job from the Old Testament. The reason is that the Bible describes Job as a person who is "blameless, upright, fears God, and turns away from evil" (Job 1:1). God also spoke to Satan about Job, saying, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" (v. 8). Considering these two passages, "be innocent as doves" seems to convey the idea of 'turn away from evil, be blameless.' How can one be blameless and turn away from evil? It is when, like Job, we fear God, for the fear of God makes us hate evil (Prov. 8:13). Paul instructed the Thessalonian church saints, saying, "Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:22-23). This is precisely what it means to obey the command "be innocent as doves."

Jesus told his twelve disciples to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" because he knew that false teachers would persecute his disciples. Look at today's passage, Matthew 10:17-18: "Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles." Therefore, Jesus told his disciples to "beware of men," to be wise like serpents in dealing with people. Otherwise, Jesus knew that these people would hand his disciples over to the courts and flog them in the synagogues. Not only that, Jesus knew that his disciples would be brought before governors and kings for his sake. Yet, Jesus told them not to be anxious because the Holy Spirit within them would provide the words to speak as a testimony to the governors, kings, and the Gentiles (vv. 18-20). We, too, should not be anxious, just as Jesus instructed. Even if we strive to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, facing unexpected difficulties, challenges, and even crises, we should not be anxious. The reason is that God will enable us to bear witness to unbelievers. We should not worry about what to say in front of them. The reason is that the Holy Spirit dwelling within us will speak and give us the words to say.

The Lord has sent us into this world. The Lord has sent us to the lost sheep. The Lord has sent us to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to our homes, workplaces, and neighbors. Therefore, we must obey the Lord's command and go. We need to go and proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is near, just as the Lord commanded us. And we need to proclaim to the lost souls to believe in Jesus Christ, assuring them that they and their households will be saved. We need to find those who are open to our message, and when we enter their homes, we should pray for peace. This world has many false pastors and false teachers. We must be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, just as Jesus instructed. I pray that we all become such individuals.