A.When Jesus chose His apostles, He gave them orders to follow in their work for Him.In this lesson, we will consider the orders He gave in Matthew 10.
B.As soldiers of Christ, we also follow the direction of our Lord Jesus.Let us learn from the orders given to the apostles so that we may also serve the Master.
II.MATTHEW 10 – THE MASTER’S ORDERS
A.Verses 1-4 – The apostles were chosen and given authority.
1.Jesus chose twelve men and gave them power to cast out unclean spirits and heal all kinds of sickness and disease.
2.We who are Christians are chosen by God when we conform to His Son’s image through the gospel (Rom. 8:29-30; 2Pet. 1:10-11).
3.Although we are not endowed with spiritual gifts, we still have the authority of the name of Christ for all that we do by His word (Col. 3:17).
B.Verses 5-6 – The apostles were given a specific mission.
1.This was the "Limited Commission” by which they were only to preach to the "lost sheep of Israel.”They were not to preach to the Gentiles or the Samaritans.
2.Later, the apostles received the "Great Commission” to go to all the world and preach the gospel (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).Today, we have inherited that mission from them.
C.Verse 7-8 – The apostles were given a message to preach and a work to do.
1.Their message was the same as Christ had preached: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
2.Today, our message is, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
3.Their work was miraculous healing by the power of God."Freely you received, freely give.”
4.Our work is the salvation of souls by the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16).
D.Verses 9-13 – The apostles were told how to find support and sustenance.
1.Rather than carrying their supplies with them, they were to depend on the men to whom they preached.
2.Today, preachers of the gospel are told to get their living from the gospel by the sharing of those whom they teach (1Cor. 9:6-14; 1Tim. 5:17-18).
E.Verses 14-15 – The apostles were told how to deal with rejection.
1.They were to "shake the dust off their feet” as a testimony against the rebellious cities.
2.For the apostles then and Christians now, the rejection of the gospel message is summarized in Luke 10:16 – "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”See also 1Thessalonians 4:8.
F.Verses 16-18 – The apostles were given a warning about men.
1.They were to deal with men with the shrewdness of serpents and the innocence of doves.
2.As they were warned, we also are warned to expect suffering for the cause and testimony of the Lord (2Tim. 3:12).
G.Verses 19-20 – The apostles were told how to answer their accusers.
1.They were to speak as the Holy Spirit moved them to answer.
2.We also receive our answers from the Holy Spirit, but we receive them through the Bible (2Tim. 3:16-4:2).
H.Verses 21-25 – The apostles were prepared for persecution.
1.Christ told them that they would be hated because of His name and persecuted like Him.
2.Such persecution brings blessings to all Christians who suffer, for Jesus declared their blessedness in Matthew 5:10-12.
I.Verses 26-31 – The apostles’ fears were relieved.
1.Jesus did not promise them that they would not be killed for serving Him.Instead, He told them not to fear those who could merely destroy their bodies, but rather fear God who could destroy both body and soul in hell.
2.Christ comforted the apostles with promises that God cared for them, and we have that same assurance.Notice Hebrews 13:5-6 – "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.What will man do to me?’”
J.Verses 32-33 – The apostles were told of the reward for confession and the consequence of denial.
1.Those who confess Christ on earth will have their names confessed by Christ Himself and announced before the Father and His angels in heaven (Rev. 3:5).
2.Those who deny Christ will likewise be denied by Christ before the Father (Matt. 7:21-23).
3.The confession of Christ’s name is an integral part of salvation (Acts 8:36-37; Rom. 10:8-10).No sinner can be saved without such confession of belief in Him.Secret discipleship is not an option.
K.Verses 34-36 – The apostles were told to expect division.
1.In a paradox, the Prince of Peace declared that He would divide even families.Jesus did not come to earth to make temporal peace, but rather spiritual peace between God and man (Eph. 2:11-22).
2.Jesus and His gospel are still a source of controversy and strife among men (Rom. 9:33; 1Cor. 1:18-24; 1Pet. 2:8).
L.Verses 37-39 – The apostles were taught to love Christ more than any other, including themselves.
1.Our love for Christ must be greater than even our love for parents or children.
2.Moreover, our love for Him must be greater than our love for life itself.Such denial of temporal life will lead us to eternal life in Christ (Matt. 16:24-26).
3.This love for God is Christ is a fulfillment of the greatest commandment of God’s word (Matt. 22:37-38).
M.Verses 40-42 – The apostles learned the connection between reception and reward.
1.Those who receive Christ’s messengers receive Christ Himself.
2.The law of sowing and reaping governs man’s reception and response to the gospel.Notice Galatians 6:7-8 – "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
3.Our reward will be according to our reception of Christ, His message, and His children.The Lord is personally affected by the treatment of His children, and He rewards in kind (Matt. 25:31-48).
III.CONCLUSION
A.Although the "Limited Commission” was not given directly to us, it does hold many lessons for us as we carry out the "Great Commission” of our Lord.Those lessons include:
1.Choosing
2.Mission
3.Message
4.Support
5.Rejection
6.Warning
7.Answering
8.Persecution
9.Fear
10.Confession
11.Division
12.Love
13.Reception
B.Let us follow these lessons as we carry out our Lord’s marching orders today.
