Matthew 9:35 to Matthew 10:23

Summary
In our text today, we read about how Jesus went about proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, healing all manner of sickness and delivering the people from the oppression of the devil. He saw that they were so many that needed his attention and was moved with compassion. Seeing he may not be able to reach all, he commissioned the twelve disciples sent them to all the villages and towns, he however warned them not to make provision for their up keep as the Lord of the vision will surely provide for all their needs. He also warned them in advance of the persecutions and challenges they will encounter in the course of propagating this gospel, they will be arrested, questioned, beaten, betrayed, hated because of him but in all of these he assured them of His abiding presence and help that will make them overcome and prevail.

Life Application
We as believers have been commission by Christ to propagate the Gospel of the Kingdom. We have been given power and authority over evil forces and we are to deliver those in bondage. In carrying out this he promised to provide and meet our daily needs and has equally assured us of his ever presence to help us through all the persecutions and challenges we are bound to face. He will give us strength to persevere through difficult times and we will definitely come out victorious if we don’t loose faith.

Personal declaration
I have been commissioned and equipped for the propagation of the gospel, this I will do and will prevail over all difficulties in Jesus name.

Reading – Matthew 9:35 to Matthew 10:23

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvestis plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

² These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. ⁶ Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷ As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,^[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

⁹ “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— ¹⁰ no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. ¹¹ Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. ¹² As you enter the home, give it your greeting. ¹³ If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councilsand be flogged in the synagogues. ¹⁸ On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. ²² You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ²³ When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 10:8 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.

All scriptural passages are taken from the NIV version of the bible.