Matthew 10:1-23

At this time, Jesus had chosen his twelve disciples. He sent them out to cast out demons, heal the sick and to preach that the kingdom of heaven was near. Jesus was sending out the first workers for the harvest. He instructed them not to go into Samaria or any of the Gentile cities, but rather to take their message to the Jewish people. God had a covenant with Israel. They were His chosen people and therefore deserved the first chance to respond to Jesus' message. Since they were familiar with the prophecies concerning Messiah, they should also have recognized the message much more quickly.

The disciples were instructed not to go out and buy new clothes or supplies for the trip or even to bring money along. Instead, they were to trust God for their provisions. In each town they were to find a willing household to shelter and feed them during their stay. If there were no willing households, they were to move on. Jesus had a harsh pronouncement for cities that weren't willing to accept the message the disciples were carrying; He said the judgment on those cities would be worse than that given to Sodom and Gomorrah.

The disciples would be like sheep among a pack of wolves, but they were to be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves. Not everyone wanted to hear Christ's message. Some would even go so far as to persecute the disciples and bring them up on charges (most likely heresy). Jesus said when this happened and they would be called to answer the charges, not to worry because the Holy Spirit would give them the words to say. Still, this did not give them an excuse to become careless or to purposely start trouble. They still needed to present themselves as messengers of Christ, choosing their actions and deeds to glorify God and not spoil their witness. When we go out in the world to tell others the good news about Jesus, we also must learn to strike a balance between being bold and being offensive. The Holy Spirit will guide us now just as He did the disciples then.

The disciples would face face hatred unlike any they had known simply because they followed Jesus. He promised though that when we persevere through all that the world throws at us, there is salvation waiting for us at the end. Whenever things seem to be too much to handle, we need to look at where we are going. From the eternal perspective of heaven, this life and all its troubles will seem very small.