Matthew 10 Jesus sends out the 12 apostles Part IX

All right guys Matthew chapter 10, we're moving right along so This

is what part of me.

I don't know what part of the series wrong, but this is Matthew chapter 10.

This is where Jesus calls and sends out his 12 Apostles.

Remember Matthew is not in order.

So some of these events took place before the Sermon on the Mount actually.

But I just want to talk about the 12 Apostles for a little bit and their ministry and Jesus's commissioning of them.

So here we are.

Let's Open God's Word and let's hear what he would have us to say.

This is Matthew chapter 10 starting in verse 1.

And he called to him his 12 disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to

heal disease and every affliction.

This word right here is our Greek of the week ladies and gentlemen.

Our Greek of the week is Exoucian you see it over here on the right side of your screen exoucian.

It means authority.

So Jesus calls his 12 disciples his 12 Apostles and he gave them exoucian

over the unclean Pneumatum under the unclean

spirits see the PN right here like pneuma like pneumatic drill the unclean spirits and He

gave them authority to heal Therapeuia like therapy to

heal Fossum every disease and every

affliction.

And as you know M a L M a L Mu alpha lambda.

M a L means bad in basically every language, right?

So When we look at this and we and we look at the list he gives us of his

12 Apostles.

This list it can be found in all four Gospels and in Acts.

It's always the same list of the same 12 people and it's mostly in the same order.

Peter is always first then Judas is always last.

Now several of his disciples all go by more than one name.

So with reading Luke or John they may have different names.

Like Thaddeus, for example may have a different name.

Simon may be called Peter sometimes because there's two Simons Simon the zealot and then Simon Peter.

So it's easier to just call him Peter Judas.

The nickname for Judas is Jude like one of Jesus's brothers was named you.

There are several men in the New Testament named James.

I just want to talk about three of them real quick.

Two of them are of the twelve we have James the Apostle the brother of John traditionally called James the

greater.

He is the one that's killed by Herod in Acts chapter 12.

Then we have James the Apostle the son of Alpheus sometimes called James the lesser.

And it's hard to tell when he's called James the lesser in Mark 15.

Does that mean like a shorter one like little James or like younger or what does that mean?

We don't know.

We have James the half -brother of Jesus.

He's the one that wrote the book of James in the Bible and he was an early church leader in Jerusalem.

So the two James's is mentioned here in Matthew 10 are not Jesus's brother who wrote the book of

James just keep that in mind a Little side note for those you caught up in

a worldly idea of diversity.

Everyone on planet Earth is fallen in Adam.

So we all fall woefully short of the glory of God.

We're all on equal footing there.

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

That's true, too but the idea of diversity being that

we have to have a quota of Ethnicities or

gender or whatever and every single thing we do is evil and that's evil.

And I'd like to point out for those Christians who believe that's a good thing.

Please note that Jesus is 12 Apostles were all straight Jewish men

they were all the same ethnicity.

They were all of the same sexual orientation.

Guys, come on you you can't Take worldly

ideas and apply them to God.

Otherwise, Jesus would not have been a very diverse person.

Which he was in the sense of diversity is a good thing.

Not what the world says it is.

So here it is exousia is our Greek of the week you can see that here.

And it means the authority the right to rule control or power used a hundred and two times in the New Testament.

We have another one.

You Might call it lame, but he a soos he a soos

Hebrew Yeshua, but in Greek a soos.

That is Jesus means Savior or Yahweh saves 917 times in the New

Testament as you might expect.

So God instructs his church how to handle spiritual warfare in second Corinthians 10 in Ephesians 6 and

physical ailments in the church.

James chapter 5.

So he tells us in James chapter 5 to bring them for the elders to have them anointing with oil to pray for them.

But Jesus gives special and unique authority to his twelve apostles to perform miraculous signs and wonders.

This was to authenticate his ministry Had begun but also to authenticate the twelve

apostles for who after he was ascended into heaven.

In other words, there would be no question of who the leaders would be in the early church after Jesus left earth.

He gave the apostles the ability to perform signs and wonders so it would authenticate their ministry in the writing

of the New Testament.

Think about the power struggle that would have ensued if Jesus never identified who the leaders were supposed to be after he left.

How difficult would have been to respect the authority of those Jesus merely said were leaders but never gave them the opportunity to exhibit that

authority or leadership.

Good leaders develop their successors not simply choose them.

Jesus is developing his apostles.

And giving them the opportunity to lead and demonstrate their authority while he's still on earth not

simply choose them and leave them to their own devices.

Leaders out there.

You should develop your replacement.

The magnitude and prolific nature of the signs and wonders performed by the apostles Should be

seen as unique to them in the church age.

2nd Corinthians 12 12 the signs wonders of an apostle were performed among you.

So when we look at Jesus's commission of them, this is their first mission trip there are other mission trips, but this is

their first mission trip and he sends them out two

by two in the different towns and He also goes and preaches and teaches in those same towns.

Keep a close eye on them.

We don't know how long this mission trip lasted this local mission trip but it seems to have lasted a couple weeks when

you read the.

The other accounts the parallel accounts in the Bible seemed to have lasted not super long maybe a couple weeks but we don't know

for sure and They were supposed to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

So this first mission trip was not for the whole world.

This first mission trip was specifically for Jewish people because God promised.

The gospel would first be revealed to them.

That's what Romans 1 16 says for I'm not ashamed of the gospel.

Christ was the power of God's salvation to all who believe.

First to the Jew then to the Gentile it was always through you all nations on the

earth will be blessed first to the Jew also to the Gentile always.

That's how it's gonna be a Few notes about the Old Covenant and the New Covenant that may help you.

So a comparison or maybe you should say a Way of thinking of the Old Covenant and New Covenant

and seeing their parallels.

God chose a people to enter a covenant with Israel in the Old Covenant the elect and the new.

God chose a mediator of that covenant between the groups and the Old Covenant was Moses and the New Covenant is Jesus not in the same

way God inaugurated both covenants with blood and the Old Covenant was with animals and the New Covenant is with Jesus.

You can read about this in Hebrews chapter 9.

God gave documents for each covenant through writers that he chose.

The documents explained the covenants and how each side of the covenant.

God and his people would keep their end.

Old Testament New Testament.

Then God gave principle writers and figures in those covenant documents the ability to perform various

signs wonders and miracles to authenticate.

They were actually sent by God himself.

Old Testament prophets.

New Testament apostles.

God would fill each covenant by his appearing on earth.

The incarnation fulfillment of the old Christ returns the fulfillment of the new.

Uh Jesus gives instructions to the Apostles not to acquire a bunch of money while they go

out to take nothing.

But what they have to to to not go and acquire a bunch of new stuff that whatever they need will be

provided to them.

They can take gifts, but they should not seek gifts from people when they go into houses.

And if you know in verse 11 it says this in 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's not worthy, let your peace return to it.

And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words.

Shake the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.

True I say to you will be more bearable on the day of judgment in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Than it will be for that town.

The more revelation someone receives the more responsible they are to respond to that revelation in

Submission to God.

And verse 15 shows us a common theme with this.

This necessarily implies that harsher judgments are in hell and greater rewards are in heaven.

We've talked about this before.

We don't know what those harsher judgments look like.

But trying to imagine what is more severe than the baseline judgment of eternal hellfire and internal darkness truly terrifies the

soul.

Verse 16.

Often quoted verse.

I quote it all the time.

Let me give you some practical application for verse 16.

Excuse

me.

Okay, anyway.

Some practical application for verse 16.

Behold I'm sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.

So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Notice four animals are mentioned here.

And there's a reason Joseph Jesus chose these four.

We noted before when Jesus talked about wolves dressed in sheep's clothing those false teachers.

Our Shepherd is sending his own sheep out.

His own sheep his own sheep out whose chief predator is wolves.

Some of whom are actually dressed as sheep.

Now what I want to talk about is be as wise a servant as innocent as doves is this.

We are to when possible be at peace with all people.

Snakes for the most part hide their strength their ferocity their venom and

It only comes out when they feel that they are in a situation where they actually have to use it.

On the outside.

They're as harmless as does but on the inside they are as dangerous.

They are very dangerous.

We are to be Wise as serpents, but as harmless as a dove.

So in other words, we are not to be naive in the world.

We're to be kind.

Yes, we're to be gentle.

Yes, but not naive to the forces of darkness.

So on the outside almost as though but on the inside we're also wise as serpents.

That's what Jesus is telling his disciples here.

So this one -time mission mission lasted for a few days, maybe a little longer.

But Jesus then in verse 16 through 25 Gives out more general advice instruction to the whole

future ministry of his apostles and how they will experience it when he's gone.

So this short mission trip is good practice for a lifelong mission.

You're going to live.

Let's look at a few things that Jesus advises disciples on for their long -term ministry.

First off unbelievers will hate you and even convict you for living as a Christian.

Um verse 19 if you note says.

Don't be anxious about how you speak or what you are to say for me given to you in that hour.

That's not an excuse not to prepare for witnessing preaching and teaching but a promise of strength endurance and courage to

God's children.

I Want to go back here to this side.

I want to look at verse 19 together.

Oh verse 21 Here we go.

Brother will deliver over brother.

See we've moved on from the short mission trip to the future after Jesus leaves Brother Adelphos will

deliver brother over death.

Father his child children rise against parents and have them put to death.

You'll be hated by all for my name's sake, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The gospel divides.

The gospel divides.

The gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing but it's God's power to those who are being saved.

It divides.

We should though impossible live at peace with all men, but never compromise the gospel just to appease others.

We don't have to be secret sensitive.

We preach God's truth and trust it to do.

What will happen?

To do what it's going to do and it won't return void it will either be light for

salvation or just region reason for judgment.

All right now check out verse 23 when they persecute you in one town.

Flee to the next for truly I say to you you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the

Son of Man comes.

Then this verse has tripped up many people like okay, what does this mean?

They will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

If the phrase Son of Man comes refers to a second coming which I think it does.

Then what does it mean they will not have gone through all the towns of Israel.

Israel's not that big.

Well, I think it the answer lies with this phrase gone through if you look over here in the Greek

lecite lecite or Sometimes to tell

us die to tell us die.

And it means to have finished for the design to have been finished.

That's what that word means.

Yes, you see over there on the right to finish.

To complete to perform to carry out you should see that over here on the right side of your screen.

So you will not have finished with all the towns of Israel for the Son of Man comes completed your work.

In other words if the persecute in one town don't sit there and purposely try to become a martyr fleet

of an axe.

Because you will not have finished converted Christianized gone through

and Had everyone convert before I come back.

In other words, you'll get another chance.

Hey since they persecute me they'll be persecuting you too.

Don't think like that and if they called the master of the house Beelzebul.

You remember that from from before they've already called him that how much more will they malign those of his household?

So have no fear of them for nothing is covered that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known.

What I tell you my dark same alike what you hear whispered proclaim on the housetops.

Don't fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

Please note that God here is claiming sovereignty over body and soul and he destroys.

I know sometimes we say things like All right, God doesn't send anyone to hell.

Well, he does he destroys both body and soul in hell.

He doesn't do it with a smile on his face, but he does and I love this passage.

Are not to spare are sold for a penny and not one of them will fall to the ground.

I eat die.

Apart from your father, but even the hairs on your head are all numbered.

In other words, not like I know the number of hairs.

They're all each individual number.

They're not there for for your more value than many sparrows.

Love that passage.

So everyone who acknowledges me for men on knowledge for my father who's in heaven and everyone who denies me before men I will also deny

before my father who's in heaven.

Again, the gospel divides.

Jesus goes to this talking about how the gospel divides.

But but I think this part's key.

Whoever receives you receives me and whoever receives me receives him who sent this is clear in the

Bible.

Remember about how important is to serve each other guys not just listen to a sermon online, but actually serve each other.

When Paul it were Saul is persecuting Christians.

Jesus asked him Saul Saul.

Why are you persecuting me?

When Jesus says blessed are you to those in heaven when I was hungry?

He gave me food when I was thirsty.

He gave me drink and they say when did we do that?

We weren't even alive when you were on earth.

He says if you've done it for each other.

The world will know you're my disciples by the way, you love each other.

That's how important Christian service to each other is whoever receives you is like receiving

me.

And I know I kind of went through that last part kind of fast, but I'd like you to dwell, please

on verses 29 through 33 such a beautiful passage.

Not one sparrow two of them are sold for a penny worth half a penny if you want to think of in that terms.

Dies without your father's consent.

So don't fear because we're worth more than many sparrows.

God cares for all his creation.

But humans above the rest if he cares for sparrows that much a meaningless bird how much more for me and you.

That is Matthew chapter 10.

Ladies and gentlemen.

I Hope this is of some benefit to y 'all.

I Enjoy doing it.

I don't have anything fancy to offer.

This is just my computer and my Bible in front of me and a little accordance Bible software app.

I don't have a fancy studio, but I really appreciate doing this and I hope it's of some blessing to you as.

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Witten Baptist Church app.

Anyway Witten family, I love you very much and until next time.