Matthew 10:6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. 11 “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his 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, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.15 I tell you the truth, 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 against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their 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 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter‑in‑law against her mother‑in‑law– 36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
Wow this is intense! This is Jesus explaining to the twelve disciples what He wanted them to do on the first ever missions trip. He told them to not go and be dramatic and try to change the unbelievers hearts, but to go to those who were lost right around them. He then tells them to not charge anyone, for they have received from Him freely, they should give freely. Jesus also tells them to not take any of their worldly possessions, there is no need to worry about money or extra clothes. He then explains to His disciples how to acquire a place to stay.
Jesus also warns them that being a missionary is a dangerous lifestyle, so His disciples should be aware and at the same time innocent of any offenses. He also said that they will get harassed and ridiculed by others who will report them into the authorities. He assures them that if at any time they get into trouble for preaching the message, they shall not worry, for the Holy Spirit will supply the words that are needed. He also warns them that they will be hated because they preach of Jesus. He also tells them that they will not get treated better than He was treated, and they should be satisfied with getting treated the same way. In the same way they call Him names, they may call the disciple names. Jesus tells His disciples to not be afraid, that everything will be out in the open eventually and people will know the truth. So don’t be afraid to speak the truth now. He also tells them that they should not fear PEOPLE who can only kill the body, but they should live in fear of the One who can determine where the soul and body goes.
Jesus then talks about their importance to God. How something that is worth HALF penny will not die, unless it is the will of God. Since we are worth more than a sparrow, if we stand up for Christ here on earth, then surely He will stand up for us in Heaven, but if we disown Him, then He will disown us.
He then addresses their misconception of Him. He tells them that He has nto come to make our lifestyle all fine and dandy, but He has come to cut us away from our fathers, mothers, children, and in-laws. So that we would have freedom in Christ. For there will be times where our enemies will come from the very ones who are in our familes. It is important for us to love Christ more than we love our families. We have to go all the way for God.
Lastly, He tells them that anyone who accepts them [as disciples] accepts Him and accepts His Father. He then says that those that treat the messengers of God well will not lose out on the reward awaiting.
I loved reading this!! I definitely need to take this into my Spirit so that I can apply it to my life, for I feel we are all called to missions. Right now at this season, I know I am called to home missions [HRC!] with small foreign mission trips. Jesus has asked us to simultaneously go to all areas of the world [Matthew 28]. So no matter where my missions field is, I know that I can definitely apply Matthew 10 to my life!
Lord God!! We are all told to GO. I know it wasn't a suggestion, it was a command, and Lord I embrace that command! I shall not fear those who are against me because I preach the good news. I will not worry about what to say, for I know Your Holy Spirit will speak through me. I will no longer worry about provisions, cause Lord You are enough. Keep shaping me into the disciple..into the missionary..into the woman of God, You want me to be. I am ready to be a Lioness for Your kingdom, and I am ready for the earth to shake under my roar for You!!
AMEN!
