Matthew 10

http://www.esvbible.org/Matthew+10/

Matthew introduces the twelve apostles by name, which John, the other Gospel I've studied on here, does not do. Especially since John never ever refers to himself by name. Matthew always refers to himself in third person because the book was probably published anonymously. Jesus gave the apostles authority to force demons and evil spirits out of people and to cure disease and sickness. The names of the twelve disciples: first and foremost is Simon aka Peter. Why? Because Jesus laid it on Peter to be the leader and to really start the church. Despite the fact that Peter only has two short letters included in the Bible and they are often skipped over, Peter started the formal church, and to Catholics, he is the first Pope. Then, there's Simon's brother Andrew, James and his brother John, Phillip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, another James and Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who (spoiler alert) later betrays Jesus. Not only does Matthew call himself by name instead of first person pronoun, but he also puts himself into the middle of the list. That is humility from the Holy Spirit right there.

After choosing the disciples, Jesus gives them very specific instructions. He sends them out and tells them to go speak to the cities where Jewish people reside. Two things: 1) Jesus sends his disciples away to teach. They have spent much time together fellowshipping and learning, but our purpose as people is to proclaim the Good News around the world. 2) The Jewish people are God's chosen people; therefore, Jesus goes to save them first, and later, in Acts, He decides it's time to open up His grace and mercy to all of the people in the world. All the abilities they just received, Christ tells them to use these to gain the attention of the cities they go to and show the people that their story is true. He tells them to do all of this without charging since they didn't pay to receive them. They also are told not to take any money from the people they visit. Jesus tells them not even to take a travelling bag, a change of clothes, sandals, or a walking stick because the one who works for God deserves to have his needs met. They are putting faith in Jesus for EVERYTHING! Even when they get to the nitty gritty stuff, Jesus has provided instructions. They are to find a family that listens to them and stay at their home. When they enter the house, they greet the family. If the family is good to the disciple, the greeting stands. If not, the greeting is revoked. If they come to a city where they are not welcomed, they are to leave immediately and wipe the dust from that place off of their feet. A bold statement: the cities that don't receive well the disciples of Jesus will fair worse on Judgement Day than Sodom and Gomorrah. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis with fire and brimstone because Abraham could not find even 10 righteous men there. Angels rescue Lot, the only righteous man there, with his family, and tell him not to look back. When his wife can no longer stand the temptation to see what is happening, she looks back and turns into a pillar of salt. These were bad cities, and Jesus says those who reject His disciples are considered worse. Jesus says He knows that He's sending them into danger. They are like sheep among wolves. Wolves eat sheep. Therefore, the disciples must be cunning yet innocent, so that the people cannot accuse them of any crime. Even so, they will face courts and governors because of Jesus, but they should not worry about what to say or how to say it because Christ will give them the words through the Holy Spirit when the time comes. People will turn against each other, even family and friends because they will embrace Christianity. At the beginning, more than ever, people wanted to persecute the church. But the person who endure in faith until the end will be saved. A student is not better that his teacher and a slave is not better than his master, but it is enough if the student becomes like his teacher or a slave like his master. If the master is Satan, then all who call upon him will have that name. Some of them may falsify Christian behavior, but do not worry because all will eventually be exposed. Don't worry about those who kill the body because they cannot kill the soul. Only be afraid of the one who can kill both in Hell. When Jesus talks about how the sparrows won't fall without His permission and how every hair on all of our heads have been counted, He gives us courage. God controls everything, and He loves us enough that He can tell you how many hairs you have on your head. Jesus will acknowledge us in front of God if we acknowledge Him in front of others, but if we reject Him, He will reject us. Jesus says He didn't come to bring peace but conflict. We have free will. Jesus didn't come to make everyone Christians. These differing beliefs will cause conflict, again, even among family. Those who accept family above Jesus do not deserve to be called disciples. Those who do not lay down their lives do not deserve to be called disciples. Instead, those who accept Christ and prophets and disciples and righteous men will gain the reward that they deserve.