Jesus Sends the Twelve with Kingdom Authority

9:35 Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness. 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 9:38 Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest." 10:1 Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits so they could cast them out and heal every kind of disease and sickness. 10:2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee and John his brother; 10:3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 10:4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 10:5 Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them as follows: "Do not go to Gentile regions and do not enter any Samaritan town. 10:6 Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 10:7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near!' 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 10:9 Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts, 10:10 no bag for the journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker deserves his provisions. 10:11 Whenever you enter a town or village, find out who is worthy there and stay with them until you leave. 10:12 As you enter the house, give it greetings. 10:13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 10:14 And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or that town. 10:15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town! 10:16 "I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 10:17 Beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues. 10:18 And you will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles. 10:19 Whenever they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, for what you should say will be given to you at that time. 10:20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 10:21 "Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 10:22 And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 10:23 Whenever they persecute you in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 10:24 "A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master. 10:25 It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house 'Beelzebul,' how much more will they defame the members of his household! 10:26 "Do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 10:27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 10:29 Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 10:30 Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. 10:31 So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows. 10:32 "Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 10:33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven. 10:34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, 10:36 and a man's enemies will be the members of his household. 10:37 "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 10:38 And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it. 10:40 "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. 10:41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. Whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 10:42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward."

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Jesus first ministers with compassion to Israel, then appoints and sends the Twelve as his chosen messengers. He gives them authority, but their mission will not be easy. They must preach the kingdom, depend on God, expect rejection, and endure persecution. They are to fear God more than people, confess Christ openly, and love Jesus above family, safety, and even life itself.

Jesus moves through the towns and villages teaching, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of sickness. When he sees the crowds, he has compassion on them. They are weary, confused, and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. So he tells his disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.

Then Jesus appoints the Twelve and gives them authority over unclean spirits and disease. Their work is not their own. It is Jesus’ work shared with them. He names the apostles and sends them first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This is a temporary first stage in the mission, tied to Israel’s covenant responsibility. It does not cancel the later wider mission.

He tells them to preach that the kingdom of heaven is near. They are to heal, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. They received freely, so they must give freely. They are also to travel lightly and depend on the hospitality and provision of those who receive their message. If a house or town rejects them, they are to leave in peace and shake the dust from their feet as a warning. Rejection of the kingdom message is serious, and judgment is real.

Jesus then warns them that they are going out like sheep among wolves. They must be wise and innocent. They will face councils, floggings, rulers, betrayal, hatred, and family division because of Jesus’ name. Yet they must not be anxious about what to say, because the Spirit of their Father will speak through them. They may flee from one place to another when persecuted, but they must keep going.

Jesus also says that a disciple is not above his teacher. If people insulted him, they will insult his followers too. So the disciples must not fear people. Hidden things will be revealed, and what Jesus said in private is to be proclaimed openly. They must fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. At the same time, the Father cares for them in detail, even numbering the hairs on their heads. They are more valuable than many sparrows.

Whoever acknowledges Jesus before people, Jesus will acknowledge before his Father in heaven. Whoever denies him before people, Jesus will deny him before his Father. Jesus also says that he has not come to bring peace in the sense of easy social harmony, but division. Loyalty to him can divide households. Therefore, no family love may come before him. Whoever loves father, mother, son, or daughter more than Jesus is not worthy of him. Whoever does not take up the cross and follow him is not worthy of him. Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Jesus will find it.

The passage ends by showing how closely Jesus identifies with his messengers. To receive them is to receive him, and to receive him is to receive the one who sent him. Even small acts of welcome matter. A cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple will not be forgotten by God.

• Jesus’ ministry begins with compassion for spiritually needy people.
• The Twelve receive delegated authority from Jesus.
• The first mission in this passage goes to Israel first.
• Kingdom preaching and signs belong together in this commission.
• Ministry is to depend on God rather than self-sufficiency.
• Faithful witness can bring rejection, persecution, and family division.
• The Spirit helps Christ’s witnesses when they are brought before rulers.
• Disciples must fear God more than people.
• Public confession of Christ matters.
• Jesus must be loved above family, safety, reputation, and life.
• Receiving Jesus’ messengers is bound up with receiving Jesus himself.

• Pray for workers because the Lord of the harvest must send them.
• Go in Jesus’ authority, not your own.
• Do not make ministry a way to gain money.
• Expect rejection and judgment when the kingdom message is refused.
• Do not fear those who can kill the body but not the soul.
• Fear God, who has authority over soul and body.
• Acknowledge Jesus before people.
• Endure to the end.
• Take up your cross and follow Jesus.
• Do not put family loyalty above loyalty to Christ.

Jesus’ compassion for Israel shows God’s care for his people. The Twelve extend Jesus’ own kingdom mission by his authority. The passage also points beyond the immediate mission toward the wider witness of the church, while still giving Israel the first summons to hear the kingdom message.

Pray for God to send workers. Serve with humility and dependence. Expect some people to reject the gospel. Keep speaking when it is costly. Be wise, pure, and brave. Confess Christ openly. Choose Jesus above every other loyalty. Welcome and support those whom he truly sends.

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