Matthew 10:5-15 - Instruction for effective minisry

In Matthew 10:1-15, Jesus had summoned the 12 to Himself. In verse 1 He commissioned them and defined the role they were to fulfil in the mission. In verses 2-4, the names of the 12 were given. We are foretold that one of the 12 was Judas Iscariot who finally betrayed the Lord. From verses 5-15, Jesus gave them instructions on how to go about the mission.

Verses 5-6 is puzzling considering the fact that He had already welcomed Gentiles in His earlier ministry. At His birth, the magi came to worship Him. In Matthew 8, we read that He attended to a gentile in the healing of the centurion’s servant. What about His prophecy in that same incident recorded in Matthew 8:11-12? He said that many would come from the East and West and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven? The 12 were told to avoid the way of the Gentiles and not to enter the city of the Samaritan. They were instead to go to the lost sheep of Israel. Those cases of Gentiles, before Christ’s death and resurrection, were indications of the heart of God. He has all of us who are Gentiles at heart. But the dispensation at His first coming was to address the Jews first. Hence the instruction to go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. The Lord was giving the first opportunity to Israel, they must be given the chance before the program of God opens up to the rest of the world. Furthermore, those Gentiles that He touched sought Him out. They came to Him and not the other way around. If Jesus had started with the Gentiles, He would have affirmed the accusation of the religious leaders who said that He was in league with the devil. So in a sense Israel was given the first opportunity to repent.  

The instructions to the disciples provide for us a model for ministry. Like them, we must proclaim that the Kingdom is here. Ministry must include healing, raising the dead, restoring lepers, delivering people possessed by demons. The purpose of Jesus is to ensure that the crux of ministry is to offer life to the people. Here we see that one must not go into the ministry for the prestige of the title or position. Ministers can expect financial support from the people they minister to. Hence the 12 were told not to worry about their physical provision. However, they must not use the ministry to milk money to enrich themselves. They were told not to acquire gold or silver or copper for their money belt. Ministers are not to be in the ministry to amass wealth for themselves. Indeed no one in ministry should give the slightest hint that they are in the ministry for the money. But the opposite is also true, they must not act like beggars. While they can expect financial support, they must remember that the message is to be given free.

While the ministry is for free, it must not be cheapened. It must be offered to those who would worthily accept it. A minister should never overly affected by the people’s responses. However, the ministers must appropriately respond to the people regardless of how they are being received. When accepted, blessing of peace should be given. When rejected, clear solemn indications should be given that the hearers have chosen to take a path of ultimate destruction, that even the judgement that Sodom and Gomorrah had experienced would appear mild.

As people of the Kingdom, let’s remember that we are here to offer life. Whether it be in healing or deliverance or restoration, they only serve to point people to the door to God’s new life. We are not here to condemn but we are to warn. Blessed are the people who adopt this model that Jesus had given for ministry today!