† 16. Commissioning the Twelve

Though it may not have been clear to us when He first chose them, we now see Jesus chose the twelve apostles to be teachers. Jesus has appointed men who were everyday people, and He has sent them to teach and preach among the everyday people.

In an earlier episode, the healing of the paralytic, Luke had recorded that, "as [Jesus] was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the Law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem" (Luke 5:17). In other words, the leading teachers of the people were hearing Him teach, too. Why were they not chosen to go out and teach? Whatever one makes of the backgrounds of the twelve apostles, it is clear not one is a Pharisee, a Scribe, or a Sadducee. There must have been a huge contrast between the persona and teaching of the ruling class and that of the apostles.

2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

The people, also, would have seen the difference, and they, too, are being tested. Will they accept the teaching coming from these humble men? Will they recognize it as Jesus' teaching?

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Note

Scholars have presented together with this reading Matthew 10:1–4, Mark 3:13–19, and Luke 6:12–16. However, since these readings were covered an earlier episode, "The Choosing of the Twelve," they are omitted here.

There is also an appendix that addresses the apostles' names and comments on them individually, "The Twelve Apostles."

Matthew 10

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts,
10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.
11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.
12 As you enter the house, greet it.
13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
16 Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

The nations are not part of the commonwealth of Israel.

Ephesians 2:11–12
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh…were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

And the Samaritans, despite their protests, are also not Jews (2 Kings 17:24–28), as Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well.

John 4:22
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

The plain fact as revealed after this episode (v. 23, below) is that there isn't enough time to teach even in every town of Judea before the kingdom appears in Acts 2.

Matthew 10:23
…Truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

With Israel as God's priests to the nations and those entrusted with His oracles, the gospel must be preached to Israel first.

Exodus 19:5–6
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation….
Romans 3:1–2
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Acts 13:44–47
The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Indeed, while still on earth Jesus said some hearing Him would live to see the kingdom come with power. After His resurrection and before He was taken up, He told the apostles He would send the promise of His Father and they'd be endued with power from on high. He also told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of His Father, and that they'd be baptized with the Holy Spirit. On the 50th day after His resurrection, or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:4–6, 15–16), they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the promise of the Father was upon them, the power was upon them, and the kingdom had arrived!

Mark 9:1
And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
Luke 24:49
“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Acts 1:4–5
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 2:1, 4
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.

This list, which includes raising the dead, shows the apostles were invested with a significant amount of authority to testify about the validity of their teaching.

You received without paying; give without pay.

Jesus is telling the apostles they are not to accept money in exchange for miracles. Their only source of support will be the house where they stay in any given town.

Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.

Jesus is telling the apostles they will not need money on this trip. Rather, they will earn their keep (their food and lodging) by teaching.

find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart

The word here translated "find out" (ἐξετάζω) means "examine closely", "scrutinize", or "inspect." The Lord intends for the apostles to take the time necessary to learn definitively who is in the town that is faithful and reliable. Once selected, this person will host the apostles the whole time they are in town.

Proverbs 20:25
It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only after making vows.
1 Timothy 5:22
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

The Lord knows something the apostles perhaps do not yet understand: unjust though it is, there will be controversy and opposition to plain teaching of the truth. Thus, He wants to ensure the apostles choose a person on whom they can rely for support and a place to stay when controversy arises over the teaching. Unfortunately, the same thing remains true today. Unjust though it is, those who faithfully preach the truth typically live in danger of losing their support. The pressure to compromise the teaching is tremendous.

2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted….

greet it

The ancient greeting is pausing for a time to embrace and catch up, perhaps breaking bread—generally putting a visitor at ease. Luke 10:4 is helpful here; it reads, "Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road." Jesus is telling the apostles to stay focused on the task and take no rest until they arrive at the home of someone faithful who will provide for them while they preach in that town.

if anyone will not receive you

This translation's wording might sound like any individual, but it refers to any "house or town" (as the end of the verse shows). The sign of shaking the dust off their feet is not a personal affront.

shake off the dust from your feet

As Mark and Luke make clear, this is an act of testimony. The gesture will be remembered and retold.

It also shows that their critics' false accusations will not stick!

it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town

The judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah was swift and severe.

Genesis 19:24
Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven.

Despite Sodom's historical placement in the days of Abraham and its complete removal from the face of the earth, the prophets of God continue to refer back to it—in reference to His own people's rebelliousness!

Isaiah 1:9–10
If the LORD of hosts
    had not left us a few survivors,
we should have been like Sodom,
    and become like Gomorrah.
Hear the word of the LORD,
    you rulers of Sodom!
Give ear to the teaching of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!
Jeremiah 23:14
But in the prophets of Jerusalem
    I have seen a horrible thing:
they commit adultery and walk in lies;
    they strengthen the hands of evildoers,
    so that no one turns from his evil;
all of them have become like Sodom to me,
    and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.
Revelation 11:8
…the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where the Lord was crucified….

Finally, Jude, recalling the thoughts of 2 Peter 2, sees a parallel between the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah and those who today divide the church.

Jude 5, 7–8
Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
…just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.

be wise as serpents and innocent as doves

The word here translated "wise" (φρόνιμος) means "being in one's right mind" or "having presence of mind." Matthew used this word in the sermon on the mount for the "wise" man who built his house upon the rock, but we must also note that it was the word used in the Greek translation of Genesis for the "crafty" serpent in the garden. We know the Lord is not admonishing His apostles to be more like Satan! The idea is that they must stay aware of their surroundings, never entrusting themselves fully to man but relying always on God, who never changes.

Matthew 7:24
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Genesis 3:1
…Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made….

The word here translated "innocent" (ἀκέραιος) means "uncontaminated", "unprejudiced", "open-minded", and even "naïve." It only appears in two other passages of Scripture (given below), but they are very consistent with the idea in Matthew. The apostles (as are we!) are walking a fine line between shrewdness and naiveté. On the one hand, they hope for the best and look for the good in people. On the other hand, they must stay alert and know that not all men fear God.

Romans 16:17–19
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
Philippians 2:14–16
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Mark 6

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—
9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.
10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there.
11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”

two by two

Only Mark mentions the apostles were sent in pairs, but Luke mentions the same was true for the seventy-two who were sent out ahead of His return to Jerusalem (Luke 10:1).

Wisdom from the Scriptures recommends not going alone.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.

He charged them to take nothing for their journey

The way Mark and Luke word the Lord's admonition about money solidifes the interpretation of Matthew's wording ("Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.").

There is no sin in a preacher making a living from preaching. On the contrary, the Lord's instructions to them establish that all their income on this trip will come from their teaching. The people in the towns where they travel are learning that the gospel is worthy of support.

1 Corinthians 9:14
…The Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
3 John 8
Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

Luke 9

1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.
4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.
5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Luke 10

3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.

…to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal
…preaching the gospel and healing

Luke makes a point of the order of priority. Proclaiming the kingdom is the primary objective, supported by the accompanying signs. This order of priority remains consistent throughout the rest of the New Testament.

Hebrews 2:3–4
How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

§ 8. Jesus' Ministry in Galilee Continued