Matthew 10: The Twelve Apostles
How did Jesus give his disciples power and authority?
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Matthew 10:1 He called the twelve disciples and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and heal all kinds of sicknesses and infirmities.
King James
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
What criteria did Jesus use in choosing his disciples? When did Jesus know Judas would betray him, at the beginning, or later? Why?
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Matthew 10:2–4 Their names were Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, James and his brother John, sons of Zebedee, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James son of Alphaeus, Lebbaeus known as Thaddaeus, Simon the zealous, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
King James
Matthew 10:2–4 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
One does not need to tell people not to do something they would never consider doing. If the Jews hated the Samaritans, why did Jesus tell them not to go among the Gentiles or any Samaritan city?
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Matthew 10:5–6 These were his instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or into any Samaritan city. Concentrate on the lost sheep of Israel.
King James
Matthew 10:5–6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
What kind of “Kingdom of Heaven” message did Jesus’ disciples preach?
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Matthew 10:7 “Wherever you go, preach the good news that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
King James
Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Besides healing and deliverance, the disciples were told to “raise the dead”? Do you think that ever happened? Why?
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Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out evil spirits, and raise the dead. Give as freely as you have received.”
King James
Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Why did Jesus tell the disciples not to take provisions for their journey?
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Matthew 10:9–10 “Do not take any money, a bag with extra clothes and sandals, or a walking stick. Let your work earn your support as you go.”
King James
Matthew 10:9–10 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
What might disciples have said or done that would lead people to welcome them into their homes?
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Matthew 10:11–13 “When you enter a town or small community, look for a godly man who will let you stay in his home until you leave for the next town. As you enter a home, greet the people with kindness. If the residents welcome you, offer your blessings, but if not, then quietly withdraw.”
King James
Matthew 10:11–13 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
What reasons might people have had for rejecting the disciples?
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Matthew 10:13 “If the residents welcome you, offer your blessings, but if not, then quietly withdraw.”
King James
Matthew 10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
How did the disciples respond to rejection?
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Matthew 10:13–15 “If the residents welcome you, offer your blessings, but if not, then quietly withdraw. When people do not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the offense like dust from your feet and leave that house or town for another. I assure you, on Judgment Day, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than that place.”
King James
Matthew 10:13–15 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
In preaching the Kingdom, how aggressive were the disciples supposed to be?
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Matthew 10:16 “Listen, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. Therefore, you must be wise as snakes, slipping in unnoticed, and harmless as doves, fleeing when threatened.”
King James
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
What dangers might we face in sharing Christ? What should we fear, if anything?
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Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Always doing what he says just makes the best sense. Throughout eternity, he deserves the highest praise.
Matthew 10:16–19 “Listen, I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. Therefore, you must be wise as snakes, slipping in unnoticed, and harmless as doves, fleeing when threatened. Watch out, because people will take you before the local judges and beat you up in their synagogues. Because of me, you will stand trial before governors and kings, giving testimony to the world about me. When you are arrested, do not worry about what to say. Whenever you must speak, you will be given the right words to say.”
2 Timothy 1:7 A spirit of fear is not from God, for in him we have power, love, and a sound mind.
King James
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Matthew 10:16–19 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
In what ways can preparation of a speech be helpful? What can make it a hindrance?
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Matthew 10:19–20 “When you are arrested, do not worry about what to say. Whenever you must speak, you will be given the right words to say. You will not be the one speaking. The Spirit of your Father will speak through you.”
King James
Matthew 10:19–20 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
What causes neighbors, friends, and relatives to become enemies?
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Matthew 10:21 Brothers will turn against brothers, fathers against children, and children against parents, causing them to be put to death.”
10:35–36 “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. A man’s enemies will come from his own home.”
King James
Matthew 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
10:35–36 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
How can the message of Christ bring hatred?
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Matthew 10:22 “Because of me, everyone will hate you, but those who keep their faith to the end will be saved.”
King James
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
What is the difference between salvation at the beginning and at the end?
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Matthew 10:22 “Because of me, everyone will hate you, but those who keep their faith to the end will be saved.”
King James
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Under what circumstances should Christians flee? When should they fight?
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Matthew 10:23 “When people persecute you in one town, flee to another. Believe me, you will not have reached all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man will come.”
21:12 In the Temple’s outer court, Jesus threw out the merchants who were buying and selling there. He overthrew the moneychangers’ tables and knocked over the cages of those selling doves.
Luke 9:54–55 When James and John heard about their rejection, they said, “Sir, should we call down fire from above to consume them, just as Elijah did?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them. “You do not know what kind of spirit you have.
1 Timothy 6:12 In complete dependence upon the Lord, be fully engaged in the battle, fighting well for eternal life and the excellence in ministry for which you were called. Your great testimony will be confirmed by many witnesses.
King James
Matthew 10:23 “But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”
21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
Luke 9:54–55 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Why should Jesus’ disciples expect to receive the same kind of treatment that Jesus received? Why might it be different?
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Matthew 10:24–25 “A student is not better than his teacher. A slave is not above his master. What is good enough for the teacher and master is good enough for the student and slave. If the master is called Beelzebub, it is even more likely that people will speak evil of his household.”
King James
Matthew 10:24–25 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Of what comfort is knowing that all secrets will one day be revealed?
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Matthew 10:26 “Do not be afraid of those people, because everything hidden will one day be revealed. All secrets will be brought to light.”
King James
Matthew 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
What does it mean to “preach from the housetops”?
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Matthew 10:27 “What I whisper to you in the darkness, you must shout in broad daylight. What your ears have heard, preach from the housetops.”
King James
Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Why should we fear God and not people?
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Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear people who can kill your body but cannot harm your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both body and soul in Hell.”
King James
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
What makes God’s knowledge of sparrows a comfort for us?
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Matthew 10:29–31 “The price of two sparrows is not very much, but one cannot die without your Father’s knowledge. He even knows the number of hairs on your head. Don’t worry. You are worth more than many sparrows.”
King James
Matthew 10:29–31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
How important is our public confession of Jesus Christ?
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Matthew 10:32–33 “If anyone publicly acknowledges me before men, I will publicly acknowledge him before my Father in Heaven. But anyone who denies me before men I will deny before my Father in Heaven.”
Romans 10:9 I am giving you a choice, and your response determines whether my word will be a blessing or a curse. Go ahead. Speak the truth with your mouth, and trust in your heart the words and deeds of Jesus Christ, which show the value of our total commitment to please God, since God raised him from the dead. Do this, and you will be saved.
Revelation 12:11 “The people have overcome Satan by the sacrifice of the Lamb, by giving their testimonies, and by complete surrender to God’s will, even unto death.”
King James
Matthew 10:32–33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
How can the Prince of Peace be one who brings a sword?
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Matthew 10:34 “Do not assume that I came to bring peace on Earth. Instead of peace, I bring a sword.”
King James
Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
What results should we expect from loving God more than anything or anyone else? What happens if we don’t?
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Matthew 10:37–39 “If you love your father, mother, son, or daughter more than you love me, you are not worthy of being my disciple. Unless you are willing to sacrifice your own life and do what I ask, you are not worthy of being my disciple. If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you lose your life for my sake, you will discover real life.”
King James
Matthew 10:37–39 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
How can self-sacrifice be self-saving?
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Matthew 10:39 “If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you lose your life for my sake, you will discover real life.”
King James
Matthew 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
How can the acceptance of someone include the acceptance of someone else?
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Matthew 10:40–41 “Those who accept you are accepting me, and those who accept me are accepting the Father, who sent me. Those who accept God’s messenger for who he is will experience the messenger’s reward. Those who accept a righteous man for who he is will experience the righteous man’s reward.”
King James
Matthew 10:40–41 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
What are the rewards for giving? When is giving a liability?
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Matthew 6:2 “When you give to the needy, do not call attention to yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets. They want people to praise them. Without a doubt, they have received all the reward they will ever get.”
10:42 “Those who give something as insignificant as a cup of cold water to the least of my disciples, because you are my disciples, are sure to be rewarded.”
King James
Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
What is the significance of giving something insignificant?
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Matthew 10:42 V”Those who give something as insignificant as a cup of cold water to the least of my disciples, because you are my disciples, are sure to be rewarded.”
King James
Matthew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.