Sends disciples forth by twos Matt. 9:35–11:1 (Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6); In Matthew 9:35 this verse summarizes three aspects of his activities: He went about in all the towns and cities and preached His message everywhere in Israel; He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom, the same true Gospel that we have today; and He healed every sickness and disease among the people. He healed both physical and spiritual diseases, every one of them.
Verses 36-38 show the love that Jesus Christ has for all his children. In verse 36 He is moved with compassion on them. The Savior is so loving and concerned about all His brothers and sisters. The Greek translation for “they fainted” is “they were harassed.” The religious leaders of the day did not teach the true Gospel and harassed all that did not do as they preached (and not necessarily as they did.) In verse 37 He turns to his disciples and states that there are so many people who need to hear the true Gospel, but the laborers are few. Referring to his disciples that they need to pray to the Lord of the Harvest, God the Father, that he will send forth all the laborers that He has into this harvest. Pray followed by action is a very important principle that we learn here.
In chapter 10, verse 1, the Savior continues as he calls, ordains, and sets apart the 12 Apostles. What an amazing experience that must have been. Being ordained and set apart is an amazing experience, but to have the Son of God as voice must have ______, words cannot describe the experience. He give them the power to cast out the unclean spirits, and to heal all manner of sickness and disease. The Apostles must have been amazed also that he set them apart as apostles and everything related to that high and holy calling. I believe that he must have instructed them specifically about the office and calling. Again, what an incredible experience that would have been.
In verses 2-3, the names of the twelve apostles are given. There are several things that stand out. First is that Peter and Andrew and James and John are brothers. What is even more interesting is that they are partners in a fishing business. As we review the other names, there is great diversity there, a Canaanite, a publican, but none who were from the Sanhedrin, the ruling class of the Jews of the day. Elder Nelson is his recent visit to the Independence MO stake, mentioned the great diversity in the present day Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “It is amazing that we can agree on anything.” But in their calling, the Spirit unifies and unites them together, as I am sure that it did in the time of the Savior. There is strength in diversity.
In verses 5-6, the Savior gives very specific direction to the Twelve to go not to the Gentiles or to the Samaritans, who were a mixture of Gentile and the House of Israel. He sent them to go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. This fulfills the first part of the scripture that in the meridian of time, the Gospel will go first to the Jews, who were of the part of the House of Israel that were not lost, and then to the Gentiles and to the lost part of the House of Israel, but in the last days the Gospel will go first to the Gentiles and lost part of the House of Israel, and then to the Jews.
Verses 7-8 are very simple and direct. The Twelve are to preach that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The Greek word for “is at hand” is “has come.” To me this means that the Savior has come and people need to listen, obey, and accept His Gospel. Then the Savior continues, that the Twelve need to heal the sick, cleans the lepers, riase the dead, and cast out devils. In other words, do the miracles that they have seen the Savior do. They have the same Priesthood. The Savior concludes this verse with “freely ye have received, free give.” Is it not interesting that everything that the Savior offers is free, the Gospel, its principles and doctrines are all available without charge to all. But with Satan, “you can buy anything in this world with money.” This, of course, is a huge lie. We need to freely accept what the Savior gives us.
Verses 9-10 is the direction for the Savior to go forth on their mission “without purse or script.” This had to have been an amazing test for the Twelve. It was a major test of faith, but the Lord's promises are secure and fulfilled: “for the workman is worthy of his meat (or hire).” I am sure that there faith was significantly strengthened.
Verses 11-15 is the direction given to the Twelve as they went out to preach the Gospel. The Twelve are to inquiry who is worthy (of the House of Israel), and there go and abide. As they entered the house they were to salute the household members. If the people are worthy, let your peace come upon the house and the inhabitants of that house. If they were not worthy, your peace will return to the Twelve. If the people do not receive or accept you nor hear your words, then shake the dust off of your feet when you depart the house or the city. The consequences of that ordinance will be destruction.
In verse 16, the Savior clearly charges the Twelve that He is sending them forth as sheep among the wolves. He did not sugar coat it, but he admonished them to wise as serpents and harmless (guileless) as doves. The comparison is interesting. Be wise of the ways of the adversary and yet be without deception as doves, that which represents the Holy Ghost. Be clean and pure in motive and straight forward.
In Verses 17-20, the Savior continues and warns that the Twelve need to beware of men. The Savior details that men will deliver the Twelve up to councils to be judged, and the councils will cause you to be scourged. Additionally, the Twelve will be brought before governors and kings for the Savior's sake. They will appear before the governors and kings so that the Twelve can bear testimony against them and the Gentiles. When the Twelve is before the governors and kings, they need not take thought of how or what they should speak, because they will be told (by the Holy Ghost) in that hour what they should speak. The Savior reminds the Twelve that it is not them that speaks, but the Spirit of the Father (Holy Ghost) that will speak through them. This also applies to us today. As we draw nearer the Savior, He will use us as a sharp instrument in His hand to further the work, testify of the restoration, and invite all to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.
In verses 21-23, the Savior realistically describes some of the situations that the Twelve will see among the converts. Many, who accept the Gospel, shall see brothers, fathers, children and parents rise up against each other and deliver them to be killed, all because of accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Twelve shall be hated of all men for the sake of the Master. In spite of all these situations, he that endureth until the end shall be saved forever in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Savior further admonishes the Twelve that when they are persecuted in one city, flee unto another city. Continue to do the work, since the Twelve will not have gone to all the cities of Israel until He comes.
In verses 24-27 the Savior continues His instructions to the Twelve that neither the disciple nor the servant is above his master or lord. It is sufficient for the disciple and the servant to become as the master and the lord. That is our goal to become like our Lord and Master. The Savior continues we are also called by our lord and master or he whom we serve. Just as if the master of the house were Beelzebub (the devil), those of the household are also called of devil. The Savior then counsels to fear not, for there is nothing that is covered or hid, that will not be revealed and known. Then He draws on contrasts to continue that what He tells the Twelve in small groups away from the light of day, those are things that they will openly speak; and what which He whispers in their ears, that will the Twelve preach openly to the believers.
Verse 28 is a very powerful verse and teaches clearly an eternal truth. We are not to fear those who are able to kill the body but not able to kill the soul. President Kimball taught that “There is not tragedy is death, only in sin.” Only we ourselves can kill our soul. But we are to fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. That person is Satan, but he can only exercise power over us that we give to him. Our responsibility is to be true and faithful and look to the Lord continually.
In verses 29-31, the SAvior reemphasizes the concept of the importance of each of us to Heavenly Father. He compares how a sparrow that costs two farthings does not fall to the ground without Heavenly Father noticing it. He then declares that the hairs of our heads are numbered and that we have significantly more value that a sparrow. All of God's creatures are important, but we are children of God and should never forget that. Heavenly Father does knows each of our situations, and our responsibility is to look to him and heed his counsel.
In verses 32-33 the Lord teaches more amazing doctrine. If we will confess the Savior before men, that He will confess you before Heavenly Father. The reverse is also true. If we are afraid and deny the Lord before men, the Lord will also deny him before Heavenly Father. There is only one standard here. We must be a witness of God at all times and in all places.
The Savior continues in verses 34-37 with an unsettling yet true principle that a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He starts out by saying that He is not come to send peace on the earth but a sword. He has come to set variance between the members of the family. He then states the heart of the matter: He that loveth his family more than the Savior is not worthy of Him. We have to love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ most. By loving our family more than the Savior, I believe that one interpretation is that we do the things that our family members want us to do instead of the things that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to do. This applies to living the doctrines, principles, commandments and standards of Them.
Verse 38 is very interesting: “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” Each of us has many trials, temptations, tribulations, and sorrows to overcome in this life. These things are our “crosses.” The admonition of the Savior is simply to accept these trials, temptations, tribulations, and sorrows, pick yourself up, look to Him, and follow Him. Do the things that He would do. If you cannot do this, you are not worthy of Him. This is very simply stated but very challenging to do. But if we will look to Him more, pray to Heavenly Father in the Savior's name, and get up and do what we know is right, They will help us in ways not seen to overcome all things.
Verse 39 is very interesting. We have all read it before: “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” The JST adds some additional light: He who seeketh to save his life shall lose (or the Greek word means: sacrifice) it. He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. We need to lose our lives for the Savior's sake. If we do this, we shall be given eternal life.
Verses 40-42 provide wonderful instruction. In verse 40, the Lord links receiving or accepting the Twelve to receiving or accepting the Savior; and those who receive and accept the Savior receive and accept Heavenly Father. There is a marvelous correlation there. Also, the word receive means accept, hearken, or to do what the Father and Son want us to do. That word also comes through the prophets, seers and revelators. In verses 41-42, the Lord teaches further that as we hearken to the prophets and righteous men that we will receive the reward that comes with being obedient. Then the Lord expands the concept and emphasizes the need to serve and to be charitable. As we serve and are charitable, we shall not lose but gain a great reward—that of eternal life.
In Matthew 11:1 we find that some interesting wording—that when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples. The doctrine and principles that the Savior taught in this chapter were commandments. We need to hearken and give heed to the doctrines and principles of this chapter. After instructing the Twelve, the Savior went to teach and preach in the cities of the Twelve.
