Scripture:
Matthew 10:7-15 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
7 As you go, announce this: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near. (A) ' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons. (B) You have received free of charge; give free of charge. 9 Don't take along gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts. (C) 10 Don't take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a walking stick, for the worker (D) is worthy of his food.
11 "When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 Greet a household when you enter it, (E) 13 and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it. But if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you. (F) 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet (G) when you leave that house or town. 15 I assure you: It will be more tolerable on the day of judgment (H) for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. (I)
Cross references:
Matthew 10:7 : Mt 3:2-3; 4:17; Lk 10:9;
Matthew 10:8 : Mk 3:15; Rv 9:20; 18:2;
Matthew 10:9 : Mk 6:6-8; Lk 9:3-5; 10:4-12;
Matthew 10:10 : Lk 10:7; 1Co 9:14; 1Tm 5:18;
Matthew 10:12 : 1Sm 25:6; 1Ch 12:18; Ps 122:7-8;
Matthew 10:13 : Ps 35:13; Mt 8:8; Ac 16:15;
Matthew 10:14 : Neh 5:13; Lk 10:11; Ac 13:51;
Matthew 10:15 : Mt 12:36; Ac 17:31; Heb 10:25; 2Pt 2:9; 1Jn 4:17;
Matthew 10:15 : Mt 11:22, 24; 2Pt 2:6; Jude 6-7;
Reflection:
Jesus gave his disciples a two-fold commission: to speak in his name and to act with his power. The core of the gospel message is quite simple: the kingdom (or reign) of God is imminent! What is the kingdom of God? It is that society of men and women who submit to God and who honor him as their King and Lord. In the Lord’s prayer we pray for God to reign in our lives and in our world: May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus also commissioned his disciples to carry on the works which he did -- bringing the healing power of God to the weary and oppressed.
Jesus said to his disciples: Freely you have received, freely give. What they had received from Jesus they must pass on to others without expecting remuneration. They must show by their attitude that their first interest is God, not material gain. They must serve without guile, full of charity and peace, and simplicity. They must give their full attention to the proclamation of God’s kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser things. They must travel light -- only take what was essential and leave behind whatever would distract them -- in order to concentrate on the task of speaking the word of the God. They must do their work, not for what they can get out of it, but for what they can give freely to others, without expecting special privileges or reward. “Poverty of spirit” frees us from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God’s provision. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves.
Secondly, Jesus said: the worker deserves his sustenance. Here we see a double-truth: the worker of God must not be overly-concerned with material things, but the people of God must never fail in their duty to give the worker of God what he needs to sustain himself. Do you pray for the work of the gospel and support it with your material resources? Jesus ends his instructions with a warning: If people reject God’s invitation and refuse his word, then they bring condemnation on themselves. When God gives us his word there comes with it the great responsibility to respond. Indifference will not do. We are either for or against God in how we respond to his word. God gives us his word that we may have life in him. He wills to work through and in each of us for his glory. God shares he word with us and he commissions us to speak it boldly and simply to others. Do you witness the truth and joy of the gospel by word and example to those around you?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, may the joy and truth of the gospel transform my life that I may witness it to those around me. Grant that I may spread your truth and your light wherever I go.
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