Matthew 10:7-12

 

Mat 10:7 (KJB)

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

 

The message the Apostles were to bring was that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. It was not some mythical 1,000 year reign in the future but the Kingdom of God has now come to earth in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 14:17 KJV) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. The Kingdom of God is not a visible kingdom like Rome or Babylon but the Kingdom of God is within a person when they become saved. (Luke 17:21 KJV) Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.  The New Heaven and the New Earth will be in the Kingdom of God in all its righteousness but for the present time, the Kingdom of God comes to earth every time someone becomes saved. The Apostles were to preach that the Kingdom was near because after Jesus went to the cross and then came Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon all the believers and that begun the Kingdom of God in the last days.

 

Mat 10:8 (KJB)

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

 

The ministry which the disciples received was the same ministry that Jesus was doing. The ministry of these miracles were not to stand alone but were to be used in conjunction with the teaching that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. The reason that miracles were being used was to confirm the ministry because the Bible was not yet completed. (Mark 16:20 KJV) And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. The signs and miracles were used at a time before the Bible was completed but after the Bible was completed, no longer was the miracles used to confirm the word but now the preaching of the Gospel was to happen in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also gives a great ministry principle. “Freely ye have received, freely give.” Have you ever been to some ministry websites and if you want to view their material you have to subscribe for a fee? That is a violation of this principle. Many ministries charge outrageous prices for books and materials. It is my belief that many of them run into serious financial problems because they do. If they would give these materials away and leave it to the Lord to bring in the money for printing and production, they would have excess funds to expand the ministry. No author is so profound that they have to charges $25 for a book. Many of these ministries forget that people in other countries may not be able to afford their books because of the exchange rate and that means Christian materials will not be sent to them. Just think of how many better educated Christians there would be around the world if materials were given away free?

 

Mat 10:9 (KJB)

Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

 

Jesus is now telling the disciples that they are to go and not try to raise funds nor solicit them. It is not wrong to accept funds for ministry but Jesus is telling them that they do not have to raise funds which means as they go, God will supply all the funds that are needed for their ministry. This principle could also be applied to today because sometimes missionaries spend years trying to raise support instead of being on the field and letting God raise the support that is needed. This is almost like the disciple who wanted to follow Jesus but wanted first to bury his father. He wanted to go on his terms and in his timing. Here Jesus is telling them to go now and all that they need would be supplied.

 

Mat 10:10 (KJB)

Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

 

Then they were not to take scrip which was a traveling bag that could be hung over the shoulder. They were also not to take an extra coat or tunic along or even a second pair of sandals. They were not even to take a walking stick with them. The reason for this is found in the last part of the verse. They would be supported by those who they ministered to. Every time Paul went into a city to preach, it seems God already had a brother in place to assist with the needs and a place to stay. If they did not do the ministry correctly or behaved wrongly, then they would not be worthy of the Lord raising up the money for them.

 

Mat 10:11 (KJB)

And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

 

Hospitality played a big part in the ministry of the itinerant preachers and also it gave other Christians the opportunity to join in their ministry by seeing to their needs and giving them a temporary place to stay while ministering. When the Lord is speaking about inquiring who is worthy, He is speaking about finding those believers in that city and if they agree to put you up, then you are to stay with them. Again, this was seen repeatedly in the ministry of the Apostle Paul and in the ministry of Jesus. He stayed many times at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The Apostles were to be content where they were staying. Before the advent of motels every few miles in the United States, visiting preachers to a church would stay with members of the congregation and this created an intimacy among the brethren.

 

Mat 10:12 (KJB)

And when ye come into an house, salute it.

 

When you have found such a place where the inhabitants are believers and like-minded, then salute that home. To salute means to greet the house with a saying such as “Peace be unto you.” These were not just words but they would be desiring the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be upon the household. (Acts 10:36 KJV) The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

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