Rev. Sean Daenzer, Director of Worship for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain for the International Center, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Matthew 10:1-23.
After Jesus tells His disciples to pray for laborers in the Lord’s harvest, He answers that prayer by sending out the twelve as His apostles. These twelve men are sent to the twelve tribes of Israel to shepherd the lost sheep and bring in the Lord’s harvest. That work is done through the proclamation of the Lord’s Word. This Word is not dormant; it is living and active to bring God’s reign of forgiveness and all the accompanying blessings of healing and victory over death and the devil. As they go, the Twelve need not worry about their physical needs; their heavenly Father will provide for them through those who hear the Word in faith. Those who believe receive the peace with God that Jesus comes to bring; those who do not believe receive only God’s judgment. Jesus warns His disciples concerning such rejection ahead of time and commands them to face it knowingly and willingly, trusting in His promise. Even as they face flogging and death, the Lord will be active among them to send forth His Word. As they endure to the end, they will be saved in Him.
“All Righteousness Fulfilled” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that digs into the Gospel according to St. Matthew. The first evangelist proclaims Jesus to Jews and Gentiles alike as the fulfillment of God’s saving words and acts throughout the Old Testament. As the Christ in the line of David and Abraham, Jesus is the promised King who comes to bring sinners from every nation to live under His gracious reign.
Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.
Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.
Matthew 10:1-23
The Twelve Apostles
10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[a] 4 Simon the Zealot,[b] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
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.’[c] 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,[d] 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[e] 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.
Persecution Will Come
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Footnotes:
- Matthew 10:3 Some manuscripts Lebbaeus, or Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus
- Matthew 10:4 Greek kananaios, meaning zealot
- Matthew 10:7 Or The kingdom of heaven has come near
- Matthew 10:8 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
- Matthew 10:10 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
