Matthew 10 – The Mission of the Twelve and the Cost of Discipleship
Matthew 10 records Jesus commissioning His twelve disciples, giving them authority to heal, preach, and cast out demons. He warns them of persecution, emphasizing that true discipleship requires boldness, faith, and complete devotion to God.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
In this chapter, Jesus prepares His disciples for mission, equipping them with power but also warning them of challenges ahead. He teaches that following Him means facing opposition but promises eternal reward to those who remain faithful.
✔ Jesus gives the disciples authority over sickness and demons.
✔ He sends them specifically to the lost sheep of Israel.
✔ They are warned of persecution but told not to fear.
✔ True discipleship demands full allegiance to Christ.
📖 Key Verse: “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” – Matthew 10:39
🔎 The mission of the twelve foreshadows the Great Commission, calling all believers to boldly proclaim the Gospel.
Matthew Chapter 10 - Overview
Matthew 10:1-15 – The Commissioning of the Twelve
📖 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.”
🔎 Authority is given, not earned. The disciples receive power directly from Jesus, foreshadowing the Holy Spirit’s empowerment (Acts 1:8).
🔎 Their mission mirrors Jesus’ own ministry—preaching, healing, and delivering the oppressed.
📖 Matthew 10:5-6 – “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.”
🔎 The initial focus is Israel. This aligns with God’s promise that salvation would first come to the Jews (Romans 1:16) before extending to the Gentiles (Acts 10).
📖 Matthew 10:7-8 – “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”
🔎 Their message is urgent: the Kingdom is near. Their miracles validate their authority, demonstrating that Jesus’ power is working through them.
📖 Matthew 10:9-10 – “Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses… for the workman is worthy of his meat.”
🔎 They are to depend on God’s provision. This teaches faith in God’s ability to sustain His servants.
Matthew 10:16-31 – Persecution and Fearless Witnessing
📖 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.”
🔎 Disciples will face danger. They must be both shrewd and innocent—strategic yet blameless.
📖 Matthew 10:19-20 – “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak… For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”
🔎 The Holy Spirit provides words in times of trial. This is a promise of divine guidance when facing persecution.
📖 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.”
🔎 Perseverance is key. The cost of following Christ is high, but eternal salvation awaits those who remain faithful.
📖 Matthew 10:28 – “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.”
🔎 Fear God, not man. Earthly persecution is temporary, but eternal judgment is permanent.
Matthew 10:32-42 – The Cost and Reward of Discipleship
📖 Matthew 10:34-36 – “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
🔎 Following Jesus causes division. The Gospel separates those who accept truth from those who reject it.
📖 Matthew 10:37-38 – “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me… And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
🔎 True discipleship requires absolute loyalty. Even family ties must not come before devotion to Christ.
📖 Matthew 10:39 – “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
🔎 Sacrificing for Christ leads to true life. Living for self leads to spiritual death, but surrendering to Christ brings eternal reward.
📖 Matthew 10:40-42 – “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me…”
🔎 Those who receive Christ’s messengers share in the reward. Even small acts of kindness to God’s servants do not go unnoticed.
Matthew Chapter 10 - Deeper Study
Overview: The Mission of the Disciples and the Cost of Faithfulness
🔹 Timeframe: Jesus’ early ministry, preparing the twelve for their mission.
🔹 Setting: Various locations as the disciples are sent out.
🔹 Theme: Discipleship requires faith, endurance, and total devotion to Christ.
Key Takeaways
🔑 Jesus gives His disciples authority, but also warns of persecution.
🔑 Trusting in God’s provision is essential.
🔑 The Gospel brings division—true disciples must remain steadfast.
🔑 Those who endure opposition will be rewarded in eternity.
🔑 Losing one’s life for Christ leads to eternal life.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 Persecution Foretold – Psalm 34:19 promises deliverance for the righteous amid trials.
🔮 Messengers Sent in Pairs – Like Moses & Aaron (Exodus 7:1-2), the disciples are sent as witnesses to confirm God’s truth.
🔮 The Cross as the Ultimate Test – Jesus’ call to take up the cross foreshadows His own sacrifice, later fulfilled at Calvary.
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Jewish Custom of Hospitality – In ancient Israel, receiving a messenger was equivalent to receiving the sender.
📜 Roman Persecution of Christians – Jesus’ warning of persecution was fully realized in the early Church (Acts 8:1-3).
📜 Cross-Bearing in Roman Times – This was a symbol of death and shame, making Jesus’ call to take up the cross radical.
💡 Final Reflection: Are We Willing to Count the Cost?
Jesus calls for absolute commitment in the face of opposition. True discipleship is not easy, but it is worth it.
📌 Are we willing to suffer for Christ’s name?
📌 Do we prioritize Jesus over everything else?
📌 Are we boldly proclaiming the Gospel despite opposition?
🚀 The call is clear—will we follow?
The Twelve Apostles
Mat 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.
Mat 10:2 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;
Mat 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Mat 10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
Mat 10:5 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:
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Mat 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Mat 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Mat 10:11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
Mat 10:12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
Mat 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.
Mat 10:14 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.
Mat 10:15 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.
Persecution Will Come
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 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.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Mat 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.
Mat 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.
Mat 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.
Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Mat 10:25 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?
Have No Fear
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 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.
Mat 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.
Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Not Peace, but a Sword
Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 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.
Mat 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 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.
Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Rewards
Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Mat 10:41 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.
Mat 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.
Date Written
Approximately 50-60 AD
Written By
The Apostle Matthew (Levi)
Language
Originally written in Greek (with strong Hebraic influence)
Verses
42