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1 And when hee had called vnto him his twelue disciples, he gaue them power against vncleane spirits, to cast them out, and to heale all maner of sickenesse, and all maner of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelue Apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, Iames the sonne of Zebedee, and Iohn his brother:
3 Philip, and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the Publicane, Iames the sonne of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus:
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Iudas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5 These twelue Iesus sent foorth, and commanded them, saying, Goe not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But goe rather to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel.
7 And as yee goe, preach, saying, The kingdome of heauen is at hand:
8 Heale the sicke, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out deuils: freely ye haue receiued, freely giue.
9 Prouide neither gold, nor siluer, nor brasse in your purses:
10 Nor scrippe for your iourney, neither two coats, neither shooes, nor yet staues: (for the workeman is worthy of his meat.)
11 And into whatsoeuer city or towne ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till yee goe thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come vpon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace returne to you.
14 And whosoeuer shall not receiue you, nor heare your words: when yee depart out of that house, or city, shake off the dust of your feete.
15 Uerely I say vnto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of iudgment, then for that citie.
16 ¶ Behold, I send you foorth as sheepe in the middest of wolues: be yee therefore wise as serpents, and harmelesse as doues.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliuer you vp to the Councils, and they will scourge you in their Synagogues,
18 And yee shall be brought before Gouernours and Kings for my sake, for a testimonie against them, and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliuer you vp, take no thought, how or what ye shall speake, for it shall bee giuen you in that same houre what ye shall speake.
20 For it is not yee that speake, but the Spirit of your Father, which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliuer vp the brother to death, and the father the childe: and the children shall rise vp against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And yee shall be hated of all men for my Names sake: but he that endureth to the end, shalbe saued.
23 But when they persecute you in this citie, flee ye into another: for verely I say vnto you, ye shall not haue gone ouer the cities of Israel, till the Sonne of man be come.
24 The disciple is not aboue his master, nor the seruant aboue his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the seruant as his Lord: If they haue called the Master of the house of Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Feare them not therefore: for there is nothing couered, that shall not be reueiled; and hidde, that shall not be knowen.
27 What I tell you in darkenesse, that speake yee in light: and what yee heare in the eare, that preach yee vpon the house tops.
28 And feare not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soule: but rather feare him which is able to destroy both soule and body in hell.
29 Are not two Sparrowes solde for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very haires of your head are all numbred.
31 Feare yee not therefore, ye are of more value then many Sparrowes.
32 Whosoeuer therefore shall confesse mee before men, him will I confesse also before my Father which is in heauen.
33 But whosoeuer shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heauen.
34 Thinke not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, & the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a mans foes shalbe they of his owne houshold.
37 He that loueth father or mother more then me, is not worthy of me: and he that loueth sonne or daughter more then me, is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his crosse, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.
40 ¶ He that receiueth you, receiueth me: and he that receiueth mee, receiueth him that sent me.
41 He that receiueth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet, shall receiue a Prophets reward: and he that receiueth a righteous man, in the name of a righteous man, shal receiue a righteous mans reward.
42 And whosoeuer shall giue to drinke vnto one of these litle ones, a cup of cold water onely, in the name of a disciple, verily I say vnto you, hee shall in no wise lose his reward.
The apostles called. (1-4) The apostles instructed and sent forth. (5-15) Directions to the apostles. (16-42)1-4 The word "apostle" signifies messenger; they were Christ's messengers, sent forth to proclaim his kingdom. Christ gave them power to heal all manner of sickness. In the grace of the gospel there is a slave for every sore, a remedy for every malady. There is no spiritual disease, but there is power in Christ for the cure of it. There names are recorded, and it is their honour; yet they had more reason to rejoice that their names were written in heaven, while the high and mighty names of the great ones of the earth are buried in the dust.
5-15 The Gentiles must not have the gospel brought them, till the Jews have refused it. This restraint on the apostles was only in their first mission. Wherever they went they must proclaim, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. They preached, to establish the faith; the kingdom, to animate the hope; of heaven, to inspire the love of heavenly things, and the contempt of earthly; which is at hand, that men may prepare for it without delay. Christ gave power to work miracles for the confirming of their doctrine. This is not necessary now that the kingdom of God is come. It showed that the intent of the doctrine they preached, was to heal sick souls, and to raise those that were dead in sin. In proclaiming the gospel of free grace for the healing and saving of men's souls, we must above all avoid the appearance of the spirit of an hireling. They are directed what to do in strange towns and cities. The servant of Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behoves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase their condemnation.
16-42 Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has dealt fairly and faithfully with us, in telling us the worst we can meet with in his service; and he would have us deal so with ourselves, in sitting down and counting the cost. Persecutors are worse than beasts, in that they prey upon those of their own kind. The strongest bonds of love and duty, have often been broken through from enmity against Christ. Sufferings from friends and relations are very grievous; nothing cuts more. It appears plainly, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution; and we must expect to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations. With these predictions of trouble, are counsels and comforts for a time of trial. The disciples of Christ are hated and persecuted as serpents, and their ruin is sought, and they need the serpent's wisdom. Be ye harmless as doves. Not only, do nobody any hurt, but bear nobody any ill-will. Prudent care there must be, but not an anxious, perplexing thought; let this care be cast upon God. The disciples of Christ must think more how to do well, than how to speak well. In case of great peril, the disciples of Christ may go out of the way of danger, though they must not go out of the way of duty. No sinful, unlawful means may be used to escape; for then it is not a door of God's opening. The fear of man brings a snare, a perplexing snare, that disturbs our peace; an entangling snare, by which we are drawn into sin; and, therefore, it must be striven and prayed against. Tribulation, distress, and persecution cannot take away God's love to them, or theirs to him. Fear Him, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. They must deliver their message publicly, for all are deeply concerned in the doctrine of the gospel. The whole counsel of God must be made known, #Ac 20:27|. Christ shows them why they should be of good cheer. Their sufferings witnessed against those who oppose his gospel. When God calls us to speak for him, we may depend on him to teach us what to say. A believing prospect of the end of our troubles, will be of great use to support us under them. They may be borne to the end, because the sufferers shall be borne up under them. The strength shall be according to the day. And it is great encouragement to those who are doing Christ's work, that it is a work which shall certainly be done. See how the care of Providence extends to all creatures, even to the sparrows. This should silence all the fears of God's people; Ye are of more value than many sparrows. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. This denotes the account God takes and keeps of his people. It is our duty, not only to believe in Christ, but to profess that faith, in suffering for him, when we are called to it, as well as in serving him. That denial of Christ only is here meant which is persisted in, and that confession only can have the blessed recompence here promised, which is the real and constant language of faith and love. Religion is worth every thing; all who believe the truth of it, will come up to the price, and make every thing else yield to it. Christ will lead us through sufferings, to glory with him. Those are best prepared for the life to come, that sit most loose to this present life. Though the kindness done to Christ's disciples be ever so small, yet if there be occasion for it, and ability to do no more, it shall be accepted. Christ does not say that they deserve a reward; for we cannot merit any thing from the hand of God; but they shall receive a reward from the free gift of God. Let us boldly confess Christ, and show love to him in all things.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.