Written ~ 01-12-2024
Read Matthew Chapter Ten
Matthew 10
In this chapter Jesus is sending out the twelve disciples on their first mission as workers in the Lord’s fields as the harvest is great! Matthew 9:37-38 says, “He said to His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields.” And that’s exactly what Jesus is doing by sending His disciples out to teach and preach, to heal every kind of disease and cast out demons, He is sending them out to the Lord’s fields to reap a great harvest.
In verses 10:2-4 we have a list of the twelve disciples that Jesus specifically called to follow Him:
- Simon (also called Peter)
- Andrew (Simon’s brother)
- James (son of Zebedee)
- John (son of Zebedee)
- Philip
- Bartholomew
- Thomas
- Matthew (the tax collector)
- James (son of Alphaeus)
- Thaddaeus (also known as Nathanael)
- Simon (the zealot)
- Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed Jesus)
Not much is said about most of these men. What we do know is… quite often Simon Peter, and the sons of Zebedee (James and John) were among Christ’s inner circle, they were the three who went with Jesus to observe the raising of the little girl in Mark 5:37-43. They were the three who Jesus asked to pray with Him at the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). John the son of Zebedee was the disciple that is described as the one that Jesus loved, see John 13:23. Also in John 19:25-27, this disciple, the one Jesus loved was put in charge of caring for Mary the mother of Jesus. Then several times in John 20 and 21, John describes himself as the disciple Jesus loved. This is also the same John who wrote the Gospel of John, the letters 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John and Revelation. Except for Matthew there isn’t much detail written about the rest of the disciples. We know Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus, but we don’t know his background. And we know Thomas was the doubter, he would had been the pessimist of the group, see John 20:24-29.
As we look at this list of men, the first chosen disciples of Jesus Christ. There is nothing spectacular about them! They are ordinary men who saw Jesus for who He was, they believed Him to be the Messiah they had been waiting for; they dropped everything and followed immediately when they were called.
The whole of chapter ten is the instructions Jesus is giving these twelve men as they were heading out into the world to spread the Gospel Message. Jesus was giving them encouragement, but He also gave warning for the persecution they would have to endure.
You and I have the same calling on our lives. Did you know that?
Let’s look at Matthew 10:38-39,
38 “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.”
What does it mean to “take up your cross?” I did a quick search and found this explanation and I really liked the simplicity of it…
- Taking up our cross means sacrifice, laying everything on the altar. It is not half-hearted commitment; it is full surrender to God’s terms of discipleship. It’s a choice to live out the truth that we are “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20) even if it means shame, rejection, or persecution.
Galatians 2:20 says this…
20 “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
So, as these twelve men, the disciples of Christ Jesus, risked everything to follow Him, so should we. As believers in Jesus, we have the distinct calling on our lives to get the word out that Jesus saves! These twelve men were sent out, going from town to town preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven! They had purpose, they had a charge placed on their lives and they were sent out full of the Lord’s strength.
Matthew 10:5-8,
5 “Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!”
What a way to get a fire lit under their backsides! Think of it this way, visualize a football team in the locker room right before a big championship game and the coach is standing in the center pumping them up with words of encouragement and a “we can do this” attitude. I feel like Jesus was doing the same thing. It wasn’t going to be easy, but each man had the words of Jesus ringing in their ears as they set out on this incredible journey.
Let’s go back to Matthew 10:38-39,
38 “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being Mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.”
Are you willing to give up your life, so you can find life in Jesus? Are you willing to sacrifice all the temptation of this world’s pleasures to follow Jesus? My heartfelt prayer is that each of us will gain a new strength from this chapter, to feel that kick in the pants to take up our cross and follow the Lord Jesus Christ, no matter where that path leads.
Don’t lose your life because you can’t give up the things this world has to offer. Instead look to Jesus for everything, give your heart, your life to Him so you can live!
~AMEN~
- If you have not given your heart, your life to Jesus yet, here is your opportunity! Pray this prayer of Salvation:
Dear Jesus, You know my heart, all the things I have done and said. Please forgive me for my unbelief. Please forgive me for all of my sins. I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You came to earth to die on the cross for my sins. I believe You rose from the dead to give me freedom from sin and death. By faith through believing in Who You Are, I accept You as my Lord and Savior. Come into my life, cleanse this heart of mine, white as snow. Help me not to doubt any longer and breathe life into me, fill me with Your light. Thank You Jesus! Amen.
- If you solemnly prayed this prayer, tell at least one person, so they can share in your joy!! I rejoice with you! All the angels in Heaven rejoice with you!
- It is very important to me that those who might be reading these journal pages of mine and don’t yet know the Lord Jesus Christ, that you make that decision. Today. Your heart and mind may not understand everything you have been reading, but if you open your heart to the truth of who Jesus is, you will be saved from sin and death. By the Power of the Holy Spirit you will be amazed at how quickly after giving your heart to the Lord your eyes and ears will be opened to the truth.