Bible Study on Matthew 10, verses 5 to 15, the Apostles sent out to preach to Israel

 

Matthew 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: 6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9  Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10  Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 11  And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 12  And when ye come into an house, salute it. 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. 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. 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.

 

The Apostle’s ministry will be first to the people of Israel. They get the first opportunity to receive the kingdom of Heaven and God. This calling was peculiar to them in this time as they revealed the doctrine of God’s kingdom within the hearts of men and women to Israel. They were to start with a person of good reputation in a town and give them a chance to receive the gospel that Jesus had taught them. This person with a good reputation would be a great beginning to spread the good news. John Gill insists that this doesn’t mean a particularly religious person but a lover of hospitality, liberal minded, the kind of person who would welcome weary strangers and take care of them. The Apostles had great power to do things that Jesus had been doing and were told not to even provide for their basic needs. All would be taken care of.

 

If they were rejected the people of that town in that time would suffer more on the day of judgment than Sodom and Gomorrah because they were given the truth and refused to hear it. This seems to suggest that it is worse for a person if they hear the truth and reject it than if they never heard it at all but are still lost and that there are degrees of punishment in eternity.

 

The town that received them would receive their blessing and it is implied that they would bear fruit in such a place, open to the gospel. John the Baptist has preached the imminent entry into their world of the Messiah and now the Messiah has sent out His Apostles to proclaim the kingdom. No one has any excuse.