Matthew 10

Read Matthew 10

Verses chosen for meditation: Matt 10: 1, 8b, 39, 42 ESV:

1 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.

8b You received without paying; give without pay.

39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Reflect

1. Are there still apostles today?

2. Are there any applications for outreach and missions from the passage? Compare with the Great Commission in Matthew 28: 19, 20.

3. Are there any lessons about giving? Refer the above verses.

Relate

There is general consensus among Christian scholars and theologians today that apostleship is a thing of the past. Paul is often thought as the last of the apostles, as an apostle to the gentiles. The reason for such a conclusion is that certain qualifications for apostleship cannot be possibly met today.

However, a distinction is needed between the office and gifting of apostleship. While the former may have ceased, the latter is still thought to be in operation. The gifting is supposedly evident in the roles covered by visionaries, church planters and missionaries.

In any case, this is the first time that the disciples are called apostles. But before they could be sent out as apostles, they had to be taught first. And before they could be taught, they needed to be teachable.

So, when they were deemed ready, the twelve disciples were sent out on their first mission by Christ as commissioned representatives, just as their title 'Apostle' suggests. It could be said that they went straight from the 'classroom' to the field. This would provide a practical testing ground for their teachability, readiness and faith. 

With this as the backdrop, let's look at the takeaways from the passage, seen as a blueprint of sorts for outreach and evangelism, including missions. The whole mission itself was in preparation for the Great Commission that was to come where all of us would be called to make disciples of all the peoples, besides the Jews.

The modus operandi was to present Christ to the Jews first as what this mission was for, then to the others, and finally to the whole world (Acts 1: 8).

To do that, there needs to be a strong reliance on Christ. There needs to be minimal encumberment as well from any personal affairs. For the work itself would bring its own share of disappointments and hardships, including persecutions. But if we know who has called us and under whose authority we are sent, it should put us at ease despite the conflicts and challenges since the world is constantly in opposition to the kingdom.

Perhaps, one of the greatest lessons that the passage teaches is the subject of giving. The selected verses are given above. 

It is clear from the very start where the ultimate source is from and who the ultimate giver is in relation to God's mission. We can curtail the budget all we want, but we can never stop the plans of God. For we are not the real source whether as a church or as an individual. God's mission will continue even if we don't give, but we'll be the poorer then for it.

For me, verse 8b is the key verse. In another version, it reads, 'Freely you have received, freely give.' Those who know and appreciate the fact that they have received freely from God will also give freely. For that is the natural response. A good analogy is a waterfall, which keeps pouring gallons of water every second as it continues receiving water from its main watercourse. 

On a similar note, how does one lose a life for Christ's sake? We lose our life by offering it up. The greatest paradox is finding life after offering it up for a cause that's not our own, but the Lord's. It goes to show that with all the finance or investment smarts, we are still fools when it comes to understanding God's kingdom economics.

Jim Elliot, the missionary to Ecuador who lost his life at a young age of 28 while reaching out to the Auca Indians said it well: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. He has remained no doubt one of the greatest missionary heroes of the last century.

Finally, no offering or gift, however small, is insignificant although nothing beats the significance of God's gift of his only Son. The poor widow's two mites and the five loaves and two fish offered by the boy were not insignificant either. For significance is not about the amount, but the attitude.

Suffice to say, receiving freely and giving freely are true marks of discipleship. While apostleship may be a thing of the past, discipleship is here to stay. And you and I are called to be disciples.

Rest

Freely Freely

God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name,

I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name;

And in Jesus’ name I come to you

To share His love as He told me to.

Chorus

He said: ‘Freely, freely, you have received, freely, freely give;

Go in My name, and because you believe, others will know that I live.’

All power is given in Jesus’ name,

In earth and heaven in Jesus’ name;

And in Jesus’ name I come to you

To share His power as He told me to.

Song by Carol Owens (1972 Bud John Songs)

Naville

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