Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry shows that Jesus deliberately sends His ministry with authority, purpose, and clear instruction. He calls disciples as learners, not just followers. He gives power to heal, deliver, and preach the kingdom. Ministry is directed, accountable, and often resisted. Provision comes from God, not self-reliance. Rejection brings consequences. Being sent matters. Disciples must know they are called, sent, and dependent on God.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Audio
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Scriptures used in the lesson:
Matthew 10:1, 1 John 1:1, Matthew 15:30, Matthew 8:16, Matthew 10:8, Mark 1:32-34, Mark 6:13, Mark 16:17-18, John 9:1-3, Matthew 10:2-4, Ephesians 2:19-22, Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 21:1, Revelation 21:9, Revelation 21:10, Revelation 21:12-14, Matthew 10:5-6, Matthew 15:24, Romans 7:1-3, Matthew 28:19-20, Colossians 1:13, Luke 23:44, Matthew 10:9-10, Deuteronomy 25:4, 1 Corinthians 9:7-14, Matthew 10:11-13, Matthew 10:14-15, Acts 13:50-51, Matthew 10:16-20, 1 Timothy 5:17-18,
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Introduction and Scope of the Lesson
I want to be clear at the outset that this section covers a large span of material, and there is no way to address every detail. Accordingly, I am intentionally focusing on the highlights. As I was preparing and writing, I felt the Holy Spirit pinpointing specific areas, so my goal is to touch those key thoughts rather than attempt full coverage. We will begin by examining Matthew 10:1-23.
The Second Major Discourse: Ministry Sent Forth
In this lesson, we are entering the second major discourse of the Lord. Its primary focus is ministry—specifically, the ministry Jesus sends forth. The emphasis is on the authority and power delegated to that ministry. Jesus gives clear direction concerning where His ministry is to go, what it is to preach, what it is to do, what it is to take, and where it is to remain. Some will receive this ministry, while others will reject it. That ministry carries authority to bless, and even to withdraw blessing. Cities that reject God-sent ministry will face severe judgment, worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. Within this discourse, Jesus also plants an early seed pointing toward His second coming in glory.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
One important framework is understanding the six major discourses of Jesus in Matthew. Chapters 5 through 7 form the Sermon on the Mount. Chapter 10 is the discipleship charge, which we are studying now. Chapter 13 contains the kingdom parables. Then chapter 18 addresses forgiveness. Chapter 23 deals with religious hypocrisy. Chapters 24 and 25 present the eschatological discourse.
These are not random teachings but six distinct sermons. Jesus did not preach only one sermon and then offer scattered lessons. Each discourse is an in-depth teaching with a clear purpose. In chapter 10, Jesus provides focused, detailed instruction on ministry—how it is sent, how it functions, and what He requires of those who are sent.
The Calling and Authority of the Twelve
As we enter verse 1, we see that Jesus calls His twelve disciples and gives them power over unclean spirits and authority to heal all kinds of sickness and disease. The number twelve is significant. These twelve are deliberately chosen and commissioned with authority as representatives of the ministry Jesus is sending forth.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Matthew 10:1
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.
This is significant because the twelve disciples are chosen to replace the original twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus did not choose this number by accident. He is intentionally bringing the old to a close and establishing something new. Natural Israel is being replaced with spiritual Israel, and the twelve disciples are appointed as representatives of that new spiritual reality. The number twelve shows clear intention, and it matters. I want you to remember this because I will return to why these men were chosen and what they are intended to do.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
The Meaning of Discipleship: Learners, Not Just Followers
Jesus calls them disciples, and that word is important. According to the Strong’s Concordance, it means a learner or a pupil. A disciple is not simply a follower. Following may be involved, but the core meaning is learning. You can follow someone for a long time and never truly be a disciple if you never learn anything. Matthew himself is a perfect example. He never speaks a single recorded word in the Gospels, yet he writes the very first book of the New Testament. Matthew did not talk; he learned.
What I want us to see is that following alone does not define discipleship. A disciple is a learner. These men lived with Jesus. They saw Him with their eyes, touched Him, ate with Him, and heard His words. John says they handled the Word of Life.
1 John 1:1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Even with that level of closeness, they were still learning. Jesus sends them out not because they have arrived, but because learning continues. They knew Jesus both physically and personally, yet they remained learners. Even after years with Him, discipleship had not ended. That is the point. Discipleship continues as long as learning continues, and these twelve show us exactly what that looks like.
How many of us still believe we need to keep learning? The disciples were with Jesus for years. They heard Him teach, asked questions, and had things explained to them. Even after all that time, they were still learners. These twelve had handled the Word of life, heard His voice, and seen Him with their own eyes, yet learning continued. That demonstrates what discipleship is. We are disciples of Jesus Christ only as long as we continue to learn.
I believe discipleship can be cut off when learning stops. When we close our minds and decide we already have all the answers, something is lost. I reached that place once in my own life, and I thought I had everything figured out. I had taught the book of Revelation twice and could explain all the symbols and images. Yet the Lord showed me that I had ceased to be a disciple because I had ceased to learn. That realization continues to resonate with me, and I believe many of us need to be reminded of it.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
I look to people I deeply respect, such as Cindy Ball and Betty Cooper, and others I cherish. They have never shut their minds to the things of the kingdom. They keep learning. That is what disciples do. A disciple is not just a follower. A disciple is a learner.
Healing, Deliverance, and the Nature of Sickness
The disciples were instructed to cast out demons and heal all manner of diseases. Later, I’ll move past the discussion of power to address a key question: Is sickness always demonic? I raise this because of a real conversation I had with Michelle after service. She has a physical condition and has done everything she knew to do spiritually—binding, rebuking, resisting—yet the problem remained. When she asked if the issue must be demonic, my answer was no.
While sickness ultimately traces back to the fall, not all illness is directly caused by demons. Scripture shows a clear distinction. Some healings involved no deliverance. Passages such as Matthew 8:16 and Matthew 15:30 document physical healings without demonic activity. The Bible makes it clear that some sicknesses are demonic, and others are not. Understanding that distinction matters when we pray and minister healing.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Matthew 15:30
30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
Matthew 8:16
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Scripture also clearly distinguishes between healing and deliverance. Passages such as Matthew 10:8, Mark 1:32-34, and Mark 6:13, along with verses 16 through 18, demonstrate that difference. In these accounts, healing and deliverance are treated as separate works. The Bible does not blur the two. It consistently presents them as distinct, even though both operate through God’s power.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Matthew 10:8
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Mark 1:32–34
32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
Mark 6:13
13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Mark 16:17–18
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
The Man Born Blind and the Glory of God
A classic example appears in John 9:1-9. Jesus and His disciples encounter a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples ask whether the blindness was caused by the man’s sin or by his parents’ sin. Jesus answers that neither is the cause. He explains that this situation exists so that the works of God might be revealed and made manifest through him.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
John 9:1–3
1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
There was no sin involved in that situation, and it was not demonic activity either. The purpose was to glorify God. I want to be clear about this. Sickness, illness, and disease do not bring glory to God. Healing does. Faith does. Walking through difficult situations with faith toward God brings glory to Him, and that is what I see in this passage.
From this, I see several important points. Demonic activity can produce sickness and disease. Sickness and disease can also arise from physical malfunctions. In a general sense, those malfunctions can be traced back to Satan, because man was created in God’s image and was not designed with defects. Malfunction entered only after sin came into the world. Even so, I am not saying that having an illness means a person is demonically possessed or oppressed.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
I also see that sickness and disease can exist in a way that allows God to be glorified, not because of sin or demons. Again, it is not the sickness that brings glory. It is the healing power of God and the faith exercised in trusting Him that brings glory.
When I pray for people, this is how I approach it. I shared this with Michelle. I reminded her that I had prayed for her, laid hands on her, and even cast out devils, yet the problem remained. We had bound and loosed. She had quoted Scripture and done everything she knew to do according to the Word. Still, the issue persisted. At that point, it became clear that physical healing was needed, and that is what we needed to believe God for.
That is the way I believe we must approach healing. When we pray for others or for ourselves, three areas should be considered. We must ask whether demonic activity is involved. We must consider whether a physical infirmity is the cause. However, we must also ask whether God is at work in a person’s life. Once again, I want to be clear. It is not the illness that glorifies God. It is His healing, His power, and our faith and trust in Him as we walk through those situations.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
The Names and Role of the Twelve Apostles
After this, verses two, three, and four list the names of the twelve apostles.
Matthew 10:2–4
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;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
These names appear four times in Scripture: in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and again in Acts. Each time, Peter is listed first, and Judas Iscariot is listed last.
Do we know the names of the twelve? I realized that while I thought I did, I could not sit down and write them all out until recently. I believe we should know them, because we are built upon them. These men are significant and foundational.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
As we proceed, I list several of the apostles and discuss character traits we can relate to. I believe every person here can relate to most of these men in some way, though I hope none of us relate to Judas.
What stands out to me is how Jesus brought together twelve men with very different temperaments and personalities. Through them, He turned the world upside down. He built a foundation strong enough to support the most powerful vessel ever known, the church. No matter how much we joke about them, these men did an incredible work.
We need to understand that the church is built on these individuals. When we turn to Ephesians chapter two, we see that Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone, but the foundation includes the apostles and prophets. In particular, these twelve apostles (excluding Judas) laid the foundation. They spoke, they wrote, and they established what was needed. Our responsibility now is to build on what they laid.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Ephesians 2:19–22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
The Church as God’s Dwelling Place
I want to ask some important questions. Are you part of that temple, and are you built upon the apostles and the prophets? Are you part of that heavenly structure that is being built together as a dwelling place for God through the Spirit?
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
That leads to another question. Does God dwell in us? Are we the temple? Are we the city?
Hebrews 12:22-24 states that we have come to the church and to the New Jerusalem. We have already seen that the twelve apostles form the foundation of that structure.
Hebrews 12:22–24
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
The New Heaven, New Earth, and the Bride
With that in mind, we now turn to the book of Revelation to see this picture more clearly.
Revelation 21:1
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
In Revelation 21:1, a new heaven and a new earth appear, indicating that something significant has occurred. There has been a cataclysm in the heavens. Darkness has come upon the earth. The moon no longer gives its light and is turned to blood. The sun also fails to give its light. These signs indicate that a major transition has occurred.
As a result of this cataclysm, there is now a new heaven and a new earth. Something has clearly changed. With that understanding, I proceed to verse 9 to examine what is revealed next.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Revelation 21:9
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
What’s he going to show him? The bride, the Lamb’s wife.
Revelation 21:10
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
John is told that he will be shown the bride, and what he ends up seeing is a great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. What I want us to understand is that this great city is the bride. It is a spiritual city, and it represents the church in the Spirit.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
John is clearly in the Spirit when this happens. The text states that he is carried away in the Spirit, and that what he sees is not natural but spiritual. This vision is not describing a physical city in earthly terms. It is a spiritual vision of a spiritual city.
That city carries the glory of God. Its light is described as most precious, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. The description emphasizes glory, purity, and divine brilliance.
Verse 12 then speaks of the gates of the city. Those gates are associated with the twelve tribes of Israel, showing how the city is structured and identified within God’s redemptive plan.
Revelation 21:12-14
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
The Apostolic Foundation and the Power of the Church
Verse 14 is the key point I want to emphasize. The wall of the city has twelve foundations, and those foundations carry the names of the apostles of the Lamb. That shows us something important. These apostles became the foundation of the church.
What Jesus placed within them and what they taught constitute the foundation of this entire heavenly structure. Outside of God Himself, the church is the most powerful thing in the universe. That may be hard to believe, but it is true. When the church finally wakes up, rises, and understands who she is, what she is, and why she exists, her power will be fully realized.
She is everywhere in the Earth. She is present worldwide and possesses extensive knowledge. When she comes together in unity and receives the anointing, and when her purpose becomes clear, the kingdom of God will be seen coming in its fullness.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
The Initial Mission to the House of Israel
Look at Matthew 10:5-6. Here we see that Jesus sends out the twelve and gives them specific commands. He tells them not to go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but instead to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:5–6
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.
There are several important points here that we need to see clearly. When the Lord sends His ministry, He also tells that ministry where to go. A God-sent ministry does not choose its own direction. It is sent with a purpose and an assignment.
Jesus commanded the twelve, and that word carries the idea of being charged with a mission. They were sent to transmit a message and to be joined to people as they carried it. Different translations clarify this by stating that Jesus sent them out with instructions or charged them with a task.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
The instruction itself is very specific. They were not to take the message to the Gentiles. They were told not to go to the Samaritans either. Instead, they were commanded to take the message only to the house of Israel. That point must be heard clearly.
The Old Covenant Context and the Bridegroom
Jesus did come to save the world, but at this moment in history, He is still operating within the old covenant. These are the final days of that covenant. At this time, God’s covenant is not with the Gentiles. His covenant is with the house of Israel, so the message must go there first.
God had made Messianic promises in the Old Testament, and He had to fulfill them. A Messiah-King had to be sent to the old-covenant house of Israel before that covenant could end. The Messiah-King had to come to them as a bridegroom. That is why Jesus refers to Himself as the bridegroom before the church is ever born.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Scripture supports this clearly. In Matthew 15:24, Jesus states plainly that He was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. That confirms that, at this point in time, His mission is directed specifically to Israel.
Matthew 15:24
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Rejection of the Messiah and the End of the Old Covenant
At this point, Jesus has not been sent to the Gentiles. He is sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Understanding this is essential for the proper interpretation of Scripture. Right now, He stands as the bridegroom to Israel.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
What follows is something God already knows. Israel will reject Him. Jesus knows it, and God knows it. Even so, God must fulfill His promises. The Messiah King has to be sent to the old covenant people as their husband.
When they reject Him and put Him to death, Romans 7:1-3 comes into play. The death of the husband releases the woman from the law. At that point, God can end the old covenant. That covenant is broken because the Messiah is rejected and God Himself is rejected.
Romans 7:1–3
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
The Transition to the New Covenant
When the old covenant is broken, God ends it and is free to establish the new covenant. At the same time, the door is opened for the house of Israel to enter into that new covenant. That becomes possible because the husband has died.
I want to be careful here. I am not speaking from opinion. Scripture is clear that, at this point, the new covenant has not yet begun. No blood has been shed. The old covenant remains in effect, as Romans describes. That is why Israel cannot yet enter the new covenant.
Even so, the disciples recognize who Jesus is. When He asks who men say He is, they identify Him as the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). They accept Him as such. As He moves from town to town, He tells them to preach that the kingdom of God is at hand. The old order is coming to its end. The time is close.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Earlier, in Matthew 9:15, Jesus refers to Himself as the bridegroom, even though the church has not yet been born. The logical conclusion is that, at this stage, Jesus is the bridegroom only to natural Israel. He is fulfilling the Old Covenant promises concerning the Messiah-King. Only after Israel rejects Him and breaks the covenant can God bring the old covenant to an end, establish the new covenant, and ultimately include the nations, as later commanded in Matthew 28:19-20.
Matthew 28:19–20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
From Israel Alone to Jew and Gentile Together
At this point, Jesus could not go to the Gentiles without violating the covenant. God’s covenant was still with the house of Israel. Those who followed Him recognized Him as the Christ and the Messiah, but the covenant order had not yet changed.
After the cross, that distinction would no longer exist. There would be no difference between Jew and Greek. That change comes through the cross, when the kingdom is inaugurated, and the new covenant is established. Until then, the distinction remains.
According to Romans 7:1-3, the death of the husband releases the woman from the law. When Christ dies, natural Israel is freed from the old covenant. Through that same death and the same blood, the Gentiles are then able to enter the new covenant as well.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
For now, with only a few exceptions initiated by the Lord Himself, the message and ministry are directed exclusively to the house of Israel. This is essential to understand the flow of Scripture.
The Purpose of Matthew’s Gospel
The Gospel of Matthew is written specifically to Jews. Its purpose is to prove that the Messiah came and that God fulfilled His promises. By showing that the Messiah arrived and was rejected, Matthew demonstrates that God had just cause to end the old covenant. God did not end it arbitrarily. Israel broke the covenant by rejecting the Messiah.
Out of that rejection, God forms a new people, a spiritual Israel. These people love Him from the heart, not by legal obligation. Their devotion is not driven by law but by desire, like a husband who loves his wife because he wants to, not because he has to.
That is the central purpose of Matthew’s Gospel. The Messiah came. He was rejected. Because of that rejection, God ended the old covenant and began a new one.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
The Message: The Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand
Jesus instructs His disciples to preach a single message. They are to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He does not tell them to preach a shallow or diluted message. He tells them to preach the kingdom.
The phrase “at hand” means near or approaching. It does not mean the kingdom has fully arrived yet. It means it is close. The message is directed to Israel because that dispensation is coming to its end.
The Mosaic order is in its final days. Its light is fading. A new heaven and a new earth are about to appear. The glory of Moses is passing away, and the glory of the kingdom of God is near.
Cataclysm and the End of Dispensations
Every dispensation ends with a cataclysm. That pattern is consistent throughout Scripture. I am coming to see that a new heaven and a new earth already exist. A new realm of glory is already present. Old things have passed away, and all things are becoming new, as far as we are willing and able to see them.
History confirms this pattern. The Adamic period ended with a flood. The Noahic period ended with the confusion of languages. The Abrahamic covenant ended with the plagues of Egypt. The Mosaic covenant ended with the death of Christ, darkness over the earth, the tearing of the veil, and the destruction of Jerusalem.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
These events mark the transition into the new covenant. Joel prophesied these signs, and Peter declared in Acts 2 that what they were witnessing was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension inaugurated the kingdom.
Colossians 1:13 confirms this reality. We have already been translated into the kingdom of His dear Son.
Colossians 1:13
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Darkness at the Cross and the Global Transition
I want you to look at Luke 23 and see how these passages connect.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Luke 23:44
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all address the same moment, and each highlights a different detail. One Gospel speaks of darkness over the earth. Another speaks of the veil being torn. Together, they describe the cataclysm that occurred at the death of Jesus Christ.
In Luke 23:44, Jesus is on the cross. It is about the sixth hour, and there is darkness over all the earth. That detail is important because it demonstrates the scope and gravity of what occurred at His death.
The wording in Luke may be translated as “area” or “region,” but I looked it up to be sure. The term can also refer to the entire globe. We often picture the darkness at the cross as limited to Israel or Jerusalem, but I believe it covered the whole world. The reason is simple. The whole globe receives a new heaven, a new earth, and a new glory.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
At the same moment the darkness comes, other things happen. The sun is darkened, and the veil of the temple is torn. With the veil rent, access is opened. The middle wall of separation is broken down, and entrance into the new covenant becomes possible.
Every dispensation ends with a cataclysm. That pattern never changes. For that reason, I want to say clearly that we should not be waiting for a new heaven and a new earth. We are living in it.
The Continuing Mandate of Ministry
After that, Jesus gives clear instructions. He tells them to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils. What has been freely received is to be freely given.
Matthew 10:8
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
From what I have just shared, I need to establish a principle. At this point in the passage, we are still dealing with the old covenant. Even so, I believe we can clearly see what Jesus expects of the ministry He sends out. As we move through this section, we can draw lasting principles about how God’s ministry is intended to function.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
In verse 8, Jesus gives a clear list of responsibilities. He tells them to preach the kingdom of heaven, which represents God’s authority. He instructs them to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, whether physically or spiritually, and cast out devils. Also, He commands them to freely give what they have freely received.
These instructions never end. Jesus never withdrew them or set an expiration date. His ministry is still meant to preach the kingdom, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils. That has never changed because He never changes. His Word remains the same.
Some argue that these commands were intended only for the twelve because they had a special anointing. I do not believe that. The same Spirit worked through others like Paul, Stephen, Philip, and Ananias. Scripture also says that signs follow those who believe. This defines New Testament ministry. A ministry sent by God participates in these works.
I personally look forward to the day God allows me to raise a physically dead person. If I am one of His, I believe that will happen.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Provision and Trust for God-Sent Ministry
In verses 9 and 10, Jesus addresses the issue of provision. He tells them not to take money or extra supplies. Along with instruction, He provides a lesson in trust. These restrictions teach dependence on God. I believe God provides for His ministry. If you are truly sent by Him, He will take care of you.
Matthew 10:9–10
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.
Ministry Among Wolves and Divine Protection
Later in this passage, we see that Jesus sends His people out among wolves. A sheep among wolves cannot survive without a shepherd. Without protection, we would not make it. That applies to all of us. We are all ministers, and we are all sent with a purpose. This is not something I apply only to myself. I am pointing it out to you as well. If you are sent into wolves, you must know that God is with you.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Jesus also teaches that the workman is worthy of his food. That is why He tells them not to carry extra provisions. The principle is simple. Those who are helped by the ministry are to care for that ministry. Different translations all express the same truth. A worker deserves what is needed to live. A workman is worthy of his keep.
If a ministry is functioning properly, it is worthy of support according to Scripture. This is what we should expect from the ministry to which we commit. It should be guided by these biblical principles.
The Old Testament also supports this. Deuteronomy teaches not to muzzle the ox while it works (Deuteronomy 25:4). Paul explains that soldiers receive provisions, farmers eat from their fields, and shepherds drink from their flocks. He concludes that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:7-14). First Timothy confirms that elders who rule well are worthy of their portion (1 Timothy 5:17-18).
Gratitude for Faithful Support
I want to take a moment to express my gratitude. I deeply appreciate the way you take care of my family and me. You ensure our needs are met, and I am truly grateful for that. I know many pastors are not treated that way, and I felt it was important to acknowledge this in writing.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Blessing, Reception, and Responsibility
Verses 11-13 address an important responsibility of ministry. When entering a city or town, the instruction is to find a worthy place to stay. If a house is worthy, peace is to rest there. If it is not, that peace is to return. This is a weighty responsibility, and it carries serious implications.
Matthew 10:11–13
11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire 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.
I want to focus on the second point. Jesus says that peace can come upon a house or return. Different translations explain this clearly. If a home is godly and deserving, the blessing rests there. If it is not, the peace returns to the one who brought it.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
That places a serious responsibility on the ministry. The ministry is charged with blessing homes or withholding that blessing. That is a heavy thought. I have never consciously unblessed a home, but I believe the question is better understood as whether a blessing is received. If a house does not receive it, then the blessing simply does not remain.
I believe this is determined by whether a home is godly and open to what God is doing. When Jesus came to Israel, a blessing was offered, but many did not receive it. If it was never received, there was nothing to take away. Scripture shows that blessing is tied to reception rather than to force.
Blessings themselves are a deep subject, but that is not my focus here. What I want you to see is the responsibility that rests on God-sent ministry. As I studied this, I had to confront some things personally. I am building toward a larger point, and we will likely stop there. This is where I truly felt the Lord was speaking.
Shaking the Dust and the Consequences of Rejection
That leads into verses 14 and 15. Jesus says that if a house or city does not receive you or listen to your words, you are to shake the dust off your feet when you leave. He then says it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city. That statement shows the seriousness of rejecting God’s message and God’s ministry.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Matthew 10:14–15
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.
Understanding Jewish customs helps clarify what Jesus is saying here. When a Jew traveled into a foreign land and returned to Israel, he would remove the dust from his feet before entering the holy land. That dust represented defilement from a heathen country, and removing it was a way of honoring what was holy.
Jesus applies that custom to His instruction. He sends His disciples to the house of Israel and tells them that if a house or city does not receive His message or His ministry, it is considered defiled. In response, they are to shake the dust from their feet as they leave.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
He states this plainly. If people do not receive you or hear your words, shake the dust off your feet when you depart. Jesus then says that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city. That statement is sobering.
What I see here is that when ministry operates in what Jesus described earlier and is rejected, judgment follows. This is not just symbolic language. Acts 13:50-51 records Paul and Barnabas doing exactly this. Jesus makes it clear that rejecting His message and His ministry brings consequences greater than those faced by Sodom and Gomorrah.
Acts 13:50–51
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Expected Opposition to God-Sent Ministry
The third point is that opposition to the message and to ministry should never surprise us. It is not only possible but also expected. When a message carries real weight and authority, some people will struggle to receive it. Resistance will always arise.
Jesus addresses this directly in verses 16-20. He says He is sending His servants out as sheep among wolves. They are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, yet they must remain alert. Men will oppose them. They will be handed over to councils, beaten in synagogues, and brought before rulers and kings. All of this happens for His sake, as a testimony before both Jews and Gentiles.
Matthew 10:16–20
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
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.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
The Meaning and Weight of Being Sent
I want to focus on what the Holy Spirit pressed on me as I prepared this. One key word stands out, and that word is “sent.” To be sent means to be on a mission. As I worked through this passage, I realized I needed to take a serious look at the weight and magnitude of ministry. Too often, ministry can be treated casually, and I began to see how serious and purposeful it truly is.
That forced me to deal with some personal questions. I had to ask myself whether God really called me. I do not doubt that He did, but the question still had to be faced honestly. Once that was settled, another question followed. Did God send me here? If He called me, then He also sent me. Coming to grips with that matters.
I know that God chose me by His grace and mercy, and I cannot explain how or why. I only know that it is an expression of His love that goes beyond my understanding. Accepting that leads to another responsibility. If God sent me, then there is a purpose. So, I must ask whether I am doing what He sent me to do and whether I am fulfilling that calling as faithfully as I can.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
I believe this is not just a personal issue. I think it is time for this fellowship to face the same question. Each of us must determine whether the ministry we are connected to is truly God sent. That is not a small issue, and it cannot be avoided.
If the ministry is not God sent, then what we are doing is only a religious activity. Going to church simply to go to church makes us religious, not purposeful. However, if we believe God has sent someone with a clear mission for the kingdom, then we can take our place with confidence. We can respect that ministry and fulfill our own purpose within the body of Christ. I truly believe it is time to make that decision.
God-Sent Does Not Mean Flawless
Being God-sent does not imply being flawless. I thank God for Peter. His failures are recorded, and so are the blunders of the other disciples. Even those Jesus chose made mistakes. That matters to me because it shows that being God-sent does not imply perfection.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
I have struggled with this, and it has not been easy to teach or even to say aloud. Still, I believe it is time to face these things honestly. We can keep going around the same mountain, simply playing church, or we can move forward into the purpose and mission God has called and sent us to fulfill.
This is something each person must deal with personally. If you decide that I am not God sent, that will not destroy me. I would rather you be honest so we can both know where we stand. That clarity matters for everyone involved.
The Anointing and Speaking Under Pressure
Another point Jesus makes is that ministry exists among wolves. Opposition is expected. Paul also addresses this, warning that wolves will arise. That is part of the reality of being sent.
Jesus closes this section by addressing persecution. When you are delivered to councils and face hard moments, He says not to worry about what to say. What follows is an explanation of how the anointing works. Many of us have sensed God’s presence while speaking. That is the anointing.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
The anointing is not words appearing on a blank mind. Instead, the mind shifts into another realm and accelerates. Thoughts come rapidly. Words flow faster than normal thinking. That is why we may not remember everything said, even though others do. When speech flows freely and spontaneously, that is the anointing at work. When there is a struggle and searching for words, it is not.
I want you to understand what I am saying before I move on. God does give words of prophecy, words of knowledge, and words of wisdom. Those things happen, and there are moments when God inserts something very specific. Still, that is not the main point I am making here.
What Jesus is describing is what happens when we face opposition. In those moments, we must allow the Lord to cause our minds to move rapidly. We cannot plan for that. We cannot rehearse it. When it is over, we often do not remember everything we said. That is the anointing at work.
The Spirit sharpens truth and lifts our thinking to a higher level. The mind is not empty, waiting to be filled. Instead, it operates at an accelerated level. That activity belongs to the Spirit within us. Words may come freely, but the power lies in the heightened movement of thought and expression.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
I shared this because some of you will stand behind this pulpit one day. When that time comes, do not rely on a rehearsed speech. Use notes to stay grounded, but do not try to script everything. When teaching is anointed, preparation takes a different form. When it is not anointed, it does not need to be heard.
A Call to Decision and Response
What the Holy Spirit is speaking to us right now centers on one statement: “I send you forth.” It is time to determine whether that is true. We cannot keep playing church. It is time to get ourselves in order, move forward with God, and step into what He has called us to do.
I believe the Holy Spirit is speaking to us today. If you received it, then you know it was Him.
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
Matthew 10 1-23 How to Understand God-Sent Ministry
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