Matthew 10:16-25

Persecution.
v.16 Jesus warns his disciples of persecutions that they must endure as missionaries to the world. They should be like (helpless) sheep amidst wolves (Pharisees/established religion). He instructs them to be shrewd (or astute) as serpents and innocent (or harmless) as doves (Phil 2:15). This calls for a careful balance between cunning and vulnerability when we spread the good news. “...Be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil” (Rom 16:19). This section (16-25) applies to missionaries throughout the church age.
v.17-18 Jesus instructs them to beware, they will be handed over to courts and flogged in synagogues. This reflects persecution at the hands of government and at the hands of organized religion. Disciples will be dragged before the authorities, and this will be an opportunity to be a witness to them.
v.19-20 Don't worry about what to say in that hour of trouble (parallel Lk 12:11-12) for the Spirit will give you the words to say when the time comes (e.g., Acts 4:8-13). This doesn't mean to not prepare (Col 4:6), but rather to not worry. Be ready at all times to give a defense of your faith, 2 Tim 4:2. How many of us are ready today?
v.21-22 Here the evangelist alludes to Mi 7:6, brother will be against brother, children will rebel against parents. All (hyperbole) men will hate you (on account of Jesus) but stand firm to the end and you will be saved. That is, enduring persecution is evidence of a commitment to Jesus, it is not the means of salvation.
v.23 When persecuted in one town, flee to the next. The comes the difficult to interpret statement that they will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. The best interpretation seems to be that this refers to the second coming of Christ. A good alternative is his coming in Judgment on Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
v.24-25 The disciple is not above his teacher. If they called Jesus Beelzebul, how much more will they malign his disciples. Beelzebul is the prince of demons and referred to Satan.

Read Matthew 10:16-25

Matthew 10:5-15

Jesus Sends Out The Twelve Apostles.
For Parallels see Mk 6:7-13 and Lk 9:1-6. See also Lk 10:1-12 (sending out the 72).
v.5-6 The disciples are instruction to go to the lost sheep of (Jer 50:6) Israel and not to the Gentiles or Samaritans. The mission was to Jewish Galilee, later the disciples would be sent to the whole world (Acts 1:8). Salvation is from the Jews (Jn 4:22, Rom 1:16). The sheep were lost due to neglect by their shepherds (or lack of a shepherd, Mt 9:36).
v.7-8 They were instructed to proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand (this presumably included “repent”), heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely they received and freely then should they give (but see v.9-10 below). These were extensions of Jesus' own ministry to the people.
v.9-10 They were to take no money, change of clothes, or even a walking stick. But they should accept hospitality because the worker deserves his wages (or food). The disciples were to trust God to supply their basic needs. We should not hesitate to give (1 Tim 5:18) to those God has sent to minister to us (i.e., a pastor, church, or missionaries).
v.11-13 Upon entering a village, the disciples were to seek out the worthy and stay with them while they ministered in that area. When they entered a home, they should give it a blessing. If it turns out not to be a worthy home, then they should take the blessing back. “Worthy” meant that the house or town accepted the disciples message.
v.14-15 If any town refuses to listen to their message the disciples were instructed to shake the dust off their feet when they leave. Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off at the judgment than that town. Shaking the dust off their feet indicated separating themselves from Jews who rejected the Messiah.

Read Matthew 10:5-15

Matthew 10:1-4

The Twelve Apostles.
v.1 Jesus called his twelve chosen men to be apostles and to heal all diseases and illnesses and to cast out unclean spirits. This is perhaps the initial solution to the “workers are few” comments in 9:35-38. This begins the second major discourse of Jesus in Matthew. The number twelve reminds us of the twelve tribes of Israel and indicates the continuity of God's plan of salvation. Theses are the new leaders of Israel (under the Messiah) and they are commissioned to do miracles the old leaders cannot perform (scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees). Apostle means one sent with a special commission.
v.2-4 The names of the twelve are Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot. For parallels see Mk 3:16-19, Lk 6:14-16, Jn 1:40-49, and Acts 1:13. The inner circle consisted of Peter, James and his brother John.

Read Matthew 10:1-4

Maathew 9:35-38

The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
v.35 Jesus went throughout their towns healing the sick of all manner of disease, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and teaching in their synagogues. This verse closely parallels 4:23.
v.36 He had compassion on the crowds because they were like sheep without a shepherd. But Jesus is shepherd to his people (Mi 5:4). Jesus perhaps refers to the Pharisees lack of pastoral care for the people of Israel.
v.37-38 He said to his disciples: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” The harvest is the multitudes of people in need of a savior.

Read Matthew 9:35-38

Matthew 9:27-34

Jesus heals two blind men.
v.27-28 After healing the girl (18-26) two blind men followed him shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” (nlt) These men were faith in action, nothing was going to stop them from seeking Jesus. The title “Son of David” indicated the blind men believed Jesus to be the Messiah. The Messianic age was to be accompanied by the healing of the blind (Is 29:18-19, Is 35:5-6). Jesus asked them if they believed he could make them see and they replied “yes, Lord”.
v.29-31 Touching their eyes, Jesus said “According to your faith be it done to you.” They were immediately healed and went about that region telling what Jesus had done, despite his telling them to keep quiet about it (the healing occurred in the privacy of a house).

Jesus heals a mute, demon possessed man.
v.32-33 Next a mute demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus. He cast out the demon and the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed saying “nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!”
v.34 The Pharisees refused to believe and accused Jesus of being powered by the prince of demons. Jesus challenged their cherished traditions and exposed their insincere motives. See also 12:22-32.

Read Matthew 9:27-34