Christ sendeth out

ST. MATTHEW, X.

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

35 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

the new dispensation, which was to succeed the Jewish. "good story" (see chap. 4:23).

his twelve apostles.

multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labour38 ers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.

The word "gospel" is Anglo-Saxon (Gód-spell) for

36. As sheep not having a shepherd (compare Ezek. 34). The authorized teachers of the people were self-seekers, and despised the people.

37. The harvest is the ripe grain of the autumn (herbst), not its gathering. The Christian church was going to gather in the rich harvest.

38. Pray ye, etc. The sending forth of laborers to gather in the Lord's harvest is the result of Christian prayer. Such is the economy of the mystery of God. We are not to reason upon it, but to conform to the divine system.

CHAPTER X.

1. Christ sendeth out his twelve apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles, 5. giveth them their charge, teacheth them, 16. comforteth them against persecutions: 40. and promiseth a blessing to those that receive them.

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.

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 Alphæus, and Lebbæus, whose surname was Thaddeus;

4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

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:

1

2

AND he called unto him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.

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 Alphæus, and Thaddeus;

4 Simon the Cananæan, and Judas Is5 cariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and charged them, saying,

Go not into any way of the Gentiles,

1 Or, Zealot. See Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13. 2 Or, delivered him up; and so always.

1. Disease - Sickness. The latter is rather "weakness," where the life is impeded, but no abnormal action of the system is involved. These are both distinct from possession by demons or unclean spirits.

2. The twelve, who were made apostles or "ambassadors," were selected and instituted before (Luke 6: 13), but are now sent out on what might be called a trial-tour, in view of their great life-work.

Thaddai, or Thaddeus, or Judas, is called "of James "in Luke 6: 16. Naturally, this would mean "son of James;" but It is generally supposed to mean here, "brother of James," and hence the Jude of the epistle (see Jude 1). "James, the Lord's brother" (Gal. 1: 19), was doubtless the brother of this Jude. Hence James, the Lord's brother, was the Apostle James, the son of Alpheus. This James and this Jude may be those mentioned in chap. 13: 55, called brethren of our Lord, according to Oriental usage, although strictly cousins. Matthew and James were both sons of Chalpha or Alpheus; but as Hebrew names are very slightly distinctive, we may believe two different persons of the name of Alpheus are intended, as we have no other indication of Matthew and James being brothers. Bartholomew is supposed to be the same as Nathanael (John 1: 45. Compare John 21: 2, where an apostle is evidently intended).

"Cananæan," as an epithet of Simon, is the Greek form of a Hebrew word which means "zealot" (Luke 6:15). This Simon had belonged to the political party of the Jews known as the "Zealots," from their intense nationalism. "Iscariot" is variously Interpreted. It may mean a man of Kerloth, or, more likely, an Issacharite, one of the tribe of Issachar. The Greek names of Andrew and Philip are not strange to find in Judæa and Galilee; for after the days of Alexander the Great, Greek names became common among the Jews. We find, for example, Alexander, Jason, Menelaus, and many others.

5. Gentiles. Literally, "nations." People other than Jews. Samaritans. As they received the law of

1 Gr. demons. 2 Gr. girdles. 3 Or, simple.

Moses, they might not be considered as included in the Gentiles. They were the descendants of the Eastern settlers who were placed by the Assyrian monarch in the depopulated region of Samaria (2 Kings 17 : 24). In the chapter cited, their mongrel Judaism is described.

7. The same proclamation which John the Baptist and Jesus had made (see chap. 3: 2, and 4: 17).

8. Four forms of benefit to bodies which typified Christ's salvation of the soul, curing, reviving, purifying, and removing Satan's power. The root of sin was to be destroyed, the soul was to have a new life in Christ, the stains of sin were to be removed, and all connection with Satan ended. Such is Christ's complete salvation. The ministry to men's bodies was not the main object of Christ and his apostles. These miraculous powers were temporary, and significant of spiritual things.

10. Nor staff; i.e., an extra staff; for each was to carry his walking-staff (see Mark 6: 8). Many MSS. read here the plural" staves." The second staff was probably carried to support the wallet and extra coat of the ordinary traveller. But these apostles were to travel without any luggage, depending on God's gracious provision by the way. In this they are not examples to us, because in their case a special order from the Master was given. Their faith was to be tried, and their habit formed for their apostolic life. Without such special order from our Lord, it would be presumption in us to go forth without the usual preparation and necessary outfit.

13. Your peace. The true blessings included in the salaam. Return to you. Your greeting will be considered void.

14. Shake off the dust of your feet. Mark adds (6: 11), "for a testimony unto them." Action and gesture form a large part of Oriental conversation.

15. More tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment. Cities are not judged as individual men are. Their judgment comes in this world. The cities which rejected our Lord's apostles are now no more. Their judgment has come. They sinned against greater light than did Sodom and Gomorrah. So Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Chorazin (chap. 11: 21-24), were more guilty than Sodom, Tyre, and Sidon. Reference is had, doubtless, to the final day of judgment, when the reasons for God's dealings will be made manifest, and these Israelitish cities be shown to have been worse than the pagan cities mentioned.

22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his Lord.

25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household ? 26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

35 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

to the apostles.

all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be 23 saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

24

A disciple is not above his master, nor 25 a 2servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the 2 servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house 3 Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of 26 his household! Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not 27 be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light: and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house28 tops. And be not afraid of them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in 29 hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall 30 on the ground without your Father: but the very hairs of your head are all num31 bered. Fear not therefore; ye are of more 32 value than many sparrows. Every one

4

therefore who shall confess 5 me before men, him will I also confess_before my 33 Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

34

Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, 35 but a sword. For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter 36 in law against her mother in law; and a

man's foes shall be they of his own house37 hold. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than 38 me is not worthy of me. And he that doth not take his cross and follow after 39 me, is not worthy of me. He that find

1 Or, teacher. Gr. bond-servant. 3 Gr. Beelzebul: and so elsewhere. 4 Gr. Gehenna. 5 Gr. in me. 6 Gr. in him. 7 Gr. cast. 8 Or, found.

22. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. That is, he that patiently bears all the trouble and disaster of the lower earthly state, shall enjoy the higher and eternal salvation. How much of this per. secution accompanied this first essay of apostleship, we are not informed. Our Lord had reference, doubtless, in these words, to their whole apostolic career.

23. Till the Son of man be come. The coming of the Son of man seems to be the establishment of the Christian Church, with Christ, the Son of man, as its recognized head, in place of the older Jewish Church. This coming had its completeness in the destruction of Jerusalem, and the end of the Jewish ceremonial. There will be a final coming of the Son of man to judgment, of which this coming is the type. The title, "Son of man," declares Christ's work among men and for men. It is used only by himself, except where Stephen uses it (Acts 7: 56), and there the proto-martyr evidently quotes the title.

25. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub. They had said Christ was in league with the prince of the devils (chap 9:34), which was as much as calling him Beelzebub. Beelzebub was the god of the Ekronites (2 Kings 1:2). The word means, "lord of flies." It had probably come into use among the Jews as a name for Satan.

26. Fear them not. The ground of courage is the prospect of the judgment day, when the truth should be fully manifested, in view of which we may cheerfully, if we are in the line of godly duty, bear opposition and bodily death.

28. Hell. Literally, Gehenna. The deep valley of Hinnom south of Jerusalem, where the fire perpetually burned the offal from the temple, represented the final place and state of the soul's punishment (compare Mark 9: 48, and Isa. 66: 24).

29. Farthing. Strictly an assarion, or as, equal to a cent and a half of American money.

34. But a sword. The inevitable conflict on presenting truth to the wicked heart of man.

38. He that doth not take his cross. This, of course, had not the association in the minds of Christ's