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is essential that we grip these to understand Israel's priority in this glorious earthly
kingdom. Not to do this means confusion and failure to comprehend the true place of the
Church, the Body of Christ, with its destiny in the highest heavens.
The Gentile has not been forgotten by God in His earthly kingdom plans. At the
beginning of the revelation by the Lord of this great purpose were not Abraham's seed to
be the means of blessing to all families of the earth? (Gen. 12: 3).
The twelve apostles were to be heralds, proclaiming the good news of the nearness of
this Kingdom, just as John the Baptist and the Lord Himself was doing.
"These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: do not go among the
Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As
you go, preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near'. Heal the sick, raise the
dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received,
freely give" (Matt. 10: 5-8, N.I.V.).
The last sentence means that they must not take payment for healing or for their
ministry. The power to heal had been given them for nothing, and they were not
permitted to make a trade of their miraculous powers. This does not conflict with
verse.10, "the worker is worth his keep" (N.I.V.) or the warning concerning money.
Luke, in the charge to the 70, has the words "for the labourer is worthy of his hire" with
misthou, reward (hire), instead of trophes, food (Luke 10: 7, A.V.). It is significant that
Paul in I Tim. 5: 18 quotes Luke's form as Scripture.
The word "provide" in verse 9 is in the middle voice and means do not require or
provide for yourselves money. To accept support from those to whom they ministered
was permitted, but nothing more. They were not to accept financial remuneration for their
service. In other words they were not like persons traveling for business or pleasure.
There was no need to make elaborate preparations; they must travel in simplicity with
their trust in the Lord. But they are to be careful what house they make their
headquarters (10: 13-15). Good manners must not be forgotten, "as you enter the home,
give it your greeting" (10: 12). It is amazing how many professing Christians forget that
good manners are an essential part of sound Christian witness.
But a solemn warning was given to those who rejected them (10: 14, 15). It would be
more tolerable for Sodom in the day of judgment than for such people. The inhabitants
of Sodom and Gomorrha had long since turned to dust in their graves when these words
were given. And as they unmistakably refer to a future event, these must surely be raised
from the dead in order to come under this divine judgment.
The Lord Jesus does not minimize the tests and dangers that awaited them. He said, "I
am sending you out like sheep among wolves" (10: 16). They must combine "the
shrewdness of snakes with the innocence of doves" (see Psa. 58: 4, 5???). It was a
combination of wariness and innocence that was necessary for the protection of the sheep
and the upsetting of the wolves.