5 Jesus sent these 12 out with the following orders. “Do not go among the Gentiles,” he said. “Do not enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Instead, go to the people of Israel. They are like sheep that have become lost. 7 As you go, preach this message, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal those who are sick. Bring those who are dead back to life. Make those who have skin diseases ‘clean’ again. Drive out demons. You have received freely, so give freely.
9 “Do not get any gold, silver or copper to take with you in your belts. 10 Do not take a bag for the journey. Do not take extra clothes or sandals or walking sticks. A worker should be given what he needs. 11 When you enter a town or village, look for someone who is willing to welcome you. Stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, greet those who live there. 13 If that home welcomes you, give it your blessing of peace. If it does not, don’t bless it. 14 Some people may not welcome you or listen to your words. If they don’t, leave that home or town, and shake the dust off your feet. 15 What I’m about to tell you is true. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Read Matthew 10:5-15 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
In one of Jesus’ challenges to His disciples, He gives them instructions that I am sure startled them. While we don’t know if the challenge lasted days, weeks, or even months, during the middle of Jesus’ ministry, He decided to send the disciples out to the surrounding region.
This was no problem for the disciples – except for some of Jesus’ “conditions” for the trip. Jesus describes how He wants the disciples to prepare by saying, “Do not get any gold, silver or copper to take with you in your belts. Do not take a bag for the journey. Do not take extra clothes or sandals or walking sticks. A worker should be given what he needs.” (v. 9-10)
In these few short sentences, Jesus elevates this challenge. Not only are these disciples going to be missionaries, they are also going to learn how to trust in God and His provisions. By not taking anything with them, the disciples are both free to share and also compelled to share. The disciples are free to share because they don’t have packs weighing them down or stuff to keep track of, but they are also compelled to share because in sharing and making friends they will be able to find someone who is willing to host them in their home.
The big idea I see in Jesus’ challenge to these disciples is a challenge I see for each of His followers living today: Above everything you can make, earn, acquire, or build, trust God’s leading and guiding before all of that. While Jesus tells the disciples to prepare for their missionary journey’s closer to the end of His ministry, this was only shared on the foundation of the trust that had been built in God from the success of this earlier mission.
The foundation for our faith, hope, and trust in God should be on the sacrifice and promise of salvation that Jesus gave us through His sacrifice on the cross. Nothing matters more than this. With our trust in God’s guidance, we are free to do God’s will and move forward with His mission for our lives.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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