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 the disciples, He makes an amazing statement to His twelve closest followers. In this challenge, Jesus tells these followers to go into the surrounding countryside with a specific set of tasks.
Some of the tasks Jesus included are found in the first part of verse 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.”
A simple reading of this verse may cause you to miss a profound idea: Every miracle Jesus had done in His ministry is represented in this list – including raising the dead back to life. Jesus healed people, Jesus raised people back to life, Jesus cured leprosy, and Jesus drove out demons – and Jesus now empowers His followers to do all these things.
With that in mind, Jesus also gives the disciples a motive for their actions. At the end of this list of tasks, Jesus finishes by saying, “You have received freely, so give freely.” (v. 8b)
These words were given before the cross, before the work of salvation had been finished. Jesus prompts the disciples to focus on what they had been given, and use that as a foundation for their generosity.
We can extend this foundation for generosity to us today. Following the cross and Jesus’ sacrifice for us, this idea is even stronger because we know what Jesus ultimately gave for us. We have received freely, so we must give freely.
We have received forgiveness, so we should forgive freely. We have received freedom from our past, so we should help others break free as well. We have received the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is really only useful when we follow Jesus’ command to give freely.
Jesus tells us to model Him. Jesus gave so that we could receive all that He has offered us. We can give freely because of everything Jesus has given to us.
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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