From Matthew 10:5-15 / An Apostolic Primer

Jesus has just ordained His 12, and now He is sending them out on their first mission. His instructions are interesting, precise and useful even today.

Note first the urgency of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and demonstrating its power to the Jews first. These are God’s covenant people. As Paul will later say: “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” (Rom. 9:4-5) Christ was promised to them and it is only fitting that they receive the good news first. In Romans 1 Paul also observes that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes – to the Jew first! Though as a nation they were in a most dreadful spiritual state, God had not forgotten them. His mercy and grace are beyond compare. He comes to them and pleads with them and gives them demonstrations that were unequaled in history. And how they still need to hear the Gospel today.

Note secondly the powerful signs that are given here. But they are not so in the abstract. Healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing lepers and casting out demons are tokens of how God overcomes all of the effects of sin in Christ Jesus. Sin infects the whole being. Sin, has killed us, separating us from the spiritual life we were created with in Adam. Sin incurably defiles us. Sin leaves us slaves to the influence of Satan and this world. The Gospel is God’s declaration of the healing, life restoring, cleansing, liberating work of Jesus at Calvary – and is free to all who believe. And as Jesus was wont to tell His apostles not to be stingy with it, we need to be of the same generous mind in giving the Gospel today.

Note thirdly, Jesus’ warning not to turn ministry into a profit making venture. This is not to deny needed sustenance. But it is to deny turning it into a money making machine. And can this admonition be any more timely for us today? How many in pop-Evangelicalism function on the platform of greed? And not only greed for themselves, but preaching and teaching in such a way as to foment greed in the hearts of their hearers. It is an abomination. It is true that the ox is not to be muzzled while treading out the grain. It is also true that the ox is not to take the grain and set up a roadside stand to make himself rich by means of it. The laborer is worthy of his hire. But no one is to enter ministry as a means to acquisition in this life. Such is a cursed thing. And so far from the Spirit and example of Christ Himself.

Note fourthly that it is part of our responsibility in evangelism to make it clear that to reject the Gospel is not something indifferent. This is not some mere option. There is something genuinely of an ultimatum in the Gospel call. We cannot leave people with the impression that each is “free” to believe whatever they wish, and that there are no certain consequences. When Paul addressed the Areopogites in Acts 17, he left this without question. “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” God now commands all men everywhere to repent. To fail to repent from sin and believe the Gospel is to defy God’s command. It is not some matter of mere preference.

Note lastly, just how serious that last point is. Jesus says that to hear and reject the Gospel, is to put one in a worse position on judgment day, than even those previously destroyed in Sodom and Gomorrah. America, listen! Who has heard the Gospel more than you? And now you scoff at it as never before. Your judgment will be worse than the proverbial worst of the worst.

And yet, today is still a day of grace. Final judgement has not yet come even though we are experiencing its first tremors even now. The Gospel is still being preached. The call to come to Christ and confess your sin, turning from it to Him – ending your rebellion against His right to rule you in every way as Lord and King – if you are reading this right now, by His grace it is not too late. But tomorrow may be. Come to Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. Come for cleansing in His blood. Claim Him as your substitute on the Cross. Be reconciled to God by faith in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on Calvary. Mercy is to be had.

Oh Father, send revival!