To make it more clear...
Vs. 5-16--Jesus is giving them instruction about what they are getting ready to do.
Vs. 17-31--Jesus is giving instructions about their future ministries
Vs. 32-42--Jesus is giving general instructions about ministry, period.
There are three general observations that need to be made about this passage before we move through it.
- It is full of a lot of Jewish language
- It is specifically about their immediate ministry, but also applies to us
- It is all about going out to do ministry
Because this passage is filled with so much Jewish language, we will have to walk through it one chunk at a time.
First read it as a whole:
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
11 “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Now let's tackle this difficult text one section at a time.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
So Jesus tells his disciples to NOT go to the gentiles but just to the Jews. Is this a universal command to all of us? Are we just supposed to preach to the Jews? This seems contradictory to what Jesus says in Matthew 28.19-20, "Go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS!!!" including Gentiles. The key to remember, is that this is a short, local tour. Jesus is just sending his disciples on a short-term assignment. And at this point, that isn't to the Gentiles just to the Jews.
Now let's move on:
7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
No matter if our trip is a short-term trip or if we are going to move some place for ten years, the ministry is still exactly the same as what Jesus did in chapters 8-9. Jesus' ministry is proclaiming the kingdom by meeting physical needs of people and making disciples. This is what Jesus is telling his disciples to do on this quick ministry tour, and this is what we are called to do as we. Actually we should run everything we do in the church through those two lenses. Is this program or ministry or class meeting the physical needs of people or making disciples? If it isn't, it isn't really the same ministry of Jesus. If it is, we are on track.
Now verses 9-10:
9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
The key to understanding this language is found at the end of verse 10, "the worker is worth his keep." The reason that they didn't need to bring gold or silver for housing, or extra clothes or an extra tunic for bedding if they had to sleep outside is because the people they are serving are expected to provide for them. Since they are doing all these ministries and services for everybody, the people they are helping should help them by feeding them, clothing them and housing them. This is the trust and reliance on God to take care of those who are committing their lives to his ministry.
Now let's jump to verse 11:
11 “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.
This instruction is very simple, Jesus knew that they would be quite popular as they went through these areas, healing people, exorcising demons and raising the dead, and so instead of wasting a lot of valuable time by moving from house to house, entertaining all these people, they are to find one house and stay there until they leave.
Now an interesting couple of verses:
12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
The Hebrew greeting was the word, shalom, which means "Peace" but more fully carries an idea of a blessing for the person's wholeness, physically, socially, and spiritually. But the idea of shaking the dust off of your feet when you leave comes from Jews when they would enter the Holy Land after traveling through Gentile territory. These Jews were making a statement that even the dust they walk on in the unclean Gentile territory is disgusting, and we have to shake it off of our feet because even the dust is unclean. Jesus is saying, if the people are nice to you and welcome you, give them your blessing, but if they don't accept you, don't waste your time on them.
Now the last two verses of this passage:
15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Sodom and Gomorrah were two towns in the book of Genesis that God destroyed because they were so sinful and didn't repent of their sin. These towns are referred to a number of times in the New Testament as examples of God's judgment. Jesus is saying that if these people do not accept the preaching and teaching and ministries of the twelve apostles, this great benefit, then they will be judged even worse than Sodom and Gomorrah was.
And this leads into the last verse. The key with these two verses is this, when we carry out Jesus' ministry the way he did, we will meet resistance. People will reject us, God will judge them in the end, but we still have to live among them. That is why Jesus uses four similes in this passage to instruct his disciples how to live in the midst of resistance.
Sheep, Wolves, Doves and Snakes.
The last two similes are stated. Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. A lot of times Christians do not think it is ok to use business strategies or secular ideas or non-conventional ways to advance the kingdom. Yet, Jesus instructs us that in the midst of the resistance of the world, we need to be shrewd, but also innocent. We can't be shrewd at the expense of our integrity. These two are sometimes opposite, but not mutually exclusive. Jesus was continually shrewd and innocent throughout his ministry.
The Sheep and Wolves similes stand for weakness and savagery. The basic gist is that we as kingdom citizens are often poor and powerless, and we live in a savage world. So the way to endure and succeed and advance God's kingdom is to be shrewd and innocent.
Wow... that is a lot of stuff we just talked about that is very new. I think the thing we need to remember, is that when we serve Jesus and carry out his ministry of advancing his kingdom by meeting the needs of people and making disciples, we will experience resistance. But the key is to have a relationship with Jesus so that he is able to instruct us with all the particulars and guide us to be shrewd and innocent.
So how to keep this relationship with Jesus? I have three very simple things I do that help my relationship with Jesus.
1. read the Bible daily (eatyourbible.com)
2. Pray daily (on september 9th, I posted a blog on prayer that is very helpful)
3. weekly meet with Wiser Christians than me who are close to Jesus so that he can speak to me through them. (sign up for a family group at your church)
I remember listening to my friend, David Heffren, preach a sermon at graduation last year. And his text was John 15, which is all about remaining in the vine, which is Jesus. And he said that it doesn't matter where we are going to do ministry or what kind of ministry we are doing, what matters is with whom you go, with whom you serve, with whom you live. The Key to carrying out the ministry of Jesus, to caring for his sheep, is standing next to the shepherd, is committing our lives daily to investing into a relationship with Jesus.
So do ministry, with Jesus.
11 “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Now let's tackle this difficult text one section at a time.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
So Jesus tells his disciples to NOT go to the gentiles but just to the Jews. Is this a universal command to all of us? Are we just supposed to preach to the Jews? This seems contradictory to what Jesus says in Matthew 28.19-20, "Go and make disciples of ALL NATIONS!!!" including Gentiles. The key to remember, is that this is a short, local tour. Jesus is just sending his disciples on a short-term assignment. And at this point, that isn't to the Gentiles just to the Jews.
Now let's move on:
7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
No matter if our trip is a short-term trip or if we are going to move some place for ten years, the ministry is still exactly the same as what Jesus did in chapters 8-9. Jesus' ministry is proclaiming the kingdom by meeting physical needs of people and making disciples. This is what Jesus is telling his disciples to do on this quick ministry tour, and this is what we are called to do as we. Actually we should run everything we do in the church through those two lenses. Is this program or ministry or class meeting the physical needs of people or making disciples? If it isn't, it isn't really the same ministry of Jesus. If it is, we are on track.
Now verses 9-10:
9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10 take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
The key to understanding this language is found at the end of verse 10, "the worker is worth his keep." The reason that they didn't need to bring gold or silver for housing, or extra clothes or an extra tunic for bedding if they had to sleep outside is because the people they are serving are expected to provide for them. Since they are doing all these ministries and services for everybody, the people they are helping should help them by feeding them, clothing them and housing them. This is the trust and reliance on God to take care of those who are committing their lives to his ministry.
Now let's jump to verse 11:
11 “Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.
This instruction is very simple, Jesus knew that they would be quite popular as they went through these areas, healing people, exorcising demons and raising the dead, and so instead of wasting a lot of valuable time by moving from house to house, entertaining all these people, they are to find one house and stay there until they leave.
Now an interesting couple of verses:
12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
The Hebrew greeting was the word, shalom, which means "Peace" but more fully carries an idea of a blessing for the person's wholeness, physically, socially, and spiritually. But the idea of shaking the dust off of your feet when you leave comes from Jews when they would enter the Holy Land after traveling through Gentile territory. These Jews were making a statement that even the dust they walk on in the unclean Gentile territory is disgusting, and we have to shake it off of our feet because even the dust is unclean. Jesus is saying, if the people are nice to you and welcome you, give them your blessing, but if they don't accept you, don't waste your time on them.
Now the last two verses of this passage:
15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Sodom and Gomorrah were two towns in the book of Genesis that God destroyed because they were so sinful and didn't repent of their sin. These towns are referred to a number of times in the New Testament as examples of God's judgment. Jesus is saying that if these people do not accept the preaching and teaching and ministries of the twelve apostles, this great benefit, then they will be judged even worse than Sodom and Gomorrah was.
And this leads into the last verse. The key with these two verses is this, when we carry out Jesus' ministry the way he did, we will meet resistance. People will reject us, God will judge them in the end, but we still have to live among them. That is why Jesus uses four similes in this passage to instruct his disciples how to live in the midst of resistance.
Sheep, Wolves, Doves and Snakes.
The last two similes are stated. Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. A lot of times Christians do not think it is ok to use business strategies or secular ideas or non-conventional ways to advance the kingdom. Yet, Jesus instructs us that in the midst of the resistance of the world, we need to be shrewd, but also innocent. We can't be shrewd at the expense of our integrity. These two are sometimes opposite, but not mutually exclusive. Jesus was continually shrewd and innocent throughout his ministry.
The Sheep and Wolves similes stand for weakness and savagery. The basic gist is that we as kingdom citizens are often poor and powerless, and we live in a savage world. So the way to endure and succeed and advance God's kingdom is to be shrewd and innocent.
Wow... that is a lot of stuff we just talked about that is very new. I think the thing we need to remember, is that when we serve Jesus and carry out his ministry of advancing his kingdom by meeting the needs of people and making disciples, we will experience resistance. But the key is to have a relationship with Jesus so that he is able to instruct us with all the particulars and guide us to be shrewd and innocent.
So how to keep this relationship with Jesus? I have three very simple things I do that help my relationship with Jesus.
1. read the Bible daily (eatyourbible.com)
2. Pray daily (on september 9th, I posted a blog on prayer that is very helpful)
3. weekly meet with Wiser Christians than me who are close to Jesus so that he can speak to me through them. (sign up for a family group at your church)
I remember listening to my friend, David Heffren, preach a sermon at graduation last year. And his text was John 15, which is all about remaining in the vine, which is Jesus. And he said that it doesn't matter where we are going to do ministry or what kind of ministry we are doing, what matters is with whom you go, with whom you serve, with whom you live. The Key to carrying out the ministry of Jesus, to caring for his sheep, is standing next to the shepherd, is committing our lives daily to investing into a relationship with Jesus.
So do ministry, with Jesus.
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