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Matthew 10 Devotional: Study the commissioning of the twelve apostles and Jesus’ instructions for the mission. Learn the cost of discipleship and the promise of God’s sovereign care for those who represent His Kingdom.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to Matthew Chapter 10. Up until now, we have watched the disciples follow Jesus and listen to His teaching. Today, the "classroom" moves into the harvest field. Jesus is giving His followers authority and sending them out with a message of hope and a warning of hardship. Let us listen closely, for His instructions to them still echo for us today as we represent Him in our own world.
Matthew Chapter 10 Introduction:
Matthew Chapter 10 Introduction:
The Sent Ones and the Cost of the Kingdom
In Matthew 10, Jesus calls His twelve disciples by name and empowers them with His own authority to heal the sick and cast out demons. He gives them specific instructions for their journey, warning them that they are being sent out "as sheep among wolves." This chapter is famous for its "hard sayings"—Jesus speaks of family division, persecution, and the necessity of taking up one’s cross. Yet, in the middle of these warnings, He provides profound comfort, reminding them that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father’s notice.
What can we learn from this today? In this chapter, we see the mission of the universal Church. As your Statement of Faith affirms, the Church’s mission is to proclaim the Gospel and demonstrate God’s love in the world. Jesus makes it clear that being His representative is not always easy; it involves "losing one’s life" to find it. However, we also see the Sovereignty of God in the middle of the mission. If God cares for a sparrow, how much more will He care for those who are "regenerated by the Spirit" and sent out in His name? We are reminded that we do not go in our own strength, but in the authority of the Son of God, who promises that whoever receives us, receives Him.
Bible Verse
Bible Verse
10 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Prayer
Prayer
Jesus said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." As we enter into prayer, let us ask for the holy boldness that comes from knowing we are securely held in the Father’s hand.
Prayer Theme: "Confessing Christ Before Men"
Prayer Theme: "Confessing Christ Before Men"
Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You for the high calling of being Your witnesses. We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, and we thank You for the privilege of participating in Your mission of redemption. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us and gives us the words to speak when we face opposition for our faith.
Lord, I ask for the courage to "take up my cross" and follow You fully today. Forgive me for the times I have stayed silent out of fear or sought the approval of people over Your command. Help me to remember that my worth is not found in how the world receives me, but in the fact that I am known and loved by You. Give me a heart for the "lost sheep" in my own community. May I be wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove as I navigate the challenges of my workplace, my school, and my neighborhood.
We pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are facing the very persecutions Jesus described in this chapter. Strengthen their faith and be their peace in the midst of the storm. We pray for our local church, that we would be a people who are not afraid to proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. We ask that through our lives and our words, many would come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, becoming children of Your eternal Kingdom. Amen.
Daily Application Question
Daily Application Question
Jesus told the disciples, "Freely you have received; freely give." What is one "gift" of grace (encouragement, time, resources, or the Gospel itself) that you have received from God that you can freely share with someone else today?
Frequently Asked Questions about Matthew 10
Frequently Asked Questions about Matthew 10
Who were the "Twelve Apostles"? They were a diverse group of men—including fishermen and a tax collector—chosen by Jesus to be the foundation of the Church. The word "apostle" means "one who is sent" with the authority of the sender.
Why did Jesus say He came to bring a "sword" rather than peace? Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but the "sword" refers to the inevitable division that occurs when some choose to follow Him and others do not. The Gospel forces a choice that can sometimes create tension even within families.
What does it mean to "take up your cross"? In the Roman world, a cross was an instrument of execution. To take up one's cross means a daily surrender of our own will, our own comforts, and our own lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for joining us for Matthew 10. May you go out today with the authority of Christ and the peace of the Father, knowing that you are worth more than many sparrows. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow for the questions of John the Baptist in Matthew Chapter 11.
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