• 목록

Lesson 16 Matthew 2020
Verses | Matthew 10:1-42
Key verse | Matthew 10:7,8

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

"7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."

Last week we learned Jesus’ words that we should pray and ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field, since the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Later, Jesus gives His disciples authority and sends them on a mission journey. He sent His disciples as workers of the harvest. Jesus still sends workers to harvest. Jesus tells them to go to the nearest lost people. You must first deliver the word of God to those around you and lead them to the house of God. How can we do this?

First, He gave authority to the twelve apostles and sent them on a mission (1-15). Jesus called his twelve disciples. This calling is only God's grace. And this calling is God's sovereignty. Jesus saw the crowd as sheep without a shepherd, had compassion on them, and prayed for them all night. After that, He sovereignly called them according to God's will. The call was made up of the personal determination and obedience of the disciples. Jesus called Matthew, saying, "Follow me," and called Peter, John, James and Andrew, by giving them a vision, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." At the call of Jesus, they abandoned their nets, abandoned their father, their workers, and their boats. This calling was an amazing turning point in their lives.

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. Jesus was also able to serve the Messiah ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit when he began God’s work after being baptized. This power is given to His disciples by Jesus and given to us when the Holy Spirit comes on us (Act 1:8). Authority is the power that comes from a position. When they worked as disciples, through this authority they were able to powerfully preach the gospel about the kingdom of God. Preaching the gospel is a spiritual battle for the disciples. They can live a holy life by driving out the dirty spirits that rule people. People groan and suffer because of all the diseases and all the weaknesses. By taking care of people’s weakness and healing them, the words of God that his disciples delivered gained more power. The history of all salvation and change is made up of love and power. You can't rule without power. Salvation is what the stronger men come and bind the strong men and give them freedom. Jesus still gives power to those who are believers. He gives us power, talent, and grace to serve the church, the body of the Lord. When we preach the gospel by faith in the Lord, useful powers appear.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Jesus called the twelve apostles of Israel corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel to form a new community. Through this community, He has made us love each other, preach the gospel to the world together, and establish the kingdom of God. Until now, the twelve disciples followed Jesus around and listened to Jesus’ words, and learned by watching His character, life, and ministry. Now they must go out into the world and be twelve little Jesus to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. Jesus did not work alone, but first formed a community and worked with them to spread the gospel to all the people of the world. Since Jesus trained twelve apostles, the gospel has been inherited to this day and spread throughout the world. Covid 19 made me realize more deeply how important the ministry is to raise the disciples than the large and beautiful buildings. I pray that we can concentrate on raising our disciples.

Where did Jesus tell them to go, sending out the twelve? See verses 5 and 6. "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. “” Jesus says to go first to the lost sheep of Israel. This is because it is God's will to save the Israelites who were chosen as the people of God. Even Apostle Paul preached the gospel first to the Jews and then went to the Gentiles. God first set up a community of love and through them he had a strategy to spread the gospel to all the people. What is the house of Isreal? It is a house that believes in Jehovah, the God of Israel; a house of Israel's law. The lost sheep of the house is the one who has left everything in the house of Israel. Home is a place where there are safety, protection, food, and rest. Home is the best place. There's a saying that there will be suffering, if you leave the house. In Luke chapter 15 there is a parable of the lost son who left home. When he left home, he became flustered and lost everything. These are Canaan believers today. They also are people who leave God and live by their own needs. They need love and care of the shepherd. Jesus was well aware of the situation and circumstances of his disciples and made them preach the gospel in the familiar land of the Jews. We must first deliver the word of God to those who are near us and those who need help. We say it's hard to find sheep, but if you look for the sheep that we neglect, there are one or two people. It's not that there's no sheep, there's no shepherd. I pray that we can get a sheep and have a one-to-one bible study, even though it's the year of Covid-19.

What should the disciples do on their way? Jesus says to proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Jesus tells his disciples to not only save souls by preaching the gospel of heaven, but also to achieve salvation by helping their practical problems. Man is a creature with soul and body. When your body is sick and hurt, you feel depressed and sad. On the other hand, when you get depressed, your body gets sick and weak again. Therefore, you must have a healthy body, love your neighbor, and serve God so that you can enjoy full happiness. Where Jesus is spreading, not only should we know the truth through the word of God and reach freedom, but also improve the system so that hospitals, schools, orphanages, and social justice can be established. The gospel achieved social reform by coming in our country. We can say that the word of God is the impulsion behind these things. When God's word gains strength, it even causes external changes. This is because the gospel causes changes like yeast.

Jesus says, "Freely you have received; freely give." God has given me salvation and words not by my own efforts or righteousness. It was given without value only by the grace of Jesus. There was a great sacrifice of Jesus, but it was given to me for free. Why is that? This is because salvation is too expensive for me to save myself and I can't pay for it. Behind it, there is God's pitiful heart and love. We received full of love from our parents and shepherd. Therefore, we should also freely give. Also, giving is more blessed than receiving. We must enjoy what God has given us and go by leaving everything behind as it is. So we must give it quickly whenever we can, and give it with joy. Giving when there is power to give is wisdom, is the one that lasts forever, and it is a blessed life. In verse 42, he promised, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”" We will know that loving one small man and raising him as a man of God is a pleasing work for God and the work which the Lord will give you high reward. I pray for the Lord's overflowing comfort to those who work hard and devote themselves to raising a sheep. I pray that we will not feel discouraged because of hardship, but afford it with joy.

Jesus tells his disciples not to take money or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, after saying "Freely you have received; freely give." It is the right thing for a worker to receive his own food. If the workers of the gospel are tied to their livelihood, they cannot concentrate on the work of the gospel. Therefore God let them to receive material support to make a living. God supplies His servants in any way necessary. We need money to serve the work of gospel. We need people, too. However, if the workers of the gospel are bound by money or people, they are likely to become servants of money or people. God is the owner of money and men. If God is the one who sends me as a harvest worker, God is responsible for it. Therefore, you have to believe in God's supply and work.
The evangelist must stay in any village or town until they find some worthy person and stay at their house until evangelist leave. He also told them to pray for peace to rest on it as they enter the house. If the home is deserving, the peace will rest on it, if it is not, the peace will return to the disciples. The gospel is the gospel of peace. It is the gospel that brings peace between God, man, and enemies. Jesus' disciples have this gospel of peace. And they have to give this peace to people. If anyone will not welcome the disciples or listen to their words, they must leave the house or the town and shake the dust off from their feet. It will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town. The evangelist must preach the gospel with great responsibility.

Second, the difficulties the disciples will face (16-33). See verse 16. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” The disciples are like sheep, and the world they will face is like wolves. Jesus sends his disciples to make the wolves like sheep. When the disciples face the world, they must be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Snakes are cold-blooded animals. The disciples must preach the gospel by keeping cool head and carefully make the decision of the situation. The way for a powerless sheep to overcome wolves is to dispassionately and rationally observe them like a snake to find their weaknesses, and find a way to get through them. The gospel has the power to transform wolves-like sinners into sheep and save them. Can we beat a selfish and ferocious person like wolves with a pigeon-like innocence? Innocence is unchangeable heart toward God, and does not seek their own benefit, but seeks the goods for others. The disciples can impress the wolves-like sinners with this pure power. Wisdom and innocence are more powerful than the authority and swords.

See verse 17. "Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues." To be on our guard means to be aware from people. The disciples will be brought before the governors and kings because of Jesus. There is political persecution of the church. But through this persecution, the word of God is a testimony to the kings, governors, and Gentiles. The church has been awake and developing through persecution.

The disciples will be frightened when they are arrested and put in court, but they should not worry about what to say. Then the Holy Spirit will give the disciples something to say. Look at verse 20. “For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Wisdom and Knowledge, the Lawyer, and the Triune God witnessing to Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives words to the disciples. Therefore, they should not worry.

In the future, the brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. This was often the case in Islam, in Hinduism, and under communism. Also, the disciples will be hated by everyone in the name of Jesus. Even in the Chosun Dynasty and the Japanese colonial period, believers were persecuted by believing in Jesus. But those who stood firm to the end were saved. Also, if we are persecuted from one place, then we should flee to another. We should not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, but we should be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

See verses 29-31. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Sparrows at the time were the cheapest food available on the bazaar. It's like buying a bag of ramen at a convenience store. God even takes care of these insignificant sparrows. Not one of the sparrows will fall to the ground outside of God’s care. What does the disciples fall on the ground like a sparrow? Jesus could have high expectations for the life of his disciples, but there may be some cases in which his disciples fail to bear fruit and suffer only. We may expect God to bless us, but we could live in poverty, fail in business, and suffer from disease. There is God's good will for us to fall. How precious are the disciples than sparrows? Even if we fall, we won’t fail. Because God knows all our situations, He can protect us and lead us to a better way. If we acknowledge Jesus to the end in the midst of suffering, Jesus also acknowledges our faith before God on the Day of Judgment. However, if we disown Jesus in front of people because of fear, Jesus also disowns us on the Judgment Day. We must overcome our fears, boldly preach the gospel, and follow the path of discipleship. The life of preaching the word of God not only saves others, but also saves ourselves. When we live by preaching the Word, our life is active and the meetings are filled with vitality.

Third, deny yourself and take up your cross and follow (34-42). See verse 34. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” The sword cuts off flesh, makes it bleed, and is used to kill. When Jesus comes, he says that the man against his father, that daughter against her mother, and that the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law that the man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. Anyone who must love their father or mother more than Jesus is not worthy of Him. Anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Jesus is not worthy of Him. Faith gives us a clear priority. When a shepherd at the Anam Center believed in Jesus, the mother came to the center. She went up the roof, saying “you should either give up your faith or I should die.” However, he kept his faith and later became a staff shepherd. His mother also became a great believer. Shepherd Timothy also believed in Jesus, so his father held a sickle at his neck. He asked Timothy to make a decision “whether you would forsake your faith or die.” But Shepherd Timothy went out as a Nigerian missionary and left much fruit of faith.

See verses 38,39. “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39  Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." The cross means death. To follow Jesus, we must die. The apostle Paul also confessed, “I die every day.” Following the Lord is a new life each day, by denying ourselves and killing our sinfulness. But those who lose their lives will find it. Living the life of receiving and preaching the word of God is not walking along the flower path. It is a way to live by killing yourself. We have to live like this life every day, not a day or two. This is difficult only without the Lord's grace. I pray that the Lord will have mercy on us and help us to endure this path to the end. I pray for joy as we look at the rewards in front of us.