Sending the Disciples on His Mission – Matthew 9:35-10:42
1. Read Matthew 9:35-38
a. 9:35 – a summary statement bracketed with 4:23
b. What was the motive for Jesus’ mission of preaching, teaching and
healing?
c. Sheep without a shepherd
i. Read Ezekiel 34:1-6; 11-16 (~570 BC, Israel in Exile in Babylon)
1. Who were to be the shepherds?
2. Who will be the shepherd?
d. What is the harvest?
e. Why do you think Jesus put prayer first?
2. Read Matthew 10:1-4
a. The twelve apostles (apostle = “one who is sent”) are introduced
i. Significance to the number 12?
b. What authority are they given?
3. Broad Structure of Matthew 10:5-42 (the “Missionary Discourse”)
a. Matthew 10:5-23 – oriented to the apostles’ specific mission to Israel
b. Matthew 10:24-42 – oriented more generally to the church’s mission
4. Read Matthew 10:5-15
a. To whom are the twelve sent?
b. To do what?
c. To be received how?
d. To what final effect?
i. Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 19
5. Read Matthew 10:16-23
a. Now, those sent to the “lost sheep” are themselves vulnerable
“sheep”
b. Why, and how, are the apostles to be “shrewd as serpents” and
“innocent as doves”?
c. “until the Son of Man comes” [in judgment] = an event within the
lifespan of the Twelve, namely, the Roman destruction of the temple
and conquest of Judea in AD 70.
6. Read Matthew 10:24-25
a. How might those on Christ’s mission expect to be treated?
7. Read Matthew 10:26-33
a. What does Jesus repeat three times in this section?
b. What promise is each invitation to “not fear” rooted in?
c. What is the confession Christ’s disciples are called to make?
d. What will happen to those who have denied him?
e. “For every Christian pastor or missionary (or layperson) who has let
the fear of men silence his confession, these words of Jesus bring us
to our knees. However, in hope, we may all say with the psalmist,
“There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared” (Ps.
130:4 KJV). In that pious fear and faith, then, may Christ give courage
to all his church to confess before men the only Savior of the world!
(Gibbs, 535)
8. Read Matthew 10:34-42
a. How do these verses prevent a naivete when it comes to the urgent
task of evangelism and mission?
b. Didn’t Jesus and His apostles come to bring peace? (Lk. 2:14, Mt.
10:13)
i. Likely that Jesus should be understood in the following
manner: “Do not think that I came only so as to bring peace on
earth. I came not only to bring peace, but even more, a
sword.”
c. How do we deal with divisions in families? (1 Pet. 3:1-2)
d. With whom does Jesus strongly identify in v. 40?
e. The importance of supporting the mission in v. 41-42!