The Twelve Sent Out

At the time Jesus sent out the twelve apostles the first time. His primary goal was to reach the Jews.   God had originally made a covenant with Israel so that all the world might know God, as Solomon said in I Kings 8:59-60.  “And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require: That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.”  Tt was necessary that God gave the Jews the first opportunity to receive salvation even though they had not always kept his covenant.  The original mission of the apostles was to reach out to the Jews first.  Jesus told the Syrophenician woman in Matthew 15:24, “…I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 

With the goal of reaching the Jews first in mind, Jesus gave specific instructions to the apostles, as we see in Matthew 10:6-13.  “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: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.  And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.  And when ye come into an house, salute it.  And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.”

The promise to Abraham had been made more than two thousand years before and they had had the Law for more than fifteen hundred years, and the Jews all purported to be looking for Messiah’s coming.  The apostles were to go only to Jewish communities, announcing Messiah’s coming.  As proof of their power from God they were to heal people and cast out demons.   Those who took them seriously would be more than glad to supply their needs in exchange for the information they carried.   When they went into a city they were to find out who the most devout Jews were and go to them first and stay with them as long as they stayed in the area.  If it turned out they were hypocritical or insincere they were to go elsewhere.  

Many Jews had gotten wrapped up in Greek and Roman culture and really didn’t believe in the prophecies about Messiah.  They would not welcome news about his arrival, or be willing to help spread the message.  Jesus instructed the disciples not to try to force the message on them in Matthew 10:14-15.  “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.  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.”

The Jews had grown up in church and already knew what the scriptures said.  If they refused to listen, their minds were already made up and there was no use arguing with them or trying to change them.  Instead of wasting time arguing, the disciples should simply leave, shaking the dust off their feet as a testimony to God that the people had rejected God’s promise.  Because they knew and deliberately refused, their punishment would be even worse than that experienced by Sodom and Gomorrah. 

It is important to understand that if someone deliberately rejects God it is not our responsibility to keep trying to change them.  They have the right to make their own choice.  They just need to understand they will have to live with the consequences of their choices.  When we push too hard we become offensive, and I Corinthians 10:32 commands, “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.”  It is better to walk away and leave the possibility someone else can reach them than to drive them away completely.  If no one reaches them, it will not be your fault.  Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to win them.  Wasting too much time on a person who isn’t interested may keep you from talking to someone who is, and Matthew 10:23 warns, “…verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”  We will never get everyone.  We need to learn to differentiate between what is our duty and what is not.