Matthew 10

I have moved on to Matthew chapter 10. I am unsure so I am going to put this out for your feed back. If I have it wrong please help me to understand don't just tell me I am wrong show me where I have gotten it wrong from the bible.

Thank you ahead of time for taking time out of your day to be teacher and mentor to me.



10:1 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.2Now 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; 3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Verse 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:

Strong's #3853 to transmit a message or a command. So Jesus commanded the 12 sent out with a message to transmit but they were also commanded the 12 not to go to the Gentiles or go into any city of the Samaritans. They were to go to the Jews there own people. Is that what we should be doing? I have looked at threads on the format and people have some really different ideas on the bible. I thought we were to all be of one mind and if not we were to come to an understanding. Am I wrong?

Verse 6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Go to the “lost sheep” lost people of Israel. There is not a country of Israel at this time. I looked up a map of the time Jesus lived and it was in Judah. The house means a dwelling place a home. I remember from sunday school that there were 12 tribes; So is Jesus telling his disciples to go to the people of the12 tribes that live in Judah only?

Verse 7. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Preach means to proclaim. The royal power of heaven is here it is close to you.

Verse 8. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give

When you are out there this is what you are to do. I know this was a special time; Jesus was here on earth in the flesh. Are churches today suppose to be doing these things. I am pretty sure it is not happening everywhere in churches today. I have seen the movie about the boy that fell into the lake covered with ice. In that movie the pastor did not even really believe God would heal that boy. So I ask again was this a special thing for a special time.

Verse 9. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

Provide # 2932 To acquire. To get

They are to go on the road to proclaim the Kingdom of God is near without any money. How are they to eat, find a place to sleep etc?

Verse 10. Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

They are not to take a leather pouch”scrip” an extra coat or shoes, not even a walking stick “satves”. So Jesus is telling them to take the close on there backs and hit the road and preach the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Why? Because the workman is worthy of his meat. In other words the people they are to go and preach to are to take care of them. This may not be the right thing to say; but I am glad that I was not put in their shows.

Verse 11.And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

What ever city or town you enter inquire (to me that means go and ask someone I would be wrong) Inquire #1833 means to examine; Webster To test, by questioning carefully in order to find out the knowledge, skill, qualifications, etc. who is worthy (who has the right qualifications, mindset ect.) and stay there till you have finished all your preaching and teaching.

Hi, Ken.

In order to best answer your questions which pertain to the Samaritans and Judah, I will need to provide you with a bit of Biblical history first which I hope you will confirm for yourself by following the scriptural references which I will provide to back my assertions.

For starters, Jacob, who had his name changed to “Israel” (Gen. 32:28) by God, had twelve sons (and one daughter) whose descendants became known as “the twelve tribes of Israel” (Gen. 49:28).

The names of Jacob’s/Israel’s twelve sons/twelve tribes, in their order of birth, are as follows:

1. Reuben (Gen. 29:32)
2. Simeon (Gen. 29:33)
3. Levi (Gen. 29:34)
4. Judah (Gen. 29:35)
5. Dan (Gen. 30:6)
6. Naphtali (Gen. 30:8)
7. Gad (Gen. 30:11)
8. Asher (Gen. 30:13)
9. Issachar (Gen. 30:18)
10. Zebulun (Gen. 30:20)
11. Joseph (Gen. 30:24)
12. Benjamin (Gen. 35:18)

When the children of Israel possessed what is commonly called “the promised land” (Exod. 12:25) or “the land of Canaan” (Exod. 6:4), the land was “divided for an inheritance” (Num. 26:53) into twelve parts amongst the tribes of Israel, and this became known as “the land of Israel” (I Sam. 13:19). I need to mention that the tribe of Levi or the Levites were not given a land inheritance (Deut. 18:1-2), but that Joseph’s inheritance was broken down into two parts between his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Gen. 41:51-52). However, the Levites were given suburbs to dwell in from amongst the other tribe’s inheritances (Num. 35:2).

Later on in Israel’s history, the land of Israel became split into two separate kingdoms as a result of Solomon’s sin, even as had been prophesied by “the prophet Ahijah” (I Kings 11:29-35).

After the split, the northern kingdom of Israel, which had Samaria as its capital, consisted of the ten tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Manasseh, and Ephraim, and the southern kingdom of Judah, which had Jerusalem as its capital, consisted of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

This split occurred during the reign of Solomon’s son Rehoboam, and you can read about it yourself in I Kings 12:1-24.

Years later, “the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria” (II Kings 17:6) or the ten northern tribes of Israel went into Assyrian captivity, and something that is very pertinent to your questions occurred at that point in time.
We read:

“And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.” (II Kings 17:24)

At this point in time, the king of Assyria took GENTILES “and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel”, and it is for THIS REASON that the Jews, who placed way too much emphasis on their natural descendancy and not nearly enough emphasis on their true spiritual descendancy, had no dealings with the Samaritans.

With this historical background information before us, we read:

John chapter 4

[1] When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
[2] (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
[3] He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
[4] And he must needs go through Samaria.
[5] Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
[6] Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
[7] There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
[8] (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
[9] Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
[10] Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
[11] The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
[12] Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
[13] Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
[14] But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
[15] The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
[16] Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
[17] The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
[18] For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
[19] The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
[20] Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
[21] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
[22] Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
[23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
[24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
[25] The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
[26] Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
[27] And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
[28] The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
[29] Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
[30] Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
[31] In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
[32] But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
[33] Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
[34] Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
[35] Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
[36] And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
[37] And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
[38] I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
[39] And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
[40] So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
[41] And many more believed because of his own word;
[42] And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

First of all, whenever we read of “Judaea” from which Jesus “left” or “departed” (vs. 3) here, we are reading of the portion of land which was inherited by the tribe of Judah. As I mentioned earlier, Judah was one of the two southern tribes in the kingdom of Judah, with the other southern tribe being the tribe of Benjamin.

Notice, however, that when Jesus “left” or “departed” from “Judaea” or Judah, that “he must needs go through Samaria” (vs. 4). Again, Samaria was the capital city of the ten northern tribes of the kingdom of Israel, so Jesus and his disciples were NOT limited to just Judah or “Judaea” in their travels during his earthly ministry.

In fact, in relation to the very beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we read:

Matthew chapter 4

[12] Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
[13] And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
[14] That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
[15] The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
[16] The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
[17] From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus’ ministry began “in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, IN THE BORDERS OF ZABULON (ZEBULUN) AND NEPHTHALIM (NAPHTALI)” or in part of the northern kingdom of Israel.

Notice, too, the following from our text in John’s gospel:

“Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” (vs. 9)

Why did “the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans”?

For or because of the precise historical reason that I documented earlier. Again, when the ten northern tribes of the kingdom of Israel went into Assyrian captivity, the king of Assyria placed GENTILES “in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel” (II Kings 17:24), and the Jews basically despised the Gentiles.

(continued)

Jesus didn’t despise them, however.

In fact, he not only revealed himself as the “Messiah” or “Christ” (vss. 25-26) to this Samaritan woman, but other Samaritans “went out of the city, and came unto him” (vs. 30) as well. Furthermore, “many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did” (vs. 39), and, further still, “when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (vss. 40-42).

“For we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD”.
During his earthly ministry, Jesus did NOT just save “Jews”. In fact, he regularly ministered to and saved GENTILES.

Anyhow, Jesus ministered to Samaritans elsewhere as well.

For example, we read:

Luke chapter 17

[11] And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
[12] And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
[13] And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
[14] And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
[15] And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
[16] And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
[17] And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
[18] There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
[19] And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Again, here, we clearly see Jesus “as he passed through the midst of Samaria” (vs. 11) which was the capital of the ten northern tribes of the kingdom of Israel. In other words, he’s on his way “to Jerusalem” (vs. 11) which was the capital of the two southern tribes of the kingdom of Judah, but he was NOT limited to Judah or “Judaea” in his earthly travels or ministry.

Here, Jesus cleansed ten lepers, and only one of them that “was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: AND HE WAS A SAMARITAN” (vss. 15-16) who Jesus referred to as “this stranger” (vs. 18) in that he was a non-Jew.

This contempt that the Jews had for the Samaritans was the very basis for Jesus’ story about what we commonly call “the good Samaritan”.

In relation to this, we read:

Luke chapter 10

[25] And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
[26] He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
[27] And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
[28] And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
[29] But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
[30] And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
[31] And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
[32] And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
[33] But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
[34] And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
[35] And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
[36] Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
[37] And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Here, “a certain lawyer”, or one who handled God’s law, tempted Jesus in relation to what he needed to “do to inherit eternal life” (vs. 25).

Jesus turned his question back on him by asking, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” (vs. 26)

After rightly responding, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” (vs. 27), “he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?” (vs. 29)

It’s this self-justifying question which prompted Jesus’ story of “the good Samaritan”.

In his story, Jesus gave an example where two ISRAELITES, the “certain priest” (vs. 31) and the “Levite” (vs. 32), heartlessly passed by a wounded man, whereas “a certain SAMARITAN”, again, who the Jews despised, “had compassion on him” (vs. 33).

Why did Jesus do this?

He did this because he was DELIBERATELY seeking to get across to these hard-hearted people that one’s ethnicity or natural descendancy has absolutely nothing to do with their spiritual standing before God. Instead, it is one’s behavior which is an outflow of what is truly in one’s heart that matters to God.

We see another example of the Jews’ contempt for the Samaritans here:

John chapter 8

[48] Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
[49] Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.

In case you’re not already aware of this, our English word “Jew” is literally derived from “Judah” who was Jacob’s/Israel’s fourth son:

https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=jew

Jew (n.)

late 12c., Giw, Jeu, "a Jew (ancient or modern), one of the Jewish race or religion," from Anglo-French iuw, Old French giu (Modern French Juif), from Latin Iudaeum (nominative Iudaeus), from Greek Ioudaios, from Aramaic (Semitic) jehudhai (Hebrew y'hudi) "a Jew," from Y'hudah "Judah," literally "celebrated," name of Jacob's fourth son and of the tribe descended from him.

Although Jesus Christ, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5:5), is the consummate or ultimate “Jew”, these “Jews” (vs. 48), by natural descendancy only (Rom. 2:28-29), not only called him “a Samaritan”, in a disparaging way, but also accused him of having “a devil” or of being demonized. Again, they did so because of their contempt for the Samaritans.

This contempt for the Samaritans even carried over to Jesus’ own disciples.

In relation to the same, we read:

Luke chapter 9

[51] And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
[52] And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
[53] And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
[54] And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
[55] But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
[56] For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Apparently, this contempt wasn’t always one-sided. In other words, here, it seems rather obvious that those of this particular “village of the Samaritans” (vs. 52) “did not receive him”, Jesus, “because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem” (vs. 53).

When his disciples saw this, “they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias (Elijah) did?”

Their question was rightly met with a rebuke in which Jesus told them “ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of”. In other words, their intentions weren’t being motivated by the Spirit of God who wants all men to be saved.

After his crucifixion, burial, and resurrection from the dead, Jesus gave the following charge to his disciples which included eleven of the twelve (Judas was now dead) who you inquired about here:

Acts chapter 1

[6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
[7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
[8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Here, Jesus’ commission clearly included “Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”.

(continued)

My point?

Well, first and foremost, Jesus ALWAYS had a heart for the Samaritans and other Gentiles as well.

If such is indeed the case (and it is), then why did Jesus tell the twelve to focus upon the lost sheep of the house of Israel for approximately 3 ½ years during his own earthly ministry which included, as I’ve already documented, him ministering to Samaritans AND OTHER GENTILES (I could easily document the same) as well?

I believe that the answer to this question is quite simple.

He did so because the nation of Israel had been chosen by God to represent him and his coming kingdom to the whole world. Seeing how so many of the house of Israel didn’t truly belong to God themselves, Christ sought to turn their hearts back to him FIRST because they were busy misrepresenting him and his kingdom to the whole world. In other words, many of them were blind leaders of the blind who were leading multitudes into the ditch. I could greatly expound upon this point, but I’ll stop here for now.

Hopefully, this helps to answer your questions.

WOOOO that is really good I like the way you put in the verses. This the type of studding I have been trying to do but not sure if I have it right. I hope you will keep in touch with me and if I go off track get back on the right path. I do have questions but I will try and answer them before I ask for a hand out
May God bless you for your Help.
KenA.

I'm glad that it helped, and I'd be happy to keep in touch with you, so don't ever hesitate to ask questions.

I certainly don't have all of the answers, but, by the grace of God, I do have some of them.

In any case, I'll always point you to the scriptures so that you can read them in context for yourself.

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (I Thess. 5:21)