Jesus was going from town to town teaching, preaching and healing. Crowds of people followed and he saw their great need, not just the sickness and disease, but they were “weary and dejected”. Jesus was moved by compassion and summoned his apostles and commissioned them to go into all the cities of Israel and to preach the gospel of the kingdom. Later on, Jesus says in Matthew 15:24 “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” and he is using his apostles to complete that mission so that Paul could also later say, Romans 1:16 (LEB) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (the rest of the world).
Jesus Sends the Twelve
Mark 6:6-11
Matthew 9:35-10:42
Luke 9:1-5
He Was Going Around Among the Villages Teaching
Mark 6:6–11
In Marks account, we get very little information about what Jesus was thinking or why he was taking this action. We do know that Jesus had begun this ministry from town to town earlier in
Mark 1:38–39 (LEB) And he said to them, “Let us go elsewhere, into the neighboring rural towns, so that I can preach there also, because I have come out for this very reason.” 39 And he went into all Galilee preaching in their synagogues and expelling demons.
and he was continuing to do this in Mark 6:6 “he (Jesus) was going around among the villages teaching”. Then Mark simply records in
Mark 6:7 (LEB) And he summoned the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
He Saw the Crowds
Matthew 9:35–38
Matthew also records in
Matthew 9:35 (LEB) And Jesus was going around all the towns and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness.
But now, after having done this work from town to town, in Matthew 9:36 “he saw the crowds” but it wasn’t just the number of them. Yes, there were crowds, large numbers of people, but it was their condition that moved him, “they were weary and dejected, like sheep that did not have a shepherd”. And it was for this reason that he was moved to take a new action. First, he invited them to join in purpose and pray with him in
Matthew 9:37–38 (LEB) Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest.”
He Gave Them Authority
Matthew 10:1–15
Now Jesus acts. In Matthew 10:1 “summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority”. Then in Matthew 10:5-6 he “sent out these twelve … to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. And in Matthew 10:7-8 he gave them a message, “preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near!’” and this was to be confirmed as they were to “Heal those who are sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, expel demons”.
And though they were not to go to the gentile or Samaritans, there was no limitation on the demonstration of God’s power. It was for all. Well, that is, all that would receive them. In Matthew 10:9-15 there is a test. If they (someone in the town) will receive you, which meant accepting them with hospitality and feeding them and housing them. Then, your peace (blessing) will remain. But if not, “whoever does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you go”.
Sheep in the Midst of Wolves
Matthew 10:16–25
Everyone Who Acknowledges Me Before People I Will Acknowledge
Matthew 10:26–33
Take Up His Cross and Follow Me
Matthew 10:34–39
Whoever Gives
Matthew 10:40–42
Luke 9:1–6
Study Verses
- Mark 6:6–11 He Was Going Around Among the Villages Teaching
- Matthew 9:35–38 He Saw the Crowds
- Matthew 10:1–15 He Gave Them Authority
Today’s Reading
- Mark 6:6-11
- Matthew 9:35-10:42
- Luke 9:1-5
The Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ – The Gospels
This series follows the order of readings from the Tyndale One Year Chronological Bible. Covering these events chronologically as they happened, gives a much different context and helps us understand the move of God as He is introducing the Saviour, the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. This series begins with Return To Me And I Will Return To You at the end of Malachi and introduces the “Witnesses” writing the Gospels.
Operation Exodus
is helping Jewish people return to their homeland. You might fund one that desires to go home. http://operationexodususa.org/Overview