THE CALL OF DISCIPLES TO BE APOSTLES

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Matthew 10:1-23
Lesson #26
THE CALL OF DISCIPLES TO BE APOSTLES

• Memory verse: Act 1:8
• Read Mat 10:1-4 The twelve disciples
  • We have already discussed the first four of the 12 disciples (see your notes Mat 4-continued). They were chosen for what they were capable of becoming under Jesus’ influence.
    • He chose them.
      • They were chosen from among many other disciples.
      • Disciple means = learner
    • He called them. They had the option to refuse or to follow Him according to their own free will.
    • He appointed them.
      • They were appointed to an office so they would serve others.
      • They were to be apostles.
      • Apostle means = one who is sent out for a specific task.
  • Philip
    • The first three gospels do not give us any details about him, but the book of John tells us about him. (Joh 6:5-7; 12:20-23; 14:8)
    • He was born in Bethsaida.
      • Jesus had sad things to say about this city, (Mat 11:21) for they rejected Christ’s truth and miracles.
      • This was the same city that Andrew and Peter came from.
        • The three were close friends.
        • Andrew and Peter had a lot to do with Philip’s coming to believe in the Lord.
    • This is not the same Philip we see in the book of Acts. (Act 6:5; 8:5-40).
    • Philip’s name means = lover of horses.
    • While he was a Jew, this is a Greek Gentile name.
      • Philip must have had some Greek connections in his family somewhere.
      • When a group of Greeks sought out Jesus, they first approached Philip.
    • Philip was the first disciple Jesus sought out and called to discipleship. (Joh 1:43)
      • The other four disciples sought out Jesus.
      • Remember that Andrew and Peter were the first to come to Jesus, but they returned to their fishing and were not called to discipleship until about a year later.
      • Actually when a person comes to the Lord, it’s a little of both. We seek truth while He seeks us. (Joh 1:45)
    • Jesus found Philip then Philip found Nathaneal (Bartholomew). They may have been brothers.
    • Philip’s character:
      • He was a plain man. He had an inquiring mind (Joh 14:7-12), but slow to arrive at a decision.
      • He had low spiritual perception.
      • He was reluctant to act on his own initiative.
      • He was a slow-witted plodder.
        • Jesus asks Philip how they are to feed the hungry multitude in Joh 6:5.
        • Jesus is not looking for information but attempting to get Philip to see spiritually.
    • Philip’s life from non-biblical sources:
      • Tradition says that after the day of Pentecost he went to Phrygia (Turkey) with Nathanael (Bartholomew) accompanied by his sister, Mariamne.
      • They also preached in Hierapolis. Philip was crucified, hung on a pillar, and buried in Hierapolis.
  • Nathanael Bartholomew
    • Nathanael Bartholomew is his full name. It was common to have more than one name.
    • Among the Jews there was a Hebrew sect known as the Tholmaens. Perhaps he and his family were part of this sect.
      • Bar = son of Tholomew = Tholmaens
      • The name Nathanael means = a gift of god
    • Nathanael was brought to Jesus by philip, his friend. The two often ministered together.
    • Nathanael was a Galilean like Philip. He was a deeply moral man (Joh 1:47) who was deeply religious. His religion was transparent and not deceptive like the Pharisees.
    • He was found under the fig tree.
      • This is a symbol of the nation of Israel. (Mat 24:32)
      • It also was a place where a devoted Jew would read the scriptures and pray. (1Kin 4:25 Mic 4:1-6 Zec 3:10)
    • He was a fisherman by trade but evidently it was not important in his life like some of the others.
    • Nathaneal’s character:
      • He was a serious minded man with deep spiritual insight.
      • He had quick wit, an alert intellect, and able to debate scripture.
      • He recognized quickly who Jesus was. (Joh 1:49)
    • Nathanael’s life from non-biblical sources:
      • Tradition says he traveled to India, Parthia, Lycaonia and Armenia.
      • He was martyred by crucifixion with his head downward in Armenia in 44 AD.
      • He is said to have been buried in the Roman church of St. Bartholomew on an island in the Tiber.
      • An unworthy gospel was forged in his name. It is considered an Apocraphal book (not part of the scriptures inspired by God).
  • Application:
    • No matter what the intellectual level or personality, Jesus can use anyone for His glory.
    • It takes a willing heart and step of determination.
    • The Lord gives us the faith (Rom 12:3), but we must grow our faith by His Word.
• Read Mat 10:5-10 The commission of the 12 to be Apostles:
  • Matthew tells us that He gave the disciples “orders” when he sent them out. The word orders has four meanings:
    • =1= It is a word used for a military command.
    • =2=It is a word used for calling one’s friend to help you.
    • =3= It is a word used for a teacher giving instruction to a student.
    • =4= It is a word used for an imperial command by a king.
  • What was the command?
    • They were forbidden to go to the Gentiles or to the Samaritans.
    • This was not a permanent command, for Jesus himself ministered to Gentiles.
      • Why did He give this restriction?
      • It restricted their geographical area to Galilee.
        • Galilee was more open to Jesus than any other area.
        • Jesus said that he had come first to the Jews (Mar 7:27).

The offer of salvation must first be given to the Jews before the offer was given to the Gentiles.

The twelve were not equipped to minister to the Gentiles.

That task needed someone like Paul.

• • • • • The twelve needed experience so he limited the scope.
        • They did not have the Holy Spirit until after the day of Pentecost.
    • They were to preach the gospel announcing the imminence of the kingdom.
    • They were to do the deeds of God.
      • They had already seen Jesus do the same things He was asking them to do.
      • Heal the sick:
        • The primary meaning of the word sick here is weak.
        • They were to strengthen those who were weakened by sickness, by sin, by poverty.
      • Raise the dead:
        • This refers not only to physical death, but refers also to those who were dead in their sins.
      • Cleanse lepers:
        • As we have seen, leprosy symbolized sin.
        • They therefore would physically heal the lepers and cleanse people from their sins.
      • Cast out demons
        • They were to break the power of Satan in people’s lives.
  • What were the provisions:
    • They were not to take a bag for money.
      • This was a beggar’s collection bag. They were not to beg for money.
      • Sometimes philosophers would take a collection bag and receive money after teaching.
    • They were not to be overburdened with provisions that would detract them from their mission.
      • The same instruction was given to one entering the temple.
      • The idea was that he was to leave everything behind that had to do with worldly affairs and doing business.
    • If you are a man of God, you must never give the impression that you are a man of business, out for what you can get.
    • However, the people of God must never fail to see that the man of God receives a reasonable support.
• Read Mat 10:11-15 The conduct of the 12
  • When they entered a city, they were to seek a worthy house.
    • They were not to pick a brothel or immoral place to stay.
    • They must not give the impression they would only stay in the best accommodations.
  • What is a “worthy” house?
    • This is a house where people are open to hearing about God.
    • They express interest in the things of God even though they do not know Him yet.
  • Guidance by the Holy Spirit:
    • A person guided by the Holy Spirit who was open to the things of God would offer them accommodations.
    • They were to bless the houses in which they lodged. (12)
    • They were to “shake the dust from their feet” when a place was not worthy.
      • When a Jew crossed the border and left travel in a Gentile area, he was to shake the dust from his feet.
      • The idea was that being in a Gentile area would defile a Jew.
      • Therefore, Jesus is saying they should treat a person like a Gentile if they did not receive their message.
  • The curse of Sodom and Gomorrah (15).
    • Sodom and Gomorrah were guilty of not offering common hospitality to travelers.
    • They rejected the message of God and were destroyed because of it.
• Read Mat 10:16-23 The challenge of the King
  • Parable of Sheep and Wolves (Mat 10:16)
    • The central truth of the parable in Mat 10:16?
      • Jesus was sending his disciples to minister in difficult situations.
      • They were to be wise but Gentle.
    • Who are the sheep?
      • He had just spoken about the lost multitudes as sheep without a shepherd, but now he refers to his disciples as sheep while He is the shepherd.
      • The characteristics of sheep:
        • Sheep need protection and leading from a shepherd.
    • Who are the wolves?:
      • Those people who persecute, reject, ridicule, ravage, and kill.
      • Jesus identifies them in verse 17 as the religious leaders, in verse 18 as government leaders, in verse 21 as family, and in verse 22 as men in general.
    • The characteristics of wolves:
      • They have great stamina and can travel for hours without stopping.
      • They are a faithful mate and have strong family ties.
      • They prey on the helpless, usually the sheep that are separated from the flock or are ill.
      • Satan preys on believers who do not stay close to the family of God (Heb 10:24-25)
    • What does he mean “wise as serpents“?
      • They are to have wisdom but not the poisonous capacity of serpents.
      • Satan is seen in Genesis as a serpent particularly wise and cunning.
      • We are to have this kind of wisdom but be harmless.
      • This kind of wisdom will save the believer from unnecessary exposure to danger.
      • He is to know when to escape persecution.
      • There must be no seeking martyrdom.
    • The characteristics of serpents (snakes):
      • They are deaf to sound carried by the air and hear by vibrations through the ground.
      • His body adapts to the lay of the ground as he moves.
      • The temperature of his body is the temperature of the environment.
      • They avoid too much heat because their body can’t tolerate it.
      • Their eyes are constantly open and aware of their surroundings.
      • Their skin has hardened oils that prevent them from picking up the dirt of their environment.
        • In wisdom we should be as well adapted to our social environment adapting to it without picking up the dirt of worldliness and avoiding heated arguments.
        • Read 1Cor 9:19-23
        • Paul’s example.
    • What does he mean “harmless as doves“?
      • The believer is to have pure motives, to be harmless, not helpless.
      • If he is wise, he will not find himself in situations where he must commit sin to get out of them.
      • The characteristics of doves:
        • A dove is a pretty bird with a soft voice. The dove is a devoted mate but a careless housekeeper.

Their nests are made of a few sticks placed loosely together.

Often they will even take over the empty nest of another bird.

• • • • • We are to have a soft voice and not angrily argue the gospel.
        • We are to remember that this world is not our home and have heavenly priorities.
        • We are to be faithful to the Lord.
        • God used a dove to symbolize the Holy Spirit when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in Mat 3:16.
  • Summary:
    • God has called every believer to share the Gospel in this same way.
    • We are to preach the kingdom of God and not the growth of the church.
    • Only God by the Holy Spirit can reconcile all these supposedly opposing characteristics in you in order to successfully minister to others through you.
  • The call to persecution:
    • In persecution, the Holy Spirit will guide you in your speech. (19-20)
      • Persecution will occur in three forms:
      • =1= Persecution from the state
      • =2= Persecution from the church
      • =3= Persecution from family members
    • Verse 23 “till the Son of Man be come”
      • The phrasing in this verse sounds like he is talking about his second coming.
      • However, He probably means that they will no sooner cover the cities of that area before He will follow after them.

Homework

Matthew 10:24-42

• Application of Mat 10:1-23
  • Consider your talents and your weaknesses. God can use both!
    • List your talents. How can God use them?
  • List your weaknesses. How can God supply the strength to use even these?
• Preparation for Mat 10:24-42
  • Read Mat 10:24-42
    • What specific things do you learn from these verses about discipleship?
    • What is the central truth of the parable of sparrows and hairs in Mat 10:29-31?
    • What is the central truth of the parable of the sword and foes in Mat 10:34-38?
• Memory verse: Mat 10:39