Matthew 10 - 11

Jesus commissions the disciples to go build the kingdom of God, and see life from His perspective.

Matthew 10:1 This seems to be a direct response to Matthew 9:38 where Jesus told His disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into the harvest field. Apparently they did and He does!

Matthew 10:2-4: The disciples are named in pairs, suggesting that going out 2x2 so that their witness to the truth would satisfy Deuteronomy 17:6 & 19:15. This pattern is repeated in Rev. 11:3-12, with the two witnesses just before the seventh trumpet, who also announced the imminence of God’s kingdom.

Matthew 10:5-8: The disciples empowered to minister. Jesus gave them the authority to do the same miraculous signs of the advent of God’s kingdom that He had done.

Matthew 10:9-15: God’s provision for food, lodging, and hospitality is spiritual. It seems odd that if a worthy person is found their home might be undeserving, but the disciples were instructed with a spiritual response if that happens. Perhaps this applies to a worthy person in a difficult living situation. Home is a family or a group of people who live together, not just a building, but not necessarily of one accord. The same approach is applied to towns. God uses His means of provision as one of the instruments of kingdom-building.

Matthew 10:16-36: Trials and tribulations are to be expected and will be delivered from.

Matthew 10:16: Jesus instructs us to combine insight with holiness (snakes & doves co-existing as before the fall of Satan). Use the brain God gave you together with the clean heart that comes from Jesus’ presence in you. In the trials to come, be worthy.

Matthew 10:20: This promise was notably fulfilled with Ruach HaKodesh speaking through Peter, recorded in Acts 2:4&14.

Matthew 10:29 refers back to Matthew 6:26 re Jesus’ teaching on worry. Yes, God feeds the birds, His children will be cared for.

Matthew 6:32-33: Trials and tribulations aren’t just reserved for the great tribulation, but a part of daily life helping to prepare us for the final judgment. Preaching the gospel is the key to passing the test of that event.

Matthew 10:34-36 Jesus quotes Micah 7:6, using Micah’s  bewailing of Israel’s sin, to here state that this condition of family turmoil is His (Jesus’) judgment on those who reject Him. 

Matthew 10:37-39: Loving Him is the ultimate priority in life. When we are willing to love Him more than family members or life itself, we have passed the test. He will flow His love through us to others, an eternal and spirit-empowered love that brings eternal life, which transcends physical earthly life.

Matthew 10:40-42: Kingdom rewards are promised to those (perhaps even unbelievers) who welcome and care for His prophets, His righteous ones, and little children who believe in Him. It is sad that we have to have orphanages, but He blesses those who create and support them.

Matthew 11

Matthew 11:1-19 Jesus discusses John the Baptist.

Matthew 11:1-6: Jesus was in Galilee, John was in prison, which perhaps gave him the context for doubting what had been revealed to him earlier (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus did not rebuke this doubt, but offered the additional evidence in 11:5 of His miraculous works and His teaching. Verse 6 is ambiguous - is Jesus suggesting that John had lost a blessing because he doubted? Or simply pronouncing a blessing on those who believe in Him? In 11:12 He explicitly cites the arrest and prophesies the subsequent murder of John. (Matthew 14:3-12)

Matthew 11:10: Jesus quotes Malachi 3:1. Implicitly He cites Malachi 3:2 which says the messenger you desire will come. Jesus was there!

Matthew 11:4, 15, & 25-30 all speak to the reality of the revelation of God in Jesus: evidence and relationship.

Matthew 11:14-15: Jesus cites Malachi 4:5 regarding John coming in the spirit and power of Elijah. Both called for repentance by Israelites, (1 Kings 18:36-37) although John did not have any compelling miracles that we know of other than the baptism of Jesus.

Matthew 11:18-19: Jesus points out that judging a person by lifestyle does not get to the reality of the heart; deeds provide proof of wisdom.

Matthew 11:20-24 Jesus warns unrepentant towns of the fruit they will reap by not repenting in the face of the evidence He gave. He contrasts this with the gentile cities ofTyre and Sidon, who were judged under prophesies in Joel 3:4-8 and Amos 1:9-10, but would have repented if they had seen Jesus’ miracles. Then He similarly discusses the judgment of Sodom, in Genesis 19:24-28. How often do people ask God for help, receive a miraculous answer, and then continue to live lives that ignore Him? As Jesus says here, woe to you!

Matthew 11:25-30 Jesus talks about direct revelation from God, and the problem that many reject communing with Him because they believe this would result in onerous rules like the Pharisees gave. He ends with the blessing of finding rest for our souls, in contrast to the woes just warned of.

Matthew 11:25-26 echoes Daniel 2:19-23 to celebrate (not just state) that God’s revelation transcends human knowledge. This is still true today, but we don’t celebrate it very often.

Matthew 11:27 is a theme Jesus follows up in John 17 at the Last Supper. Jesus knows the Father and we know the Father also, through Him.

Matthew 11:28-30: Do oxen rest while lightly yoked? Does Jesus revealing the Father result in a light yoke? How does knowing His holiness and His love directly and experientially give us rest?