Jesus Sends the Twelve Apostles
Verses 1-4

The twelve men were the apostles that Jesus appointed to preach the Gospel and to tell of his many wonderful deeds. They were twelve very ordinary men. None of them had great wealth or intellectual gains, but they turned the world upside down. Jesus made these common men, great men. Most of these men were fishermen who made a living fishing in the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding area.

The twelve had power given to them by the Lord to cast out unclean spirits and to heal all manner of sicknesses and diseases. Perhaps Jesus gave them this power as a sign that they were appointed by him. As they had been given this authority they were now called his apostles. The Greek word used here is “apostolos” which can be translated as a delegate. So far Matthew has told us about five men Jesus called to public ministry (Matthew 4. 18-22). The twelve were sent to be his apostles in the world. The term “the Twelve” is used in the New Testament to refer to the most prominent group of Christ’s disciples.

The names of the Twelve are given in pairs and were most likely sent out in pairs. They were Simon who was called Peter. He was the son of Jonah. Simon Peter is also called Cephas meaning, a stone. This name given to Simon Peter may have been to differentiate him from Simon, the Canaanite. He was a fisherman and likely a native of Bethsaida in Galilee. Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter who was also a fisherman. Simon Peter, Andrew, James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John were the first four called by Jesus.

The Apostle Philip has been described as the apostle who preached in Greece, Syria, and Phrhia. His brother Bartholomew has been identified as Nathaniel in John’s Gospel (John 1:43-51). Thomas is sometimes referred to as doubting Thomas from the time when he doubted the physical resurrection of Jesus. Unless he could both see and touch the risen Jesus he was doubtful. Thomas is also called Didymus meaning twin. Matthew was a tax collector. Tax collectors at this point in history were viewed with distrust and disdain. They were representative of the Romans who ruled over the people of Israel. The Romans collected high taxes from the people who they treated unfairly. James, son of Alphaeus is often called James the lesser or little. He appears only four times in the New Testament, each time in a list of the twelve apostles. Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus is identified as Jude, the apostle. He is also the writer of the Epistle of Jude. Simon, the Canaanite also called Simon the Zealot. To distinguish him from Simon Peter he is called the Canaanite or Zealot. The Zealots were a political group that sought to incite the people of Judea to protest and rebel against the Roman occupation of the land, by force if necessary. Lastly listed is Judas Iscariot the one who betrayed Jesus to the Roman authorities. His name has been connected to treachery ever since. We read later in the Book of Acts that Judas was replaced by Matthias as the twelfth apostle.

The Disciples Are Sent
Verse 5-15

In verse 8 Jesus gives a principle for us to follow. We have been blessed by God with love, grace, and mercy. We are to freely show others the same. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire as a result of wickedness. Those who reject the gospel will be worse off than those cities that never heard the gospel. It is a shame when people hear the truth but reject it. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah never heard the gospel, but Christ’s fellow people came to hear the message of salvation and still rejected it.

Persecution Will Come
Verse 16-25

The opposition of the world is like being sent into a pack of ravaging wolves. Therefore, we should look to our great Shepherd for guidance and protection. Jesus teaches his people to be wise and watchful. Christ tells us that his followers will suffer persecution. God’s people will be brought before governors and kings as a testimony of Christ. When this trouble comes, we are not to fear as Christ will give us the words we are to say.

There will be no family loyalty in these testing times. It will be like every man for himself. God’s people will be hated by all people for the sake of Christ. We are not to fear what man can do to us. Fear God and Him alone, for He can destroy both body and soul in hell.

Not Peace, a Sword

Jesus did not come to bring peace just for the sake of harmony. The truth of the gospel does divide. The true gospel causes disagreement. Being a follower of Christ means that we stand for the truth which may separate us from former friends and relationships. When we become a follower of Christ, we no longer follow the ways of the world. We now follow the path of righteousness and truth.
To take up our cross and follow Christ means to identify with Him in both public and private. It means to be willing to suffer for His name’s sake.

There are rewards to the faithful who endure to the end. How much we are willing to give up for the cause of Christ is proof of our love for Him and those who Christ has called to be a witness. We are to be a shining light in the darkness of this sinful world.

There are four references to peace in Scripture.

1. “Peace with God” is the kind of peace that is of Christ’s work in which men and women enter by faith (Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-17).
2. “Peace from God” is the kind of peace in which Paul greets his readers in his letters (Romans 1:7).
3. “Peace of God” is inward peace from knowing Christ as Lord and Saviour (Philippians 4:7).
4. “Peace on earth” is universal peace on earth during the Messianic Kingdom (Psalm 72:7, Isaiah 9:6-7).