Sending out the Twelve
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
The Scripture for this study opens with the statement, "And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples." We want to speak of the facts that lie hidden away in these words.
1. The Lord needs special men for special tasks. Somehow or other we believe just what is written: "And to every man his work." God does not say, Anybody and everybody rush out and get busy: He says, to this one, Do this; and that one, Do that.
Everybody's task may prove to be no one's task.
2. This leads us to say the Lord still calls men to their work. Paul delighted to sign himself, "Called to be an Apostle." Certainly Paul was called. The truth is, he himself spoke of having been separated by God from his mother's womb; and then, later on, called by His grace.
In the Old Testament the Prophets had special calls. Here are some statements:
Of Isaiah it is written: "I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."
Of Jeremiah it is written "The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, * * I knew thee; * * I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a Prophet unto the nations."
Of Ezekiel it is written: "The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel."
Of Hosea it is written, "The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea," saying "Go."
Of Jonah the Word writes, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city."
And so we could go on. Yes, there is a definite call from God, to definite men. Nothing vital could ever be done by any hit-and-miss method. God has system, and necessarily so, because a definite purpose and plan, such as God has ordained, must include definite men and women to operate that plan.
Thus the Twelve were called. Thus, of John the Baptist it is written, "There was a man sent from God."
3. This leads to a further statement: Men called of God are separated both from other men, and unto God. Matthew 10:2 and Matthew 10:3 of our study give the names of the Twelve. When Christ called these Twelve, He separated them out as personalities, bearing distinctive names, to do His work.
Were there any of the many about Him who might have said, "Why did not the Lord choose me?" Perhaps so. However, the Lord has a right to exercise authority and exert autocratic powers. He is not like we are, given to mistakes. He knew whom He wanted, and why He wanted them. He knew what was in each of them, and the nook each one could fill.
We who are not chosen, however, to be one of the Twelve, are chosen to service; and we may do well to obey in our sphere, and to serve well, for we too may thus obtain a goodly "Well done."
4. This leads us to say that Christ in choosing the Twelve knew all about Judas. Matthew 10:4 names Judas Iscariot as the twelfth disciple, and adds, "who also betrayed Him." We do not need to discuss the why of this choice; it was the Lord's choice, and not ours.
5. This leads us to say that being called to special service brings us special nearness to Christ. Matthew 10:1 says He "called unto Him." They were not only separated from other men by the Lord, but they were called into a comradeship with Him, that grew the sweeter as the years went by. "What a privilege is ours when we are sent forth in His service; for He has said, "I am with you."
6. This leads to our final word: When there is a special call, there is always a special promise of power. Matthew 10:1 says, "He gave them power." He also gives us power. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me." "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth. Go * *, and, lo, I am with you."
If we are sent forth in so great a task as representatives of God, we must be empowered as His ambassadors, or else we will utterly fail in our ministry.
I. A SPECIAL COMMISSION (Matthew 10:1; Matthew 10:5-6)
1. A particular service. Here is the way it is stated: "He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." There was a threefold reason for this:
(1) The Lord had a compassionate heart toward the sick and sought to convey blessings upon their bodies. We think of Jehovah's word to the Prophet Jonah, "And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?" Such was, and such is, the heart of God toward little children, and toward the cattle of the fields.
(2) The people had a need along physical lines. Certainly the word, "My God shall supply all your need" includes the needs of our physical man, for both food and raiment, and for healing and health. This much of it certainly comes down to us.
(3) There were the special signs of that hour. The Lord sent them forth with signs following. This same thing was done for the Church in its beginnings. There is a definite promise to this effect in Mark 16:1-20
We do not insist that the signs given to the Twelve, and afterward to the Church in its beginnings, are still God's purpose through the age now about ready to close. We do emphatically teach that the same signs, perhaps with augmented power, will be regnant during the Tribulation period, under the two witnesses, and also at the Coming of Christ, and the beginning of the Kingdom age.
Now, for this age, we are safe to say that there is no written statement in the Bible that they are withdrawn. We grant that they did not hold the prominence in the latter part of the Book of Acts that they did in the earlier days of the Church. However, God is sovereign, and will give miracles as signs, when and where He deems necessary. A lack of these "signs" following, in the ministry of any of God's servants does not, by any means, suggest that such an one is not Spirit-filled, as some would insist. Not at all. In many cases it shows only that God wills differently.
However, let one thing never be forgotten: that God still cares for us and desires to give us healing and health, as well as to supply all our needs; just as He has always done in every age, to those who trust Him.
In this age, when we are sick, we should obey to the letter James 5:1-20 and trust God for healing.
2. A particular field and people. Christ had a perfect right to say to the Twelve, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not," and also to say, "But go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel."
Remember, however, His "go not" did by no means suggest that He did not want both Gentiles and Samaritans to be saved. It did mean that he had a preparatory ministry, "to the Jew first," and then to the Gentiles.
The Lord, as Head of the Church, still has the right to dictate the movements of His disciples. He does this very thing. "Go thou here," is His command to one, and "Go thou there," is His command to another.
II. RECEIVING AND GIVING (Matthew 10:8, l.c.)
Our part of the verse reads: "Freely ye have received, freely give." There is a wealth of truth in this expression.
1. Freely ye have received.
(1) What have we that we have not received? God has crammed the earth with everything necessary to meet our physical need for food and raiment. If there are some of the people who have nothing to eat and nothing to wear, it is not because of a lack of the Divine supply; it is because certain men have put a monopoly on what God has given.
There is a verse in Matthew 6:1-34 which says, "Your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." He clothes the lilies and feeds the sparrow: how much more will He care for us.
God has also supplied things for the mental and spiritual man. We emphasize the latter. The Word of God has given the full revelation of all that we need in the spiritual realm.
(2) Not only has God provided but He has provided freely, abundantly. There is a superabundance in every realm, of every good thing. God did not give to us stintingly. He has given good measure, pressed down, and running over.
2. Freely give. If we follow the example of our Master we will give. Our mother used to sing a little song to us which we well remember.
"Give," said the little stream, "Give, oh, give; give, oh, give;
"Give," said the little stream, as it trickled down the hill.
God has taught everything around us to give, and taught it to give freely. Does He not also teach us to freely give?
He who would give his tithe alone, is a legalist. He who gives his tithes and offerings, and gives them freely, is under grace.
III. THE LAW OF SUPPLY (Matthew 10:9-10)
1. A positive command to the Twelve. God said: "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat."
(1) God is teaching trust. If we go out with everything that we need, not only for the first mile, but for the whole of our journey; we will find no place to depend on God. We will be drawing on the supplies laid up.
(2) God did not want His disciples overburdened with things unnecessary for travel. This would be a hindrance. Of course, they were not going very far, and they would strike no changes of climate during their itinerary.
(3) God wanted to teach them that the workman is worthy of his meat, and He wanted to throw the supply of their needs upon the people to whom they preached. If the preacher or the missionary goes out with an abundance of everything needed for food, raiment, etc., then the people who are ministered unto will have no opportunity to minister in return. God has written that He who soweth spiritual things should reap in carnal things (1 Corinthians 9:11).
2. Lessons for us. We who live in the twentieth century are used to saying that the words written in the 1st century, and given to the Twelve and to the seventy, do not at all meet the needs of the twentieth century, and of us, the disciples who were sent far away into the uttermost parts of the earth, and unto a people living in heathen darkness.
There may be some truth in all of this, but we hold that what is good for one age, is good for another; and that what Christ told the Twelve, and the seventy, must beyond doubt contain a deep message of truth to those of us who labor today. The great underlying truth is as follows:
First, We must go in absolute dependence upon God.
Secondly, We must expect the natives, wherever we labor, as soon as they are saved, to undertake the responsibility of Christian munificence and liberality.
Thirdly, We must not live in such gorgeous display and luxury, so far above the people with whom we labor.
These three suggestions may not please well many of our missionaries. We have found in India that some missionaries could, we believe, obtain far more support from the native Christians if they would throw themselves more fully upon them. This may be, perhaps, more true of the native preachers. If the native preachers did not have a steady income from abroad, they would learn to trust God for their income from their own people, while their own people, on the other hand, would be taught the joy of giving.
IV. THE LAW OF HOSPITALITY (Matthew 10:11-13)
1. Inquiring who is worthy. When the Twelve went into a certain city or town, they were told by the Lord, "Enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence." The Lord expected the people who were able so to do, and were spiritually worthy, to entertain His messengers. This is still true.
Mrs. Neighbour and I, in our missionary tour, have asked for no funds at any time. In writing of our coming to this or that city, we have felt free to say that entertainment would be acceptable. We have felt free to do this, because this is God's command. Be "given to hospitality," is the Word of God.
In the days of our youth, when a minister went to a city as visiting evangelist or preacher, he was entertained in the homes of the people. Today he is sent to the hotel, and usually he demands the very best.
We think that the failure of the homes to entertain is due, in most part, to the unwillingness of visiting preachers to be entertained.
We grant that things are different, and that in a hotel the minister is not compelled to spend his whole time entertaining, or being entertained; beside he can better do his writing and work in a hotel than in a private home.
Homes also, today, are built in apartments where but little room is left for the prophet's chamber. We know all of this, and yet, somehow, we wish we were back in the days of former simplicity and restfulness.
2. Letting your peace come upon the home that is worthy. So it was in that day, and so it should be in this day. Any home entertaining the prophet of God should find a special blessing thereby. When the Ark abode in the house of Obed-edom, the house of Obed-edom was blessed. When any home receives a God-sent and Spirit-filled minister, that home, both through his prayers and through his presence, should be blessed.
V. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A HOUSE OR A CITY TO THE VISITING MINISTER (Matthew 10:14-15)
1. Homes and cities may not realize their responsibility toward one who has been sent from God. The fact of the business is, as we see it, few homes, few cities, and few villages, realize that they have any responsibility whatsoever toward the man who is sent of God to minister in their midst. They are utterly oblivious to the fact that God has any claim upon them whatsoever, or that a minister has any right to expect anything of any house or community.
Listen to the words of God: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."
If a man sent by the government, and sent under great authority, goes into a city, the city will arise to give him welcome. The keys of the city will be turned over into his hand. The servant of God, however, may go to a city and depart therefrom, and there isn't a leaf that stirs, nor any commotion of any kind to suggest his presence.
We do remember how we went to Kansas City, Kansas, to conduct an evangelistic campaign in the English Evangelical Lutheran Church. We were carried to the hotel, and at about ten o'clock Sunday morning, the pastor accompanied by the mayor of the city, and with about 24 trumpeters dressed in white, escorted us through the streets of the city and to the Lutheran Church with the band playing the hymns of Zion. Of course, we had a good meeting.
Something like this should be the attitude of every city where a special ambassador from Heaven is sent on a special mission.
2. The seriousness of rejecting one sent from God. Not only were the disciples to shake off the dust of their feet, but the Lord added these words: "Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city." We need not marvel at the hard times, the drought, the devastating storms, and many other things that are befalling various towns and cities when we think of the little attention that they are giving to God and to His ambassadors.
VI. A SOLEMN WARNING (Matthew 10:16-18)
The minister and the missionary should not expect that every home and every city will receive him.
1. Christ warned, "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves." There was to be an expected antagonism and resistance to the gospel message. Wolves are not given to welcoming sheep, except they welcome them in their claws, to rend them and destroy them.
Sheep, therefore, in entering into the midst of wolves should be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. We must not go into a city armor-clad with the weapons of warfare used by the world. We must go in with the wisdom of God, and with the spirit of meekness.
2. Christ warned: "Beware of men." He knew what was in men. He said: "For they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles."
Our mind naturally goes to the Apostle Paul. We think of what he endured for Christ's sake. We think of how he was delivered up and scourged, and brought before governors and kings.
Shall we of the twentieth century expect to undergo nothing for Christ such as was undergone by the Twelve; by Paul and Barnabas; by Silas, and by Timotheus and the rest? Nay, we too must suffer for Christ's sake; and, as the age draws nearer and nearer to its close, we may expect to suffer more and more.
VII. THE DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER (Matthew 10:24)
It has been necessary to group the final Scriptures in our study.
1.Matthew 10:19; Matthew 10:19 and Matthew 10:20 tell us that we shall have no thought as to how or what we shall speak in the days of our persecution. They tell us that a special unction from Heaven will be given us on that day, and that the Spirit of our Father will speak in us.
2.Matthew 10:21; Matthew 10:21 and Matthew 10:22 tell us that we shall be delivered up to death. Not that alone, but that the brother will deliver up his brother, and the father will deliver up his child, and the children will rise up against their parents. All of this is being literally fulfilled in Russia at this very moment. We have read how little children are commanded by the government to spy against their fathers and mothers and to report if they go to church, etc.
3.Matthew 10:22; Matthew 10:22 tells us that we shall be hated of all men for His name's sake. These words reach far beyond the days of the Twelve, and look into the very days of the Great Tribulation, because the verse concludes with the statement, "But he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matthew 10:23 also speaks of the Coming of Jesus Christ, linking the commands of all that we have studied, down to the very end of this present age.
4.Matthew 10:23; Matthew 10:23 tells the saints that if they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another. If one city is closed, another may open the doors.
Following this command, Christ said: "For verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of Man be come." We can almost feel ourselves in the last days. The Church is raptured now, and the sealed among the Children of Israel are once more preaching the Word. Persecution is riot. The antichrist and the false prophet are in power, and Israel is suffering, particularly those who dare to name His Name.
5.Matthew 10:24; Matthew 10:24 says: "The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord." Whatever our Lord suffered in His day, we should be willing to suffer in ours. If He was called Beelzebub, how much more should we expect to be so called.
Let us fear not, therefore. Though they kill our body, they cannot kill our soul.
AN ILLUSTRATION
No man is sent to the warfare on his own charges; and yet many Christians argue as if that were one of Heaven's standing orders. None, however, is ever called to a work which God does not know is within the limits of his strength which He has given, or which He is ready to give, to the opened, upturned heart. He does not want our strength; it is often a hindrance to Hun, because we are so apt to rely on it, to the exclusion of Himself. He wants our weakness, our infirmities, our nothingness, "that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." So far from your consciousness of powerlessness being a barrier to your efficient work, it will be one of the strongest elements in your success, if only you are driven to lay hold on His strength, and be at peace. * * When asking Christians to undertake certain branches of Christian work, one is so often met with the excuse, "I cannot do it; I am not fitted for it. I have no power to speak." Such have much need to get back to the desert, and learn the significant lesson of the rod which Moses held in his hand. * * Why should we not be as that rod in the hands of Christ?