‘And he called to him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.'
It is apparent that the twelve had already been appointed by this stage. This was a sign of the future that Jesus saw as ahead. Unlike the other prophets He would not just come and go, to be replaced by another. Some of the prophets did establish groups of disciples (e.g. 1 Kings 20:35; 2 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 2:5; 2 Kings 2:7; 2 Kings 2:15; 2 Kings 4:38; 2 Kings 6:1; Isaiah 8:16), but there is no thought of their sending them out on a permanent mission which was to continue to expand. They would establish the teaching of their masters. But they would not propagate his name. In contrast Jesus was the fountainhead from which all would flow. It was His Name that they were to take out (Matthew 5:11; Matthew 7:22).
Nor did any prophet pass on authority and power like this. Moses spirit came on the seventy while he still lived (Numbers 11:17; Numbers 11:25), and on Joshua at Moses' death (Deuteronomy 34:9), Elijah's spirit came on Elisha at Elijah's death (2 Kings 2:10-11; 2 Kings 2:15), but in no case was it of their own doing, and God's control over the situation was made quite clear in all cases. Here, however Jesus took it upon Himself. He was His own divine authority. And He sent them out in His Name, and dispensed His own divine power.
He gave them authority to cast out ‘unclean spirits' and to heal sickness and disease. This was a specific imparting of power, not just of wisdom. His power was to be channelled through them as He worked through them at a distance. They would thus be fully representing Jesus in authority and power. And theirs would now be the privilege of bringing about the healings on behalf of those for whom He was to suffer (Matthew 8:17). And as Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:7 make clear this was all connected with the proclamation of the Good News of the Kingly Rule of Heaven. By this His rule was now being manifested on earth, and would be in time to all nations (Matthew 24:14; see Psalms 22:28) and that had to include the expulsion of all that was unclean, especially unclean spirits, and also the restoration of wellbeing and wholeness among men. This would demonstrate that the Kingly Rule of Heaven was here! They had to go out and proclaim, “Your God reigns” (Isaiah 52:7; compare Psalms 22:28; Psalms 103:19 - especially in LXX) and call men in submission to Him. Contrary to what most commentators say, Isaiah 52:11-12 probably has this situation in mind (see our commentary on Isaiah). They would go out from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-4) bearing ‘the vessels of the Lord', that is the holy things of God.
‘Unclean spirits'. Usually elsewhere in Matthew this is ‘demons', but compare Matthew 12:43. This description is found ten times in Mark, five times in Luke and twice in Acts. It contrasts these demons with the Holy Spirit, and possibly with God's ‘ministering spirits', the good angels. As ‘unclean' they have no access to God. It may also be an indication of their sinfulness, which is what in fact would prevent their access to God.