MATTHEW 10:1-8; MARK 6:1; LUKE 9:1-2
Matthew 10:1-8 | Mark 6:1 | Luke 9:1-2 |
1. And having called the twelve disciples,1 he gave them power against the unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure any disease and any sickness. 2. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3. Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, surnamed Thaddeus; 4. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5. These, twelve in number, Jesus sent out, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles,2 and enter not into a city of the Samaritans: 6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.3 7. And when you have departed, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8. Cure the diseased, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give.4 | 1. And he calleth the twelve, and began to send them out two and two, and gave them power against5 the unclean spirits. | 1. And having called the twelve,6 Jesus gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases. 2. And sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to cure the diseased. |
The calling of the Apostles is here described to us, not as on a former occasion, when the Lord Jesus Christ, intending to prepare them for their office, selected them for admission into his private circle. They are now called to immediate performance, are ordered to prepare themselves for the work, receive injunctions, and, that there may be no want of authority, are endued with the power of the Holy Spirit. Formerly, they were held in expectation of future labor: now, Christ announces that the hour is come when they must put their hands to the work. It is proper to observe, however, that he does not as yet speak of perpetual apostleship, but only of temporary preaching, which was fitted to awaken and excite the minds of men, that they might be more attentive to hear Christ. So then they are now sent to proclaim throughout Judea that the time of the promised restoration and salvation is at hand at a future period, Christ will appoint them to spread the Gospel through the whole world. Here, he employs them as assistants only, to secure attention to him where his voice could not reach afterwards, he will commit into their hands the office of teaching which he had discharged. It is of great importance to observe this, that we may not suppose it to be a certain and fixed rule laid down for all ministers of the word, when our Lord gives instructions to the preachers of his doctrine as to what he wishes them to do for a short time. From inattention to this point many have been led astray, so as to demand from all ministers of the word, without distinction, conformity to this rule.7
Matthew 10:1.
It was not without reason, therefore, that the Lord, by appointing, as it were, twelve patriarchs, declared the restoration of the Church. Besides, this number reminded the Jews of the design of his coming; but, as they did not yield to the grace of God, he begat for himself a new Israel. If you look at the beginnings, it might appear ridiculous that Christ should bestow such honorable titles on persons who were mean and of no estimation: but their astonishing success, and the wide extension of the Church, make it evident that, in honorable rank and in numerous offspring, the apostles not only are not inferior to the patriarchs, but greatly excel them.
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the minister of circumcision, to fulfill the promises, which had anciently been given to the fathers, (Romans 15:8.)
Now God had entered into a special covenant with the family of Abraham, and therefore Christ acted properly in confining the grace of God, at the outset, to the chosen people, till the time for publishing it were fully come. But after his resurrection, he spread over all nations the blessing which had been promised in the second place, because then
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We know how unwilling every man is to communicate to others what he considers to belong to himself, and how any one who excels the rest of the brethren is apt to despise them all. No higher commendation could have been given to a liberal communication of spiritual gifts, than by the warning which Christ gives them, that no man surpasses another through his own industry, but through the undeserved kindness of God. Now Christ has presented to us in his ministers a proof of that grace which had been predicted by Isaiah, (55:1)
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milh without money and without price.
At the same time he shows, that no man will be a sincere minister of his word or dispenser of his grace, till he is prepared to bestow his labor
1 "Lors ayant appel, a soy ses douze disciples;" -- "then having called to himself his twelve disciples."
2 "N'allez point vers les Gentils;" -- "go not towards the Gentiles."
3 "Mats plustost allez aux ouailles de la matson d'Israel, qui sontperies;" -- "but rather go to the flocks of the house of Israel, which are lost."
4 "Vous l'avez receu pour neant, donnez-le pour neant;" -- "you have received it for nothing, give it for nothing."
5 "Sur les esprits immondes;" -- "over the unclean spirits."
6 "Puis apres avoir appel, ses douze disciples ensemble;" -- "then after having called his twelve disciples together."
7 "Voulant reigler indifferemment tous ministres de la parole selon ee qui est ici dk;" -- "wishing to regulate indiscriminately all ministers of the word according to what is here said."
8 "Et cependant une charge si excellente et nouvelle requeroit des graces plus grandes qu'on n'en pent trouver en l'homme;" -- "and yet an office so excellent and new demanded higher graces than can be found in man."
9 "Les autres en estans eslogncz et bannis;" -- "the others being removed and banished from it."
10 "Qui n'avons point une telle prerogative;" -- "who have not such a prerogative."
11 "La predication, ou publication;" -- "the preaching, or publication."
12 "Vous l'avez receu pour neant;" -- "you have received it for nothing."
13 "S'il n'est prest de s'y employer, et d'y mettre son labor gratuitement, et sans consideration de son profit;" -- "if he is not ready to be employed in it, and to bestow his labor on it gratuitously, and without regard to his own gain."