Matthew 10:1-15

Jesus sent out the apostles Matthew 10:1-15 : In this limited commission the Lord sent the apostles to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel." The apostles were sent forth to "preach and to heal." Their message was to be "the kingdom (church) of heaven is at hand." They would see the kingdom come with power. (Mark 9:1; Acts 2:1-47) The apostles were to work miracles and freely do good works.

They were worthy of support from those they taught. "The workman is worthy of his meat" seems to be almost a proverb. These apostles were workmen, or laborers in God's vineyard. They were carrying out His mission and were entitled to food and raiment.

Those that rejected the preaching of the apostles would feel God's wrath, a wrath even more severe than His past judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19) He said, "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. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the Day of Judgment, than for that city." (Matthew 10:14-15)