Matthew 10:1-22

1 Compare Mar_3:13-19; Luk_6:12-16. See Luk_9:1.

2 There is some variation in the order of the names, as well as of the names themselves, in the lists of the twelve apostles, but they are always found in three groups, headed by Peter, Philip and James, as follows: Mat_10:2 Mar_3:16 Luk_6:14 Act_1:13 Simon Peter Simon Peter Simon Peter Peter Andrew James Zebedee Andrew John James Zebedee John James James John Andrew John Andrew Philip Philip Philip Philip Bartholomew Bartholomew Bartholomew Thomas Bartholomew Thomas Matthew Matthew Matthew Thomas Thomas Matthew James Alpheus James Alpheus James Alpheus James Alpheus Thaddleus Thaddeus Simon the Zealot Simon the Zealot Simon Cananite Simon Cananite Judas James Judas James Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot Matthias (Act_1:26) Bartholomew is usually identified with Nathanael (Joh_1:44-46; Joh_21:2). Judas James, in order to distinguish from Judas Iscariot, was called Thaddeus, and Simon (not Peter), was termed the Zealot, or its Hebrew equivalent the Cananite (not Canaanite). Of course, Matthias takes the place of Judas Iscariot in Acts.

5 Compare Mar_6:7-15; Luk_9:1-11.

5 The Lord had been heralding the kingdom alone and had confirmed the proclamation by signs which indicated its nearness. Now He associates twelve of His disciples with Him in this work and dispatches them with authority over disease and death and the demons so that they could prove its proximity by both their words and their works. This is the first kingdom proclamation. The second is not given until after His resurrection (Mat_28:16-20). They differ on almost every point. This was to be exercised in the land alone. Not even Samaria was to hear it. It was strictly for the lost sheep of Israel's fold and included no others. The second kingdom proclamation is for all nations, except Israel. This first kingdom proclamation was carried on until the crisis in our Lord's ministry when it became evident that the nation had rejected Him and His message. Then He charged His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus, the Messiah (Mat_16:20). Even though Peter and John are given a foretaste of the kingdom on the mount of transformation, He charged them not to tell of the vision until the Son of Mankind should be risen from among the dead (Mat_17:9). From this time until Pentecost this proclamation was interrupted. Anticipating the renewal of its proclamation during His absence, our Lord gave the keys to

Peter when he, in contrast to the apostate nation, acknowledged Him to be the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Mat_16:19). The door to the kingdom is locked when its proclamation is forbidden. At Pentecost Peter uses the keys and once more proclaims the proximity of the kingdom, conditioned on the repentance of the nation. At first a small proportion of the people accept the message, but it is not long ere the nation, as such, by the murder of Stephen, and the attempts on Peter and Paul, signifies its rejection. At the end of Acts it is formally set aside by Paul's public proclamation of their apostasy. When God once more turns to Israel in the future it will be proclaimed again and, in the midst of great affliction, the nation, represented by the hundred and forty-four thousand celibates (Rev_7:3-8) and the vast throng (Rev_7:9-17), will accept the proclamation and enter the kingdom. Then Peter's epistles will unlock the door. Then all Israel will be saved (Rom_11:26), and the presence of the kingdom will preclude its further proclamation. This gospel of the kingdom is not concerned with sin or individual salvation. The pardon of sins, based on the sufferings of Christ, is in the commission for mankind in Luke's account (Luk_24:46-49). It was not confined to Israel. Christ had not suffered when this gospel of the kingdom was first proclaimed. It can refer to nothing else than the kingdom promised to Israel in the Hebrew scriptures.

10 Compare Luk_10:1-16.

14 See Neh_5:13 Act_13:51; Act_18:6.

16-22 Compare Mar_13:9-13 Luk_21:12-18.

19 Compare Luk_12:11-12 See Exo_4:12 Jer_1:7.

24 See Luk_6:40 Joh_15:20.

26 See Mar_4:22 Luk_8:17; Luk_12:2; Luk_12:332 See Luk_12:8-9 Rev_:3:5.

33 See Mar_8:38 2Ti_2:12.

34-36 Compare Luk_12:39-53. See Mic_7:6.