Commissioning of the Twelve
Matthew 10:1-10 outlines the calling of the twelve disciples. The first verses name them and give an important point worthy of note even today. Jesus knew that they would face problems as His followers. Indeed, in Acts, He told all of the gathered body of believers to wait in Jerusalem for the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on each of them to give them power to witness. However, even with the first twelve, Jesus provided them with a basic survival pack from the Holy Spirit.
He gave them power against unclean spirits to be able to cast them out of people, and the ability to heal all manner of sickness and disease. The gifts of the Holy Spirit encompass more than just these things, however, these are the ones that are most likely to get the attention of people and to ensure that the end results have nothing to do with the disciples themselves, but are a direct work of God the Father.
The important thing is don't go unprepared into a ministry. This is particularly true if you are going to be working outside of a church environment where you have direct support or if you are going out to try to convert people who are hostile to your faith. No matter what your training is, it is best to have the Holy Spirit baptism in the fullness of Acts at the same time. The smartest individual won't outsmart Satan. He's had too many years studying the weaknesses of humanity. You need the Holy Spirit actively working with you.
After these basics are met, Jesus gave some more useful instructions for how to proceed. First, He ordered them to just try to convert the Jewish people to what would become Christianity. They were to refrain from trying to reach somewhat similarly minded people like the Samaritans, and to avoid preaching to the Gentiles.
Today, this may seem odd to us. The principle is still the same. Work on converting the people who you know and who know you first. The Jewish people knew the Old Testament and had a basic understanding of the Law and prophecy. Most were expecting a Messiah to appear, so they were ready to hear the gospel message.
The message they were to preach was exactly that - The kingdom of heaven was at hand. Jesus was in their midst. He was forming His church. The one they were looking for was here. They need look no further.
To help cement this reality in the minds of the Jewish people, the disciples were also told to heal the sick, cleanse lepers of leprosy, raise the dead, and cast out devils. In short, go to war against the enemy and all of the results of the fall of Adam. The gift was given to them freely and they were expected to dispense the gift freely.
These works wouldn't save anyone, but they would call attention to and validate the message that was being preached. Too many today are just preaching and not doing works to back up their ministry. We need to pray that all who work for Christ will seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit and choose to do the work of Christ, even if there isn't another Christian nearby to help shoulder the load - because the load will be great in our mobile society today.
It was going to be far easier to covert people like the Samaritans on the outside of Judaism, and Gentiles who were actively ignorant of Judaism once the new religion was up and running and there were concrete examples of God's hand blessing those preaching that message. That also hasn't changed over time. But the works that should be aiding our efforts are less prevalent and word of mouth doesn't seem to spread what does happen very far. Christians need to be better about that.
For His final instruction, Jesus at this time, and among His own people, instructs the disciples to not take extra money or extra clothing on their journey around the surrounding areas. They would be among their fellow men and normal hospitality should have been sufficient to meet their needs.
Later, when He is telling them to go out into all the world, this advice changes. There, they couldn't depend on their fellow Jewish people. Also, once He was crucified and not there able to directly stand up for them, they would face persecution far above and beyond that of the Jewish people (although Saul and his group gave them a good bit of trouble in the early years post crucifixion).
Expected Resistance and Persecution
He instructs the disciples in Matthew 10:11-23, in where to seek lodging and what to do when persecution hits, as He knew it would. First, He suggests that whenever they entered a town they should find a worthy person in it and seek to lodge with them. There wasn't a ____ motel or hotel in the towns of that day to provide lodging (insert your favorite chain or resort to fit).
By suggesting they pick someone notable, it was less likely that they would be turned away or be a burden on the host. These families probably had a bit of extra room where they could stay and would be used to guests.
But just because a particular family was well regarded in the community, it wasn't always a given that they would receive a disciple of Christ. So the final instruction was to talk with the owners and see whether or not accommodations were available to them. If everything was agreeable, they should stay and bless the family for their hospitality. If it wasn't agreeable, then go elsewhere, and knock the dust off of their feet as they left (either a home or the town). Literally, take nothing of the house or city that rejects the gospel message along with you to the next place you are going to minister. In a metaphorical sense, don't let bad experiences in one place affect what God is going to do in the next place. That is still very good advice.
He also warns that a town that rejects the gospel message even being preached will be judged more harshly than Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment [Genesis 19:24,28; Deuteronomy 29:23]. Those are some pretty strong prophetical words Jesus uttered. How many cities today are closed to Christianity? How many countries? Even some that were once evangelized have turned against the truth (North Korea is a good example).
Jesus follows with a warning that they would be like sheep being sent out among wolves. They needed exceptional wisdom, but consistent with the sermon on the mount, they were to be passive and harmless as they went about their business. That stance isn't valued today, but Christ's words to the disciples of that day would be no different than what He would tell us today. Rely on the wisdom and knowledge of God through the Holy Spirit, but don't fight.
His next words promised that the Jewish leaders would try them and scourge them, and prophesied that later they would be brought before gentile leaders, governors and kings for the cause of Christ. I'm pretty sure that this very realistic and prophetical word, 100% accurate, wasn't what the new disciples wanted to hear. To know something in order to be prepared is one thing. But people new to a job really don't want to hear all the bad things that are going to happen. Even if the job is dangerous, a new recruit isn't going to want to volunteer for anything if they hear they are going to face trials, torture, and possibly death (nobody wanted to go before the Roman prelates).
But Jesus comforts them by telling them not to worry if something like that happens because He will tell them what to say in that day. The Spirit of God will provide them with the words they need to say to that individual. Jesus doesn't promise that the words will successfully save the disciples. He just says God will tell them what to say.
Today, there are many Christians who put themselves at risk for the Gospel. There are also many places where spreading the word isn't dangerous. But eventually, after the rapture happens, anyone who chooses Christ may have to make a life or death decision about whether to stick up for what they believe or die at the hand of the anti Christ's government. Be sure you stay ready to go in the rapture. Pray for those who are at risk today that the power of God will be so present with them and their fellow believers that the forces of Satan will be afraid to move against God's church.
The final verses of this section talk not only about various times of our own history but also of that post rapture time. People that you should trust will turn you over to the authorities for being a Christian. This happens today. It has happened in the past as non-Christian religions or atheists have gone against Christian (or different factions of Christianity have warred with themselves). All prophesied long ago by Christ. He asks all of His then listeners and readers today to endure to the end.
He also tells them that if they face persecution in one place to leave that place behind and go somewhere else and begin preaching the gospel again. Their work would not be finished until the Son of Man was known.
Worth of Followers to God
All of this work and persecution is not for nothing. Matthew 10:24-31 talks about how much value God places on those who do His will. There is a hierarchy. No disciple will rise in worth above his master, nor will a servant rise in worth above his lord. That isn't to say that their work is valueless - Jesus submits that many of the works that we would do would in some ways eclipse the works that He did (although nothing can equal or exceed His work on the cross that saved us from our sin). But no matter what we do through the power of God and the work of the Holy Spirit, we, ourselves, will never rise in position above Jesus. We won't equal it either (sorry LDS).
But just because our place is fixed, it doesn't mean we should not do the work of God. Everything that appears to be hidden will be revealed some day. Everything that Jesus has taught them when nobody was around to listen except them would someday be printed and preached to the world. The revelations of the Holy Spirit, first through prophets in the Old Testament, then through Christ in the New Testament, and finally through the Christians who were baptized in the Spirit haven't stopped or ceased. They are, however, still in perfect harmony with the established truth of the existing gospel. Don't pay attention to anyone trying to preach a different gospel than that of the New Testament from Christ.
After the warnings given earlier in the chapter, Jesus tells His disciples to not worry or be afraid of those people who would kill them. The only thing to fear is God, who can not only destroy the body and soul in hell. This is the basic message of the gospel. Our souls are eternal. We will either have an eternity with God in heaven (or wherever He directs us) or without God in hell with no recourse or chance of escape. Respect God and His position and power. Don't worry about the temporal (however bad it might be). Worry about the eternal.
He lets them know that even birds which are sold for almost nothing are noted by God when they fall. He knows the number of hairs on our head (or the vanishing number in some cases). Humans are of much higher value to God than sparrows. Don't worry. It won't help to change the outcomes set before you anyway.
Our Duties as Believers
The final part of the chapter (Matthew 10:32-42) gives every believer instruction on things we should be doing. First, we are told to spread the word about Christ to the world. Jesus says that if we do this, then when we get to heaven, He will confess His relationship with us to the Father, giving us the forgiveness that we can't obtain without Him and our own confession.
The flip side is also true. If we deny Christ, then He will deny us before the Father. That should give everyone pause. What are all the ways you can think of that we deny Christ. Well, we're supposed to live like Christ and to become more Christ-like with each passing moment. How are we doing at that? Does the way we live our lives by our very acts deny Christ? When you are with your fellow workers, students, neighbors, relatives, ... do you act like a Christian or do you blend in doing what those of the world are doing?
Let God illuminate your hearts to show you and I where we are denying Christ and move to swiftly change those parts of our lives. Nobody wants to be denied by Christ in heaven.
He warns again that the peace that those in Israel were expecting to be ushered in when the Messiah came wouldn't happen - even in Israel. Although this is also a prophecy of the end times post rapture, it has also been a reality throughout history. Even today, if a Muslim converts to Christianity, they are ostracized (at a minimum) and jailed or killed at a maximum. Christ warns that if you choose to value family relationships more than a relationship with Christ, isn't worthy of being a Christian.
Again, we think these are hard concepts, but they are reality for many Christians today, just as they were reality for many Jews in Christ's day and many gentiles outside of Israel later. Choosing to live like Christ has a cost. If it doesn't seem like you are paying any cost to call yourself a Christian, you might need to prayerfully examine your life. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow after Christ. What that cross might be for you is likely to be different than what it is for me. But we all have a cross to bear, and we need to carry it and follow Christ and not put it down and rest.
Many disciples then and through history have had literal crosses to bear. Many have died for proclaiming the name of Christ. His promise is that those who seek to save their life or lifestyle and don't repent and carry their cross will ultimately lose their life in an eternity in hell. Those who give up their lives in the pursuit of Christ will ultimately save their lives with an eternity with God. Find a way to make a difference for the kingdom of heaven that works for you and God, and then pursue it. Maybe your start will be slow, maybe fast, but don't give up and burn out. Keep on pressing to the mark [Philippians 3:14].
Jesus doesn't say what our eventual rewards for our work will be. But He does proclaim that our work doesn't go unnoticed. Do the work for the right reasons - bringing people to Christ - and not for the reward. But when you think that nothing is going right and that nobody understands your work or time or effort, remember that God sees, and eternal rewards are far better than earthly rewards.