TODAY’S MESSAGE
Matthew 10:1-42 The Disciples’ Boot Camp Pt 1
Yeshua’s 12 disciples followed Him, not fully knowing or understanding they had been recruited personally by Him, into the Kingdom of Heaven Boot Camp to be trained and prepared for Kingdom warfare as Kingdom citizens. For several months, they followed Yeshua, listening to the messages He taught and preached to them and the masses.
They saw firsthand the miraculous demonstrations of the power of the Holy Spirit manifesting through Yeshua. Now, they were about to be sent out to demonstrate the spiritual warfare they had been trained and prepared for.
Yeshua expresses His expectations and instructs His disciples to do warfare as they were trained in Boot Camp. Yeshua expects His disciples, then and now, to be prepared to exercise the training they received.
Boot Camp is basic training.
Boot Camp is Discipleship!
Mt 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Mt 10:2 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;
Mt 10:3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Mt 10:4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Yeshua had hundreds of disciples over the course of His earthly ministry. He called His disciples. Among those who came to hear Yeshua was a group who regularly followed Him and were committed to His teachings.
At least 82 men were included: in addition to the 12 disciples, 70 or 72 other disciples were sent out with a similar message in Luke 10:1, 17. Later, 120 believers waited and worshiped in Jerusalem following the ascension Acts 1:15.
Paul tells us that after Yeshua’s resurrection, He showed Himself to more than five hundred disciples.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
After sending the twelve, He sent seventy others according to Luke 10:1.
All of Yeshua’s disciples had basic training. They had Discipleship.
The twelve were recruited, handpicked by Yeshua, and sanctioned by YeHoVaH via prayer. Luke 6:12-16.
Yeshua was speaking to His current disciples, and future apostles, in His instructions for their present and future.
Apostle – 652 ἀπόστολος apostolos {ap-os'-tol-os} Meaning: 1) a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders 1a) specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ 1b) in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers 1b1) of Barnabas 1b2) of Timothy and Silvanus
Usage: AV - apostle 78, messenger 2, he that is sent 1; 81
Peter understood from his training how Yeshua was preparing the disciples who would become apostles. After boot camp, as an apostle (sent one), Peter wrote to the diaspora.
1Pe 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Yeshua Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
The body of Messiah is a scattered nation.
Scattered – 1290 διασπορά diaspora {dee-as-por-ah'}
Meaning: 1) a scattering, dispersion 1a) of Israelites dispersed among foreign nations 1b) of the Christians scattered abroad among the Gentiles
Usage: AV - dispersed 1, scatter abroad 1, scattered 1; 3
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Yeshua Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Yeshua Christ from the dead,
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Mt 10:5 These twelve Yeshua sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Yeshua is not sending them out as apostles, but as disciples.
Sent out – 649 ἀποστέλλω apostello {ap-os-tel'-lo}
Meaning: 1) to order (one) to go to a place appointed 2) to send away, dismiss 2a) to allow one to depart, that he may be in a state of liberty 2b) to order one to depart, send off 2c) to drive away
Usage: AV - send 110, send forth 15, send away 4, send out 2, misc 2; 133
The first mention of this Greek word is found in Matthew 2:16.
This same word is used in Luke 9 when Yeshua sends out the seventy.
Yeshua sends them out as disciples.
Mt 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Both the twelve and the seventy were given the message of
“the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” to preach.
The Kingdom would come when Yeshua would come to them and they experience and receive His true Gospel which would establish the New True Religion.
Mt 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
The sick, the leper, and the dead, according to Torah, could render the disciples unclean unless they were healed and no longer sick, leprous, or dead.
It would require one to know and exercise the authority and faith they had been given to even come in contact with people in those categories of uncleanness. At the time, only a priest, without becoming unclean, could come in contact with leprous people for the purpose of examining them.
The disciples had to have faith to follow the instructions.
Their faith was developed from the time they spent with Yeshua listening to His teachings and witnessing the miracles He performed in their presence.
At the time of the disciples being sent:
They had witnessed Yeshua heal all manner of sicknesses, diseases, and the demon possessed.
They had heard the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount.
They had been told they were the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
They had heard several Kingdom messages.
They had been taught how to pray.
They had been taught how to fast.
They had been taught not to worry and how to seek the Kingdom of YeHoVaH and His righteousness.
They had been taught how to judge righteously.
They had been taught how to ask, seek, and knock.
They had been warned of false prophets and told how to recognize them.
They had witnessed and heard Yeshua’s declaration about the faith of the Centurion.
They had witnessed the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law and many more healings and deliverances.
They had been informed of the cost required.
They had witnessed Yeshua’s authority over the elements when He calmed the storm.
They had witnessed the deliverance of Legion.
They saw Yeshua’s confrontation with the scribes and heard what He thought about the Pharisees who accused Him of casting out demons by the prince of the devils.
They had witnessed the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead.
They had witnessed the two blind men being healed.
They knew the harvest was plentiful, the laborers were few, and that they were being sent into a plentiful harvest to reap the souls that would receive them, and to cast the dust off their feet of those who would not.
The disciples had been taught and tested; they had witnessed the Master at work. Now, they were being sent out to put into practice what they had learned. They were given the authority by Messiah to do what they had been instructed, just as we have. The disciples had to totally rely on the provisions of YeHoVaH, the generosity of those who received them, and the message they had been given.
Mt 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Mt 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
They went with:
No money
No food sacks
No extra garments
No extra shoes
No staffs
Mt 10:11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
Mt 10:12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
Mt 10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
This is a practice I have done every time I have gone on missions, or to minster to someone in their homes. When I enter, I release my peace/shalom. If they receive the message, I have given them, I allow my peace/shalom to remain and pray a blessing of shalom over the inhabitants and the home. If they do not, I cause my peace to return to me and shake the dust.
Mt 10:14 And 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.
Shaking the dust off your feet is sign of repudiation for their rejection of YeHoVaH's message and a gesture showing separation from everything associated with the house, the place and the people.
This was done twice by Paul.
Both times to Jews who rejected him and the teachings he taught.
In Antioch in Pisidia – Acts 13:51
Ac 13:44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Ac 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Ac 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Ac 13:47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Ac 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Ac 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
Ac 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
Ac 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
In Corinth – Acts 18:6
Ac 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth:
Ac 18:2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
Ac 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
Ac 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Ac 18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Yeshua was Christ.
Ac 18:6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
Mt 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
What happened in Sodom and Gomorrah?
Ge 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Ge 19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
