Christ Sends His Apostles on their Mission.

(Mat. 10:1-42; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6, 12:11-12).

Taking pity on the multitudes of people for not having a pastor, and not having the opportunity to perpetually have them by His side, the Lord sends His disciples to preach to them. This mission is different to that which followed Christ’s Resurrection. Then, the Lord will send the Apostles throughout the whole world to preach the New Testament to “every creature,” and to lead all the peoples into His Kingdom through the Mystery of baptism, teaching them faith in Christ. However at this time, the Lord sends them “to the lost sheep of Israel” (Mat. 10:6), i.e. to the Jews only. He directs them to only preach that “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Mat. 10:7). This sermon is only a preparatory one, inasmuch as the Apostles had not been cloaked with Power from above, which was subsequently granted them through the descent of the Comforter — Holy Spirit. The Lord sends the Apostles out in pairs so that they would be able to support one another, and also, so that they were more believable in their witness before the Jews, as the Law of Moses states that the witness of two: “at the mouth of two witnesses….shall a matter be established” (Deuter. 19:15, John 8:13). Knowing that demands will be made on the Apostles for signs of proof in the genuineness of their sermons, the Lord endowed them with the authority over demons, and power to heal and resurrect the dead. In order for, their sermons to be successful, He cautions them about the love of money and all concerns over food, clothing and domicile, saying “for a worker is worthy of his food” (Mat. 10:10). Consequently, God will not allow His workers — who have diverted all their energies from themselves for the sake of their charge to serve — to be deprived of essentials of life. They had to stay in every town or village, at such a house that would not evoke criticism, so that — as Blessed Jerome states: “the sermon is not compromised by the host’s unsavory reputation.” Also, they were not to go from one house to another, which is natural to flippant individuals. “And when you go into a household, greet it” (mat. 10:12). This type of greeting was normal for the Jews, but to wish peace — doesn’t mean it is given. That’s why the Lord explains, that their desire for peace will really come about to that household or township that welcomes them joyfully and with pure hearts; a contrary reception would remain barren, and it would “let your peace return to you“ (Mat. 10:13).

Further on, the Lord states that where the Apostles are denied hospitality, they should shake the dust off their feet. The Jews considered the very soil and dust upon which the heathens walked as being unclean, and it was necessary to shake it from your feet in order to remain clean; and in giving such a directive, the Lord wanted to say that those Jews who refuse to accept the Apostle’s sermons, are like heathens and that “it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah (punished in their day for their disgrace and debauchery) in the day of judgment than for that city!” (Mat. 10:15; Mark 6:11); that their rejection of sermons on Christ as the law of God, is more criminal than that to those who didn’t know the law of God but rejected the demands of natural laws, which are not so specific and categorized.

Initially, the Lord sends His Apostles to the Jews only, because they were regarded as God’s chosen people to whom the Messiah was promised by the Old Testament Prophets, and among whom He appeared. Then later, the teachings followed of a general apostolic nature. The Lord warns them of those dangers that they will be subjected to: they will feel defenseless, akin to sheep, surrounded by wolves. “Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Mat. 10:16) — says the Lord i.e. be careful and without an extreme necessity, don’t expose your life to danger. Consider where it is necessary to sow God’s seeds and where it is better to withhold them — according to the law “nor cast your pearls before swine”; but at the same time, be such so that nobody could reproach you for being prejudiced — be understood to the people.

Bearing in mind their future, universal apostolic activity — not their current, temporary assignment — the Lord predicts that the Apostles will be required to give witness of Him before lords and kings, and be subject to much oppression and persecution. The Lord warns them not to be alarmed and ponder over how and what to say at the forthcoming trials, inasmuch as the Holy Spirit will be providing them with the necessary words; but the hatred towards the evangelical sermon and its preachers and confessors will be so strong in people (called as wolves as in the above) of this, that not even the strongest and humanly, sacred natal ties will be able to withstand it. All this precisely came to pass during the era of Christian persecution, when indeed one brother betrayed another to death — and when all true followers of Christ experienced the most heinous hatred from the enemies of Christianity. “But he who endures to the end will be saved” (mat. 10:22), predicts the Lord — bearing in mind that he who endures to the end (death) and does not renounce Christ, will attain eternal joy in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Lord added that the Apostles themselves should not sacrifice their lives indiscriminately, inasmuch as they carry within them the salvation of very many other people. Consequently, if they are being persecuted in one town, they are not forbidden to flee to another. “You will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (Mat. 10:23). This is not referring to the Second Coming of Christ before the end of the world. The coming of Jesus Christ in His Kingdom is the same as It being opened — and the opening of Christ’s Kingdom occurred with His Resurrection and Him sending the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, after which they went out into the world with the word of Its opening. This pronouncement by the Lord has the following meaning: the Apostles will not have time to travel through all of Palestine with their sermon on the coming of Christ’s Kingdom, before the hour arrives, revealing His Kingdom through His suffering, Resurrection from the dead and the ascension of the Holy Spirit. The Lord points out to the Apostles the shortage of time at their disposal, inasmuch as the approaching hour of His cruciferous sufferings and leaving this world. Sending the Apostles on their preliminary ministry, could have been beneficial to them themselves, as this was a — as Saint Chrysostom notes, “positive educational battlefield, in which they could prepare themselves for the ordeals of evangelical preaching throughout the whole world” (Dissertation on Mat. 32). The Lord warns them that they should not expect any honors and be ready for insults, inasmuch as if the Jews are rudely vilifying the Lord Himself and calling Him Beelzebub, then they will more so denounce His disciples: “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master (Mat. 10:24). “Therefore do not fear them (enemies). For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Mat. 10:26), — said the Lord to the Apostles; i.e. there is no need to fear vilification: with time, faith and innocence will be clearly revealed.

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops” (Mat. 10:27); here, the Lord has in mind the following: that about which the Lord conversed with them in private and in the small section of Palestine, they will have to preach throughout the whole world, to all peoples — from the rooftops. “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Mat. 10:28), inasmuch as without the will of God, nothing will happen because Divine providence extends over everything, even on the smallest birds and on the number of hairs on a person’s head. “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?” (Mat. 10:29).

He who disregards slander and persecution and witnesses Christ before people, Christ will witness for him as His true servant at judgment day before the Heavenly Father. He will also turn away from those that turn away from Him. “I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Mat. 10:34); these words should not be taken literally. They mean that disagreement between people appears as the undoubted and necessary result of the Lord’s arrival on earth, because human hatred will raise a bitter war against God’s Kingdom, His followers and preachers. “And a man’s enemies will be those of his own household” (mat. 10:36); i.e. for the sake of serving Christ, one has to sacrifice all earthly attachments, even family love. “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Mat. 10:38; Luke 9:23), — example is taken from a Roman custom, by which an individual condemned to crucifixion, has to carry his cross to the place of execution; these words of the Lord mean that, having become disciples of Christ, we must bravely endure all trials and sufferings in His Name, even the most difficult and humiliating ones — if God decides to send them.

“He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Mat. 10:39; Luke 9:24): he who prefers earthly blessings to those of the Heavenly Kingdom, who sacrifices future blessings for the sake of earthly ones, who even renounces Christ, just so as to retain his earthly life, will destroy his soul for eternal life; but he who sacrifices everything for the sake of Christ, right up to his very life, will save his soul for eternal life.

Instructing and comforting the Apostles, the Lord Jesus Christ mentions the rewards awaiting all those who receive them in His Name: “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him Who sent Me” (Mat. 10:40). These further words mean that he who receives the Apostles as prophets and righteous ones, will receive the same reward as the prophet or the righteous one; and even if someone quenches the thirst of one of His disciples with a cup of cold water, he will not be left unrewarded.

Having finished His instructions to the 12 Apostles, went out to preach in the towns of Galilee, while the Apostles, dividing themselves into pairs, went out into the villages and settlements “and preached that people should repent” (mark 6:12). The Apostles’ answer to the Lord’s question (Luke 22:35) — posed to them at Last Supper — shows clearly that during their ministry, they did not lack in anything that was essential. Apparently, they all gathered anew with the Lord when He found out about John the Baptist’s death.