5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 12 And when ye come into a house, salute it. 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. 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. 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. (Matthew 10:5-15 KJV)
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
We have here the instructions that Christ gave to his disciples when he sent them out. Whether this charge was given in one continuous discourse or at different times is not important; what matters is that he commanded them.
Christ directed them where to go:
They should not go to the Gentiles or Samaritans. They must not take the gospel outside Israel at this time. The Gentiles were to receive it later, but for now, the message was first for the Jews. As for the Samaritans, though they lived between Judea and Galilee and could not be avoided entirely, the disciples were not to enter their cities. This restriction was temporary; later, they were commanded to go into all the world.
They should go to the lost sheep of Israel. Christ himself focused on the Jews (Matthew 15:24), and so must his disciples. Salvation was to be offered first to them (Acts 3:26). Christ had a deep concern for Israel, seeing them as lost sheep needing to be gathered back to God. The disciples, being from Israel themselves, would naturally have compassion for their people.
He instructed them on what to preach:
“As you go, preach: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 10:7). This was the same message that John the Baptist and Jesus had already proclaimed. People needed to hear it repeatedly so that they would be ready to repent and receive the Messiah. The kingdom of heaven was not just Christ’s physical presence but a spiritual kingdom that would be established in human hearts. Though the church had not yet fully formed, the message of God’s kingdom remains the foundation of Christian preaching even today.
He also gave them power to work miracles to confirm their message (Matthew 10:8). Miracles were necessary at that time to validate the gospel. However, now that Christ’s teachings have been firmly established, there is no need to seek further signs.
Their miracles were meant to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, and even raise the dead. This showed that the gospel was about love and restoration, not destruction. Just as their physical miracles brought healing, their message was to bring spiritual life to those dead in sin.
“Freely you have received; freely give.” They were not to profit from their ability to heal. The gospel is a message of grace, and the power they had received was a gift from God. They were to share it without charge, just as salvation is freely given to all who believe.
Regarding their provision, Christ gave clear instructions:
They were to take no money or extra supplies (Matthew 10:9-10). This was to teach them dependence on God and to focus on their mission rather than material concerns. They were on a short trip and would soon return, so there was no need to carry extra burdens. God would provide for them.
They were to rely on the hospitality of those they preached to (Matthew 10:10). “The worker is worthy of his food.” They were not to expect miracles to sustain them but could trust that those they ministered to would provide for their needs. Ministers of the gospel deserve support for their labor. If they faithfully do their work, God will ensure they have what they need.
Christ gave his disciples full instructions on how to conduct themselves as they traveled, entering towns and homes as strangers.
When they arrived in a town, they were to inquire who was worthy. Even in times of great corruption, there were always some who were more open to the gospel. They were to seek out those who had some fear of God and had made good use of the knowledge they had. While no one truly deserves the gospel, some would be more receptive than others.
Instead of looking for the best inns, they were to stay in private homes where they would be welcomed. They were to seek out people based on their character, not their wealth or social status. Wherever Christ’s disciples go, they should connect with God’s people. Paul always sought out fellow believers in his travels (Acts 28:14). The worthy individuals they found would be known by their reputation.
Once they found such a house, they were to stay there rather than move from place to place. Constantly shifting locations could raise suspicions about their intentions. It is best for Christ’s disciples to be content with what is provided and not seek change for minor reasons.
Upon entering a house, they were to greet the family with humility, initiating a conversation that could lead to deeper discussions. This greeting would also reveal whether they were truly welcome. If the family responded warmly, it was a sign they would be open to hearing the gospel. A friendly greeting also helped them form good relationships, showing that being serious about faith did not mean being unfriendly.
After greeting the household, they were to observe the response. If the house was truly worthy, their blessing of peace would rest upon it. If not, the blessing would return to them. Even after inquiring about the most worthy people (Matthew 10:11), they could still end up in a house that was not receptive. Therefore, they were to judge for themselves and not rely only on common opinion.
For the apostles’ assurance: They were to offer peace to all, just as the gospel was offered to all. If the household accepted the peace, they would be blessed. If not, the apostles would not lose anything—it would return to them. It was their duty to offer peace; God would determine the outcome.
For their guidance: If the household proved worthy, they were to continue ministering there. If the household rejected them, they were to retract their blessing and leave. Rejecting their message made people unworthy of further blessings. Many have lost great opportunities by neglecting small ones, just as Esau lost his birthright (Genesis 25:34) and Saul lost his kingdom (1 Samuel 13:13-14).
Some people would refuse to receive them or listen to their message. Though the disciples might have expected their powerful preaching and miracles to guarantee acceptance, Christ prepared them for rejection. Even the best preachers face those who refuse to listen.
If a house or city rejected them, they were to leave and shake the dust off their feet. This was both a sign of their rejection of the place and a warning of judgment. The very dust they left behind would serve as evidence that the gospel had been preached there (Mark 6:11). Paul and Barnabas later followed this instruction (Acts 13:51; Acts 18:6).
Christ warned that in the day of judgment, it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those who rejected the gospel. Though Sodom was extremely wicked (Genesis 13:13), its destruction was due in part to its rejection of the angels sent to warn it (Genesis 19:4-5). The rejection of Christ’s messengers was an even greater sin.
There will be different levels of punishment on judgment day. Those who reject the gospel, despite having had the opportunity to receive it, will face the greatest condemnation. The warning, “Son, remember” (Luke 16:25), will be especially terrifying for those who once had the chance for eternal life but chose death instead. Israel was condemned for rejecting the prophets (Ezekiel 16:48-49), but how much greater was their guilt now that they were rejecting the Son of God himself?