SUMMARY
The Lord begins his training of the 12 disciples by sending them out to
preach and do miracles. In the first 4 verses of chapter 10, we see their
call to be apostles. For the first time, we also see them being introduced as
a whole group. We realize as we take a look at this list, that they were
ordinary men who were chosen for a remarkable task.
READ Matthew 10: 1-4
1Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out
impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called
Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son
of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who
betrayed him.
INTRO
● Background / Recap
○ last week:
■ end of chapter 9
■ Matthew puts summarizes Jesus’ ministry work
○ we talked about:
■ Preaching was the primary work of Jesus (counter-cultural)
■ The heart of Jesus - seeing people as sheep w/ compassion
■ The idea of the harvest / workers / prayer
● Today - Starting Chapter 10 ( we’re introduced to the 12 disciples)
○ intro about Chpt 10
■ All of Chapter 10 was Jesus’ instructions to the 12 disciples
● Jesus outlined their mission, tasks, rules of engagement,
purpose.
● This was training ground ○ preparation for when Jesus dies
■ Lots famous passages in Chp 10
● v.16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves…
● v.32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will
also acknowledge before my Father in heaven..
● v. 34 Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to
the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
● v.39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever
loses their life for my sake will find it.
● a lot going on
● but all of 10 is are instructions to the 12
○ Today - Matthew introduces the 12 disciples
● Overviews (before we go into the weeds of each verse)
2 Reminders:
#1 Jesus is the initiator of our faiths
○ you see Jesus calling his disciples
○ you see Jesus sending the disciples... to reach the lost sheep of
Israel
○ he’s both calling and sending
○ HE ACTED FIRST
■ Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith
■ your faith in Christ is due to his work to reach you
○ Think about this: JESUS WAS THE FIRST MISSIONARY
■ He stepped out of heaven, onto a foreign land to reach hostile
people
#2 Scriptures are written for our benefit
● as we see the details of the story...we realize: this was written for us
○ John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is
the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have
life in his name
○ Think about this: God chose to preserve these accounts for:
■ us to see
■ our encouragement / maturity / inspiration
■ so we can see ordinary / simple / common men, doing
amazing things - because they were called.
○ Thinks about this:
■ you have come to know Jesus through these passages
■ you have to come to love / trust / believe in Christ because of
these words
○ These scriptures are a demonstration of Grace
■ we weren’t owed this
■ God didn’t have to put himself out in display
■ but he did it for our benefit ● he did it/... so we can glorify Him and enjoy him forever
1Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out
impure (evil spirits) spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
● Chapter 10 is not exactly when they were called to follow him
○ ex: Matthew was called by Jesus back in Chap 9
○ Matthew 4:19 - Jesus calls Peter and Andrew
○ Matthew 4:21 - Jesus calls James and John (the zebedee bros)
● so the idea was - all these guys were following him already .
○ but this is where he sends the 12 out (for training),
● Take a look at the v.1 very carefully
○ Remember last week Matthew gives the same description of Jesus
○ 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in
their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and
healing every disease and sickness.
○ Now, here, it says Jesus gave them authority to drive out impure
spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
○ The greatest compliment that God gives us
■ is to change us to the image of His son.
■ that’s what he does to every believer
● that’s our goal / task
● we should strive to look like Jesus
■ Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to
be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
■ 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces
contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his
image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord,
who is the Spirit.
■ “conformed to the image of his Son”
■ “transformed into his image”
■ This is called sanctification
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the transforming / perfecting / maturing…. of the believer
that’s our goal
where we’re headed
our measuring stick (for how we should act / live)
what we need to look like
● We don’t compare ourselves to each other
○ we don’t measure ourselves up to each other
○ ... try to be like each other
○ ...try to be disciples of each other
○ ...critique each other’s behavior
● We look to Jesus - we compare ourselves to Jesus
○ because he is our model
○ 1 John 2:6 Whoever claims to live in him must live
as Jesus did.
○ Jesus is our Paradigm / model / standard
Notice 2 things:
1. He calls them to be sent
2. He gave them authority
1. He called them to be sent
● This was not the call to be saved ○ hey are already following HIM
○ this is a call to be sent.
● He separates them from the crowd of followers...for a special task
○ this a display of practical wisdom
■ Jesus knew that a special task force cannot be a mob / an
army (at least not yet).
● Navy Seals go out in small / very specialized groups
● They don’t go out as Battalions / Regiments
■ He knew the group had to be small to be teachable
● those of you who have taught classes
● or been super large classes
● know that after a certain number of students you can’t
give special attentions to them
■ He knew this size (12) was the perfect number for the task
● He could work with each of them
● spend time with them
● get to know them
● to perfect their issues / faults
○ but also… this a display of humility
○ I think any of us would have called a larger group
■ if it was me, I would’ve grabbed like thirty of them (jim, tim,
bob)
■ I would’ve thought I can handle it
2. Jesus Gave them authority (KJV = Power)
● in chap 8 and 9 - all we saw Jesus’ authority displayed
○ over: disease / weather / demons / death / sin
○ now Jesus gives them authority
■ but it’s not like he passed it to them
■ like he had a talisman that now they have it, he doesn’t.
■ INSTEAD it’s like a leader who empowers his juniors
● in other words - in the giving them authority / power, He
does not diminish his own...
● Implies Jesus had authority (authority to give authority)
○ Matthew 28:18- Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority
in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
----● Understand something before we move on
○ This sending (chapt 10) - this is part of their training
■ they’ll go …. then they’ll come back (a couple chapters later)
■ and report what happened
● Jesus will use it as a teaching tool
● It will prepare them from the real thing - after Jesus dies.
■ There’s a lesson in there for us:
● We are in constant training for the next phase / chapter
● He is gracious enough to train / prepare us.
● He doesn’t just send us….he works on us first
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: (stop there)
● Notice the switch ( v.1 they were called disciples - v.2 = Apostles)
● Luke 6 says it really well: 13When morning came, he called his
disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated
apostles:
● Meaning of Apostles
○ The term "apostle" (Greek, apostolos) simply means, "a sent one."
■ a messenger, an ambassador.
■ a personal representative for the one(s) who sent him.
○ Qualifications:
■ signs / wonders / miracles 2 Corinthians 12:12 I persevered in
demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle,
including signs, wonders and miracles.
■ seen the risen Lord
● 1 Corinthians 9;1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle?
Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result
of my work in the Lord?
■ sent by Jesus with authority
● Matthew 10:1
● There’s a debate - whether or not there are still apostles today
○ Some say there aren’t
■ That…these are a un-repeatable group of men who were
chosen for such a time
■ everything else is a fraud / sham
○ Some say the gifts / positions still exist today
■ Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to
equip his people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up
○ I will tell you my perspective - but I’m not willing to debate about it.
■ To me, it’s non-essential doctrine
■ I have friends / family on both sides of the camp
■ I know intelligent / devoted Believers from both schools
■ I believe a middle ground
● The Apostles ( Capital “A” Apostles) were a group of
unrepeatable of men.
● specifically chosen for a task
● their offices were validated by their miracles
● but I also believe
○ that in the sense that apostle =“sent ones”...
○ ...all believers are in some essence apostles
■ (lower case “a”).
[Let’s keep going]
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called
Peter) (by the way - Peter’s name always appears at the top of any list of
disciples ) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother
John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus ; 4Simon the Zealot and Judas
Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Roll call:
● 2 James
1. (Zebedee /the brother of John - who wrote the book of John)
2. James - son Alphaeus
○ * Neither of them wrote the book of James (that’s Jesus’ brother)
● 2 Judas
1. (Thaddaeus → Judas = Luke and Acts)
2. Iscariot (the one who betrayed him)
○ (imagine Judas Thaddaeus , when iscariot betrayed him, “great,
now everyone is going to think I did it”)
■ The book of Jude (His name in Greek is Judas)
● 2 Simons
1. Simon Zealot (a group that wanted to overthrow Rome)
2. Simon - Peter - the leader.
■ The one who denied Jesus 3 times before the rooster
■ (as I mentioned) in almost every list mentioned, throughout
the Bible, Peter is usually the first on the list
● mark 3
● Luke 6
● Acts 1
■ He wrote 1st & 2nd Peter
● In fact these 3 names are super common:
○ Matthew 13:55 (talking about Jesus) "Isn't this the carpenter's son?
Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James,
Joseph, Simon and Judas?
● the disciples
○ All were Galileans, except Judas Iscariot (the betrayer).
○ ordinary men
■ 4 were fishermen
■ 1 tax collector (Matthew)
■ 1 betrayed Jesus
■ we don’t know much about the other 6
■ none were professional religious types
● they weren’t clergymen
● weren’t particularly educated.
○ two families were fishing partners
■ Peter & Andrew
■ John & James (Zebedee)
■ Matthew 4:19 - Jesus calls Peter and Andrew
■ Matthew 4:21 - Jesus calls James and John
■ Philip - got asked that dumb request: John 14:8 “Lord, show
us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus
answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been
among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has
seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
■ Thomas - (doubter) John 20:25 “....Unless I see the nail marks
in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put
my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
■ Judas Iscariot
● the betrayer
● for 30 pieces of silver
● John 13 - Jesus already knew he will be betrayed
○ prophesied Psalms 41:9
■ Don’t know much about:
● Bartholomew
● James - Son of Alpheas
● Thaddaeus (also called Lebbaeus / Judas)
● Simon - Nicknamed Zealot (probably because he was
connected with that group who wanted to lead an
uprising against Rome)
○ as you notice: Paul, David, Timothy, Luke, Mark, …
■ were not part of the 12
■ the 4 gospels → written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
● only Matthew & John were part of the 12
○ Mark - was a companion to Peter
○ Luke - was a companion to Paul
CLOSING -- the concept of the call
● 12 ordinary men ○ none were a professional religious type
○ none were famous before Jesus called them
■ they weren’t specially gifted
■ but they changed the world
● their call / task was different from their trade/upbringing
○ interesting thing:
■ Moses was raised in a Palace and called to the desert
■ Joseph was raised in the desert and called to a Palace
○ none of them thought they would be preachers
○ but they were obedient:
■ tradition say most of the 12 died as martyrs
● REMINDS US : all believers are called
○ It doesn’t take a gifted / talented / wise / famous people to be called
○ 1 Corinthians 1:26 26Brothers and sisters, think of what you were
when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human
standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;
God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised
things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that
you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from
God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
31Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the
Lord.”
■ Jesus doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called
○ Find out what God has called you to do...and do it.
■ be faithful to what he has entrusted you.
CLOSING: Take-aways
1. God is the initiator and perfecter of our faith
○ He started our relationship
○ we just respond
○ God loved us first
○ He is our model
2. Jesus was a great leader
○ He knew how to teach men
○ he knew the size of the group that would be most effective
○ he invested in these men
○ Good news for us ■ Christ is a proven leader
■ he can be trusted:
1. with my life
2. when things seem like they are out of control
3. God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called
○ such good news for us
○ this both
■ the effectual call - (saving call of God)
■ sending call - where He sends you to do work
○