Matthew 10:1-15
The Companions of the
King
Read
Matt. 9:37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Matt. 9:38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Pray
Intro
√ The companions of the King
In our last study we talked about the awesome privilege it is to do the work of the Kingdom with Jesus!
While He certainly doesn’t need us, in His un-searchable wisdom He has chosen to work through people like you and me!
Well, in our study this morning we get to see how the Lord multiplies His ministry by bringing the apostles into the work. He…
Called them
Commissioned them
Counseled them
There’s great insight in this section for all of us because we’ve all been called to get involved in the work of the Kingdom…
…the greatest project in the history of the world, redeeming Mankind and preparing the hearts of people for the return of the King!
Called (vs. 1-4)
Matt. 10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Matt. 10:2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Matt. 10:3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Matt. 10:4 Simon the Cananite, (or Zealot) and Judas Iscariot (from Karioth), who also betrayed Him.
√ Called
Our opening text from the 9th chapter of Matthew reminds us of the context of our study this morning in chapter 10.
Jesus, moved with compassion for the multitudes that followed Him told the disciples to pray for laborers…
…companions for the King to help with the work of the Kingdom.
As we begin chapter 10 we find the Lord calling 12 of His followers to become those companions.
What isn’t obvious from Matthew’s account is that Jesus didn’t choose the 12 until after He had prayed.
Note Luke’s account…
Luke 6:12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
The point is that when Jesus recognized the need of the people He told the disciples to pray to the Father and ask for laborers.
Then we find Jesus doing just that, praying to the Father for help!
Praying for companions in the work of the Kingdom.
As such Jesus sets an example for us of how ministry is supposed to work!
When a need is presented we’re to follow Jesus’ example and pray for the Father’s provision!
Ap. There will always be needs in the work of the Kingdom!
We’ll never have enough…
People to work in children’s ministry
Money to reach fund missions
Until the Lord returns we’re going to have to look to the Father to provide for the work of the Kingdom! The reason that we’re to look to God for help and provision is that ultimately this is His work!
The message of the Kingdom
The ministry of the Church
The companions in the work
It’s all God’s responsibility! If it is truly His work, then we can count on Him to provide the resources (people and provision) to get it done.
Ap. We can relax!
If we’ll follow Jesus’ example in ministry then we’ll find that we can relax!
I don’t have to get stressed about who’s going to do what, or how we’re going to pay for some project.
That’s God’s responsibility.
When we really believe and practice that we’ll find that ministry goes so much smoother and we don’t get burned out.
Ex. Burned out pastors
Are often the guys who think they have to do everything in the church!
While the people in the church may have that expectation…
…the reality is that when we’re confronted with needs that are beyond us we’re supposed to go to God in prayer and watch Him do it!
The benefit is that when God’s involved He gets the glory and we don’t get an ulcer!
√ Chosen (prayer)
The second insight that we gain from Matthew and Luke’s account of how Jesus picked the apostles is that the companions of the King are…
…chosen.
That may seem elementary but it is a truth we often overlook.
That is, a person that is supposed to be in ministry (a companion of the King) is never self-appointed.
They are chosen by God and revealed through prayer.
Ex. High priest
Heb. 5:4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
Just as we see in the Lord’s selection of the 12 apostles, the pattern of scripture is that God is the One who…
Chooses
Anoints
Equips
…a person for ministry.
Those who are self-appointed never fare well!
Ex. Uzziah, Korah,
The same is true today, God alone calls a person into ministry.
Without that call they’re destined to fail and to miss out on the great blessing that God has planned for them doing what He did call them to!
I know guys who are blessed with the gift of helps, hospitality, and exhortation…
…but they’ve missed God’s blessing in their life because they wrongly think they’re called to be a pastor/teacher.
So, let God do the choosing and you (and everyone else) will be much happier!
√ Equipped
Look at vs. 1 again…
Matt. 10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Reveals another important truth regarding the work of the Kingdom.
When God calls a person into ministry He also equips them for ministry!
Note that Jesus gives the apostles whom He has chosen the supernatural power to do the work of the Kingdom!
Up to this point the boys have been watching Jesus do the work of the Kingdom…
…now it’s their turn to get involved.
But, to be of any use to the scattered multitude of God’s people they must first be equipped to do what they’d seen Jesus doing.
√ Super vs. natural
We can easily see from the list in verse 1 that the power Jesus gave His apostles was supernatural, not natural (i.e. talents we’re born with or skills acquired)…
Casting out demons
Healing all kinds of sickness
Raise the dead (vs. 8)
…are things that can only be done by God and those He has empowered.
These aren’t skills you can learn at
They are gifts of the Holy Spirit are given for the purpose of doing the work of the Kingdom and validating those who do them as authentic companions of the King.
Ap. The work of God requires the power of God!
There aren’t any substitutes for the power of God. Ministry done by the power of Man, the zeal of Man, and the wisdom of Man will ultimately fail.
That’s because we simply can’t touch the soul’s of people with Man’s power and tools.
Only God is able to touch and change a person for eternity.
So, the companions of the King are those who are called and equipped by the King.
Commissioned (vs. 5-10)
Matt. 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
Matt. 10:6 But go
rather to the lost sheep of the house of
Matt. 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Matt. 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
√ Commissioned
In this section we find that Jesus gives the apostles a specific commission about whom to, and who not to, minister.
Sent to the “lost house” of
Not the Gentiles or Samaritans
That is, they were being sent to the same people that Jesus had been sent to minister to…
…the Jews!
Jesus would later say…
Matt. 15:24 But He
answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of
That’s not to say that Jesus and His apostles weren’t compassionate to anyone else! Remember, Jesus…
Healed the Centurion’s servant & commended his faith
Healed the Phoenician woman’s daughter
He shared the Gospel with a Samaritan
Rather, God’s redemptive plan began with the Jews because it was to their forefather Abraham that the promises of Messiah the King were given.
Incorporated into God’s plan was His foreknowledge that the Jews would reject their Messiah…
…Who would then be preached to the rest of the mankind who would receive Him!
So, it’s not like God is anti-Gentile. Rather, He was bound to first keep the promise that He made to Abraham and his descendants.
Then open the Kingdom to the rest of the World (see Romans 9-11).
As we see after Jesus returned to Heaven in that He gave the Apostles a new commission to take the Gospel the rest of the World (Acts 10 ~ Peter and Cornelius).
Later we find Paul following the same pattern as he takes the Gospel to the world, sharing with the Jews first, then the Gentiles (Romans 1:16)
So, Jesus gives the apostles a commission to multiply His work to the Jewish people.
√ Compensated
Matt. 10:9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
Matt. 10:10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
After Jesus commissions the boys He tells them not to worry about provisions for the trip, rather that they’ll be compensated!
But, before we build a practice for our own lives we need to compare scripture with scripture!
Because we find that on another occasion Jesus told the apostles to provide for themselves!
Luke 22:35 And He said to them, “When I sent you out without purse and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” And they said, “No, nothing.”
Luke 22:36 And He said to them, “But now, let him who has a purse take it along, likewise also a bag, and let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one.
Ap. Must be spirit led
I think the lesson for us is that real faith in the service of the King must be spirit led!
In the first example it was an act of faith to go without provisions trusting that God would provide as they obeyed.
In the second example it would have been an act of presumption to go without provisions because Jesus told them to prepare!
So, before you step out to serve the Lord make sure that you’re responding the leading of His Spirit vs. your own plans.
Ex. Paul to
Counseled (vs. 11-15)
Matt. 10:11 “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.
Matt. 10:12 And when you go into a household, greet it.
Matt. 10:13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Matt. 10:14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
Matt. 10:15 Assuredly,
I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the
√ Counseled
The rest of what Jesus says to the apostles in chapter 10 is what I call “counsel”, or instruction in ministry.
That is, Jesus is going to give the guys some practical wisdom about how to conduct themselves as they seek to do His will.
How to deal with people who are receptive to the Message, and those who are not.
Warn them about the persecution that they’ll face as they are faithful to declare the Message of the King.
How to act when they are persecuted.
All of which is going to be essential to their survival in ministry!
Ex. There’s more to ministry than golfing!
Simply knowing the Bible and even possessing the ability to teach it does not guarantee survival in ministry!
The enemy targets those who accept the call and commission of Christ.
Satan doesn’t play fair!
If he can’t trip you up with sin he’ll sow doubt and fear in your mind so that you become ineffective.
So, it’s vital that the person called and commissioned by the Lord is prepared for the war that they’ll be fighting!
Ex. Learning from a great pastor
I had a real advantage over some of the other guys who came out to the Mid-South to pioneer a church when I did.
I was fortunate to have served on staff at another
So, I was better prepared for the struggles that come with ministry than some of my brothers who didn’t make it.
Ap. Remember, you’re serving the Lord
One of the most important truths you need to know is that you aren’t there to please the people!
You’re serving the Lord and some people will love you, while others will not.
Note the Lord’s warnings in verses 11-15…
Same guys sent by the same King, bearing the same message…
…yet, some will receive it and some will not!
Note that Jesus doesn’t tell the guys to get worked up and overly concerned with the response of the people!
Rather, if they receive the message then bless them.
If they reject the message, shake the dust off your feet and leave the judgment to God.
That is so easy to understand and so hard to experience!
Close
√ The companions of the King
The companions of the King are…
Called
Commissioned
Counseled
…making them ready to share in the work of the Kingdom.
Ap. We’re all
If you’re a believer in Jesus then you’re a companion of the King, therefore…
You are called, the question is, what are you called to do?
You are commissioned, the question is, where are you commissioned to?
You can be counseled, the question is, are you teachable?
May I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord about His plans for your life because there is nothing more exciting than serving King Jesus!