Anchor My Faith

Jesus and the Disciples Departed

Scripture: Matthew 6:12-13, 10:24-25, 10:40-42, 11:1; Lk 6:40, 9:6

In this lesson the focus of instruction shifts from what the disciples are to do and how to act under certain conditions, to the relationship between a disciple and his teacher and between a servant and his master. ^{Mt 10:24} “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master, ^{Lk 6:40} but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” The ultimate goal is for the disciple is to be like his master; to continue to learn until the master has taught him everything he knows. That was a well-established belief in Judaism and the Greco-Roman world. Are you learning from Jesus and how much like him are you?

^{Mt 10:25} “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” “Beelzebul” means master of the house and refers to Satan. For them to accuse Jesus, who was the real master of all, of being Satan is shockingly perverse. In so doing, it is implied that all associated with Jesus are falsely accused and maligned.

Jesus continues to teach his disciples about this relationship between them and him. ^{Mt 10:40} “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” There is a progression of authority from the Father to Jesus to his disciples. The Father sent Jesus with a message and the authority to present it to his disciples. In Matthew 10:1, Jesus gave his disciples authority to go out in his name with the message. As his disciples, that authority extends to us for when we received the Holy Spirit we receive power to present the gospel to others (Acts 1:8) and in Matthew 28:18 – 20, Jesus sends us out in his authority. If we are not received, it means that Jesus is not received and thus not even the Father.

^{Mt 10:41} “The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

A prophet is one who speaks for God and the one who speaks for God is seen as the prophets’ helper and will also receive a prophet’s reward because for helping out the prophet. A righteous person is one who has the righteousness that comes from obeying Jesus and as we go in obedience and share the gospel and are received, we will receive a righteous person’s reward. “One of these little ones” represents anyone in need, especially those of “little” standing and as they are helped, there is a reward for doing so.

^{Mt 11:1} “When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.” This verse signals the conclusion of the mission discourse and provides a transition to the next section. Having received instruction from Jesus ^{Lk 9:6} “[the disciples] departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel ^{Mt 6:12} and proclaimed that people should repent. ¹³ And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”

Conclusion

There is to be a time of instruction and then the obedience of going out with the message and making disciples. We in the west have received much instruction, but for the most part we fall short on obedience and as a result we see the darkness of evil overcoming our country.