Matthew 10

Notes

Ver. 16. I send you forth as meek, harmless, and unable to defend yourselves, among furious and implacable men. Behave therefore with the utmost prudence, never giving any causeless provocation, nor needlessly exposing yourselves to danger; and be inoffensive, sincere, and meek, that ye may win upon some, and turn away the wrath of others. 17. And, after all, never trust yourselves with wicked men, nor expect from them anything better than persecution. 18. Your sufferings, on account of your professing and preaching my gospel, will be a public testimony to the truth of my doctrines, and of the inexcusable guilt of both Jews and Gentiles who reject them. 26, 27. Since ye must be partakers of my sufferings and glory in due order, never let anything which your adversaries can do terrify you from, or discourage you in, your work: for your whole doctrine, and your integrity in professing and preaching it, shall be openly manifested to your honour as well as mine, in the spread and success of the gospel, and in the last judgment. Whatever therefore I privately teach you, preach ye to others, in the most plain, bold, and public manner. 34, 35. I am not come to spread outward peace and prosperity through the world, as many expect; nay, through the corruption of their own hearts, many will make my gospel of peace with God and men an occasion of terrible hatred and persecution against the steady believers and preachers of it. 37-39. And he that is not willing to incur hatred and persecution, even from his nearest relations, for the sake of my doctrines and institutions, and that he may follow my example, cannot be justly owned as one of my disciples, or expect a share in my eternal glory. He who through the fear of man preserves his life and temporal advantages at the expense of his religion, his conscience, and regard to me, shall lose the blessing and true comfort of these, if not the things themselves, and shall fall short of eternal happiness; but he who risks or loses his temporal life, or the enjoyments of it, through his conscientious adherence to my truths, shall find real happiness and comfort therein, and be graciously rewarded with everlasting life in the world to come. 40-42. Whatever kind reception your persons and doctrines meet with, shall be accounted as given to me and my Father: and whatever kindness is done to any of my ministers or disciples, as such, from faith in and regard to me, shall be richly and graciously rewarded in the present, and especially in the eternal state.

Ver. 1. He gave them power. This is one of those many instances in which the Deity of Christ is established by a fact, and not by a doctrine. 'He gave them power.'—Who but 'God manifest in the flesh' could give such power as this! C.

Ver. 2. The twelve were evidently chosen and consecrated to their specific apostolic office before this time. The event is not recorded, but it is here taken for granted. Their names, and the work intrusted to them, are now first mentioned. There are four distinct lists of the apostles (Mar. 3. 16; Lu. 6. 14; Ac. 1. 13), and a careful comparison of them will serve to explain a few obscure passages. It will be observed that Peter stands first in all. This does not imply that he held a higher rank, or had any special privileges; but merely that, as in all companies and bodies of men some one is always found to take a more prominent part among his equals, so it was with Peter. In character he was adapted for leading. He was bold, energetic, sometimes even rash. In the list here given he is called 'first,' partly because of the prominent place he took and occupied among his brethren; partly because he was the first called to office. P.

Ver. 5. They were restrained, for the present, from, visiting either the Gentiles or Samaritans, that they might not excite the prejudices of the Jews. Neither were the disciples themselves yet prepared to preach the gospel to the world. They were, as yet, but children, and therefore confined to feeding babes. C.

Ver. 9. Provide neither gold, &c. This direction prohibited the apostles themselves from waiting till they had got money, but by no means exonerated others from providing for their support. C.

Ver. 10. Nor scrip for your journey, &c. That is, Let none of you take more than the sandals that he wears, or the staff in his hand, lest you encumber yourselves with unnecessary baggage, and tempt the cupidity of the covetous and the robber. C.

Ver. 16. Wise as serpents—that lie humbly in the grass, and glide away from danger.—Harmless as doves. That never intentionally provoke enmity. Wisdom, to preserve harmlessness from degenerating into folly; harmlessness, to prevent wisdom from degenerating into cunning. C.

Ver. 34. The gospel of Christ is a gospel of peace. Its leading principles may be embodied in one comprehensive word, love. Consequently division, hatred, and strife are not, and cannot be, the direct results of the gospel. Yet, as an historical fact, they have followed the gospel. They spring, however, from man's evil heart, opposing the gospel; from his ignorance, misapprehending it. P.—The earth. Rather, on the land of Judea, which the Jews expected Messiah would render the seat of prosperity and power; but which he came to destroy, because of the unbelief and wickedness of its inhabitants. C.

Ver. 35. Not that Christ came with the design of producing those evils, but that the envy and malice of Satan and of wicked men would be provoked to inflict them upon the people of God. C.

Ver. 39. He that findeth his life, as a treasure, at the expense of his profession of truth, shall lose it.—And he that loseth temporal life, because he would not deny the faith, shall, instead of it, gain life eternal. C.

Ver. 41. He that receiveth a prophet, &c. Instructions, such as a prophet alone can give; and blessings, such as God bestows in honour of godly hospitality. See the history of Elijah and Elisha.—He that receiveth a righteous man, &c. He that receives a believer as one made righteous 'through the righteousness of God,' shall receive, through that intercourse, that 'peace with God' which justified men alone can describe and commend. C.

Reflections.—Christ graciously provides preachers when there is great need for them, and success to be expected. And it is necessary that such be prepared by fellowship with and instruction from him; that their call should be plainly manifested to themselves and others; and that they should assist one another in their work. But, alas, that in the best of times there should be traitors to Jesus among them! The great design of his gospel is to overthrow the power of Satan in and over men; and in his grace there is an effectual remedy for every evil. But sovereign is his giving or withholding his special favours. Perpetually uniform are his truths, and quickening to diligence the consideration of his approaches in grace or glory.—By no carnal cares, by no greediness of filthy lucre, no peevish moroseness, no intimacy with persons of dishonourable characters, by no infamous reproaches, no fear of men, no dread of persecution, and no regard to carnal relations, ought ministers of the gospel to be ever hindered in their work. But they have great need of a fixed contentment, cautious prudence, and constant dependence on God as their Father. If they be faithful, prudent, and active, Jesus will protect, provide for, and honourably reward them, and every kindness done to them. And it is at the dreadful peril of their hearers if they either neglect their subsistence, contemn their messages, or persecute their persons. Whatever is done to Jesus' brethren, he takes as done to himself and his Father. And if it be honourable to suffer with Christ, what must it be to be glorified together, and reign with him on his throne!