The Search for Sheep – part 2 (Matthew 10:5-15)
The Search for the Sheep – part 2
Matthew 10:1-15 (5-15)
June 5, 2011
Last time we met we began this new section in Matthew’s gospel.
We said we were moving from the section on Jesus’ POWER
To the section on Jesus’ PURPOSE.
We read in chapter 9 that Jesus was overcome with compassion
Because of the pitiful state of the sheep of Israel.
Now we read in chapter 10 that Jesus is sending out the twelve
In order to find the sheep that are lost.
We saw three things in the first 6 verses.
#1 THE POWER HE SHARED
(1) “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority…”
• These men did not go on their own authority.
• These men did not stand on their own ability or credentials.
• These men were messengers of the king.
And they went with all the authority of the king.
#2 THE PEOPLE HE SUMMONED
• At least 4 fishermen
• A tax collector
• A terrorist
• An imposter
• A breast baby
Jesus intends to use ordinary people to accomplish His divine mission.
#3 THE PLACE HE SENT THEM
(6) “but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
And as we said then, Jesus was not here excluding the Gentiles,
For we know He had compassion on them as well.
But this mission was not a global mission effort,
This was about those same sheep Jesus recognized in chapter 9.
This was about the flock of God.
And so the first order of business was not getting new sheep,
But rather finding all the sheep that were missing.
This was a shepherding effort.
That is what we saw last time.
Let’s continue our study of this chapter here.
The Power He Shared The People He Summoned The Place He Sent Them
#4 THE PLAN THEY SHOULD FOLLOW
Matthew 10:5-8
We already saw last week that the twelve were not supposed to go to the Gentiles, but to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But one thing that certainly must not be overlooked
Is that they were to “go” to them.
We hear a lot today in church growth books
About all the ways you can get people to come to you.
Perhaps the most popular of the last decade is “Purpose Driven Church”
Part 4 of this 5 part book is entitled
“Bringing in a Crowd”
And in the 5 chapters of this section there are all sorts of recommendations
That you can use to do this.
In regard to the SERVICE
• Make it as Easy as Possible to Attend
• Improve the Pace and Flow of the Service
• Make Visitors Feel Comfortable
• Create an Attractive Atmosphere
In regard to the MUSIC
• Sing a new Song
• Speed up the Tempo
• Update the Lyrics
• Replace the Organ
In regard to the PREACHING
• Plan your Titles to Appeal to the Unchurched
• Preach in Series
• Preach for Commitment
These are all tactics that are marketed, used, and followed in order
To help the church with the problem of bringing in a crowd.
But the problem is that Jesus never said to bring in a crowd.
If you will notice in the gospels Jesus often avoided the crowds.
Jesus never said to bring them in,
He told us to “go” to them.
The sheep are lost, if they knew the way back to the pen,
Then they wouldn’t be lost. It is our mission to go find them.
But that is not all Jesus said.
(7) “And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
There again, “going” is expected.
But “going” alone is not enough.
“as you go, preach”
WHY PREACH?
Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”
Like it or not, God has chosen His divine method for calling
The sheep back to Himself, and that method is preaching.
• Listen, I’m all for humanitarian aid.
• I love medical camps in regions that don’t have access.
• I think hospitality is a great thing.
But none of those are sufficient to bring a lost sheep home.
The truth must be preached.
And again Scripture tells us why:
Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
• God didn’t say that faith comes by seeing…
• God didn’t say that faith comes by reading…
• God didn’t say that faith comes by touching…
• God didn’t say that faith comes by eating…
“faith comes from hearing”
And for this reason God’s people must preach the truth to them.
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
The people must be told the truth.
The message the disciples were commanded to preach
Is summed up in this statement.
“The kingdom of heaven is at hand”
Obviously that was a message pointed at the Jews.
They were the ones looking for the “kingdom of heaven”
They were the ones waiting for Messiah.
That is why John came preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)
That is why Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)
And so it is no surprise that Jesus commands the 12
To preach the same thing.
Certainly that message would be expounded on.
(See the Sermon on the Mount)
That sermon covered everything from what a kingdom citizen looks like,
To the narrow gate by which you enter it.
But the point is that they must tell them.
We cannot reach the lost sheep if we do not search for them,
And we cannot reach them if we do not call for them.
Finding a sheep is of little benefit, if you do not call it home.
So Jesus told them to “go” and Jesus told them to “preach”
But that is not all.
(8) “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.”
Now at first glance we all feel like we just hit a major snag.
I can’t heal the sick or raise the dead or cleanse lepers or cast out demons.
But don’t forget that Jesus specifically gave the disciples
The authority to do these things back in verse 1.
Matthew 10:1 “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”
Now Jesus is just calling them to do what He has equipped them to do.
A BETTER QUESTION IS WHY?
One reason would be because He cares about people.
But the greater reason is for proof.
This is why Jesus worked miracles.
John 5:36 “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish — the very works that I do — testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
And Jesus gave this same authority to the 12.
He gave it to them so they also would have proof.
And Scripture is clear that these were abilities only for the apostles.
In fact Paul actually calls them the signs of an apostle.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 “I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.”
In Hebrews the writer indicates that while he could not work miracles,
The apostles could.
Hebrews 2:3-4 “how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”
The point is that Jesus commanded them to do this
Because this was the proof of their message.
Today we turn to the New Testament and stand upon the authority of God’s word, but they had no New Testament.
They preached with authority, and then validated it by working miracles,
Proving their message true.
But none the less, what Jesus told them to do is clear.
• “Go”
• “Preach”
• Demonstrate or validate your message.
It is a simple plan, yet it is the plan of Jesus and the plan of Scripture.
Matthew 4:23 “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.”
Matthew 9:35 “Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”
And that is the plan we should follow as well.
Go to people
Tell them the truth
Stand upon the authority of God’s written word
It sounds simple, yet God has promised to make it effective.
The tragedy is that the plan gets roundly rejected by so many today.
Most don’t want to go.
Most don’t want to preach.
Most don’t care to stand upon the word.
We think it would be much easier to hang a sign outside that says
“All sheep welcome” and then just wait for them to come to us.
And that might work if the sheep weren’t lost to begin with.
The Power He Shared The People He Summoned
The Place He Sent them The Plan They Should Follow
#5 THE PRICE THEY ARE WORTH
Matthew 10:9-15
Now in the past I must admit I have always studied this and only recognized the things that the apostles would need to have here.
For example:
They would need WILLINGNESS
You won’t “go” and you won’t “preach” if you don’t have willingness to obey the Lord.
They would need FAITH
Because Jesus commands them not to take any extra supplies, trusting that it will be provided.
They would need CONTENTMENT
Being willing to stay in the same house until they leave the city.
Not looking to upgrade, but to honor the one who initially let them in.
They would need CONVICTION
Willingness to recognize an unworthy response, declare it unworthy, and even to shake the dust off of their feet as they left.
And obviously every missionary must have those things.
But this time as I studied it became apparent to me
That this was not what Jesus was getting at here.
What Jesus was doing here was revealing to the disciples
How tremendously valuable they were
As they embarked on this mission.
Four times in this text Jesus uses the word “worthy”
AXIOS in the Greek, it is a word that denotes value.
And notice the first thing Jesus establishes is that the disciples, while on their ministry, are VALUABLE.
(10) “for the worker is worthy of his support”
(11) “And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.”
(13) “If the house is worthy give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy take back your blessing of peace.”
Jesus here is making a point to the disciples
As to just how valuable they are to Him.
And certainly this is important.
In verses 16-25 Jesus will reveal how valuable they are to the world.
And the answer is that in the world’s eyes they will have no value.
• They will be handed over to kings
• They will be betrayed by loved ones
• They will be hated by all
• They will be slandered as followers of Beelzebul
The world will not value them at all.
This is true of all who follow Christ.
Romans 8:36 “Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
1 Corinthians 4:9 “For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.”
In short, it is quite possible that the 12 had a misconception
As to how they would be received.
So before they go out Jesus makes it clear.
You will have no value to them,
But you are extremely valuable to Me.
And that is the point He is making here.
In fact Jesus tells the disciples that they are worthy of two things.
1) WORTHY OF SUPPORT (9-11)
Again you would think Jesus would start out by telling them
What to take on the journey.
Just as you would think He would have started by telling them where to go.
But He started first by telling them where not to go,
And now by telling them what not to take.
“Do not acquire gold, or silver, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff”
The idea here is that you don’t have to save up enough
For the entire trip before you go.
WHY?
“for the worker is worthy of his support.”
Now don’t misunderstand.
• Jesus was not saying they could expect the people to pay them.
• Jesus was saying that He would make sure to pay them.
(obviously using His people)
2 Timothy 2:6 “The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.”
1 Corinthians 9:7-11 “Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?”
Jesus was promising that they are worthy of support.
He will care for them.
And not just money and clothes.
Jesus will provide lodging as well.
(11) “And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.”
Obviously this is Jesus flexing His muscle as Holy God,
For no man could ever guarantee such provisions.
But Jesus does and it is because anyone who is willing to go and serve Him in this manner is worthy of support.
If He promises to feed the birds…
If He promises to clothed the fields…
If He promises rain on the just and the unjust…
Then certainly those who leave their daily routine to go
And search for His sheep are worthy of their wages.
Those who serve the Lord like this are worthy of support.
But that is not all they are worthy of.
2) WORTHY OF SUBMISSION (12-15)
And this really goes back to the whole authority issue.
They must be obeyed because of the One who sent them.
They travel with Messianic authority.
It is no different than when I tell one of my kids to relay a message to another child. They know the command must be obeyed, because “Dad said so”.
And certainly the same can be said for these men.
They travel in the name of the King, they must be obeyed.
And Jesus here speaks of the degree of their authority.
(12) “As you enter the house, give it your greeting.”
This by the way is a different house than the one they are lodging in.
Here the disciples are on door to door visitation.
“As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy take back your blessing of peace.”
The “blessing of peace” was commonly SHALOM
Which meant peace and blessing from God.
And Jesus said to offer that to all who would accept the message.
But for those who refuse it, they get no peace.
Isaiah 48:22 “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the LORD.”
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IS WHAT HE IS SAYING?
Look at the next verse.
(14) “Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.”
Jesus is talking about those who do “not receive”
And who do not “heed your words”.
You see the idea here is that the message you are preaching
Is not a suggestion.
The message you are preaching is a divine command
From the authority of the king.
Anyone who rejects the messengers of the king rejects the king Himself.
And Jesus says, “as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.”
Commonly a Jew would shake the dirt from Gentile lands off his feet
Before entering the border of Israel.
Jesus says it is not the Gentiles who need that treatment,
But rather anyone who will not listen to what you say.
(15) “Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”
Now that is a strong statement.
For I don’t remember God being all that fired up
About Sodom and Gomorroah.
God rained down fire from heaven upon them for their gross immorality.
God couldn’t find 10 righteous there, otherwise He would have saved the city.
God even turned Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt for missing that city as she left.
And yet God says that anyone who rejects the message
Of His appointed messengers will suffer a judgment
Greater than that of Sodom and Gomorrah.
THE POINT?
You guys are valuable to Me.
You are so valuable that not only will I meet your every need,
But I will also deal with those who do not listen to you.
AND WE ARE LEARNING A GREAT DEAL ABOUT FINDING LOST SHEEP
Sheep are lost and they must be found.
That means we must go to them and preach to them and stand upon the authority of the Chief Shepherd.
But we also realize that not all of the sheep are lost.
Some have willfully rejected the fold, and do not want to come back.
But regardless of the response of the sheep,
Know that Christ highly values all who will go and search for them.
Shepherds are Needed
Shepherds are Few
Who will search for the lost sheep?
Matthew 9:36-38 “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
