St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 14, The Instructions

Our paragraph topic is: (Instructions to the Twelve) Part 6.

Christ continues with his instructions to his disciples.  He has already told them how to find the one that is worthy in a village or town.  He has given them a challenge call to determine who is worthy, who claims to be worthy, and also to bring forth the demons who would stop this call to worthiness.  In part 5, we talked about the call for peace when a disciple enters a home.  If the peace that is given when saying, “Peace be upon this house,” comes back to the disciple then the house is not worthy.  But if the peace remains in the house then the disciple is to stay there until he leaves. 

Christ now instructs his disciples how to deal with those who do not accept them or listen to their words.  He tells his disciples,  And whoever does not receive you or listen to your words–go forth outside the house or town, and shake off the dust from your feet.   These instructions are instructions of condemnation for the house or village or town that does not heed the words of the disciples.  Christ has given the disciples a weapon to deal with those who will not accept the message of the kingdom of heaven.  He has given the disciples a marker to place in the villages and towns.  The disciples were the advance recon team that warned the people of the coming of the kingdom of heaven.  They were the to give notice to the people to change their ways.  And for those who did not, for those who heeded the ways of the devil, they were to be marked for destruction. 

Kick the dust off your feet.  Leave behind the marker of destruction.  Give fair warning.  But also give love to those who will listen.  Freely give what you have freely received.  Let them know that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and all they have to do is seek it.  All they have to do is reach out to it.  All they had to do is accept the word that was being brought to them by the disciples.  For the demons will be working their magic in the villages and towns.  They have made their strongholds within the villages and towns of the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  They were in power.  But Christ, has given the disciples the power to battle for the people.  Christ has given them training and instructions of warfare.  And he sent them forward on their solo journey to do battle.

Christ knew the outcome of the battles that the disciples would face.  He knew the obstacles that would be thrown in their way.  He knew the tricks and traps that the demons would play.  So he gave his disciples weapons and instruments also.  We too are in a spiritual battle today.  We too fight against the forces of darkness.  We are in the world but the world should not be in us.  We live in the realm of darkness.  We work in the environs of evil.  We play in the playgrounds of the forces that would destroy us physically and drag us to hell spiritually. 

Just like Christ gave his disciples instructions then, those same instructions apply today.  Shake off the dust from the towns that you enter.  Shake off the dust from the clubs, the bars, the restaurants, etc, that are dens of evil.  Shake off the dust from the homes, and parties, and lust gatherings, and spring breaks, and all manner of evil events that are not worthy.  Deliver the message of love and peace to the gentiles and the lost.  But do not tarry, least you are caught up in the traps and snares of evil.  Rest in the place of safety.  Seek renewal in the house of the Lord.  Strengthen your soul in the Holy  Spirit and let him be your guide in everyday life.  Renew your spirit daily through prayer and fasting and walk in the spirit of the Lord.  Are you ready to do battle?  Are you equipped with the weapons of war given by Christ?  Come!!  Train with the master that you may be successful in the world.

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verses: 7-8, The Instructions

Our paragraph topic is:  (Instructions to the Twelve) Part 2.  

The disciples are ready to go forth and preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.  Christ has given them instructions as to where to go and where not to go.   He wants his disciples to preach to the lost sheep of the house of Israel first.  He does not want them to go in the direction of the Gentiles or to the Samaritans.  The lost sheep are to be gathered first, those that will listen and follow.  Many have fallen by the wayside.  Many have taken up with the pagans.  And many are blinded by the evil one.  

Christ tells his disciples what to preach.  He tells them, "And as you go, preach the message, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand!' "   So he wants his disciples to walk through the towns and villages preaching to the people, "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand."  He wants his disciples to tell how the kingdom has arrived.  He wants his disciples to awaken the people and spread the good news.  He wants them to let the people know the arrival of the kingdom to their towns and their villages.  Christ wants the lost sheep of the house of Israel to know that the opportunity has come for them to return to the fold.  The opportunity has come for them to turn back to the God of their for fathers, the one true God, Jehovah.

Christ tells them further to demonstrate to the lost sheep the presence of the kingdom.  He wants them to not just talk about it but to show the people that what they preach is true.  He tells them to,Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils.  So the disciples are to perform the miracles that Christ has instructed them to do.  They are to battle with the demons that possess the village people.  They are to battle with the sickness that cripples families.  They are to cure diseases that rob the life from the ill and the injured.  They are to cleanse the lepers and raise the dead so that the people will know without a doubt that something is happening that is bringing about the miracles that they are witness to by the disciples.

Christ now gives his disciples the most important requirement of all.  He tells them that they have received freely.  He tells them that,  "Freely you have received, freely give."   Christ wants his disciples to know that they are not to force the teachings upon anyone.  It has been their free decision to follow him.  It has been their free choice to become his disciples.  Without the threat of punishment or damnation, they freely followed his teachings.  They, in turn, are to preach to the people to freely accept the teachings, so that through their belief they may know that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.    

Christ wants to send us forth today to be his disciples.  He wants us to proclaim the kingdom to the lost sheep.  He gives us instructions as to what we are to do when we accept his discipleship.  He instructs us in specific tasks that we are to perform and he provides the Holy Spirit to guide us daily in our walk with him.  Beware, if you are convicted of the Holy Spirit in the love of Christ, your life will not be the same.  Beware, you will no longer want the things of this world.  Beware, you will no longer do the same things that you did before.  You will no longer live the same way.  You will be a new creature in Christ, convicted of his love.  You will have a new life, a new spirit, a new inner being, alive with the life that Christ has given you.  You will be different.  

Come, all who would know the true God.  Come, all who would be different.  Come, all who would become a new person.  Come, receive your gift, for freely it is given.  It is up to you to freely receive it.  Will you freely receive the gift that Christ wants to give to you?