CHAPTER 10.
THE GALILEAN MISSION.
The beginnings of the mission to the neglected “lost” sheep of
Israel may be found in the Capernaum feast (Matthew 9:10). As time
went on Jesus felt increasingly the pressure of the problem and the
need for extended effort. Matthew's call was connected with the fi... [ Continue Reading ]
προσκαλεσάμενος : this does not refer to the call to
become disciples, but to a call to men already disciples to enter on a
special mission. τοὺς δώδεκα, _the Twelve_. The article
implies that a body of intimate disciples, twelve in number, already
existed. The evangelist probably had Mark 3:14 in v... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Twelve: their names, mission, and relative instructions_ (Mark
3:14-19; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6).... [ Continue Reading ]
τῶν δὲ δώδ. ἀποστόλων : etc., the evangelist finds
here a convenient place for giving the names of the Twelve, called
here for the first and last time ἀπόστολοι, with reference
at once to the immediate minor mission (from ἀποστέλ.
λειν, _vide_ Matthew 10:5) and to the later great one. One half of
th... [ Continue Reading ]
Βαρθολομαῖος, the 6th, one of the doubtful names,
commonly identified with _Nathanael_ (John 1:46). Ματθαῖος
ὁ τελώνης, one of four in the list with epithets: Peter the
_first_, Simon the _zealot_, Judas the _traitor_, Matthew the
_publican_; surely not without reason, except as echoing Matthew 9:9... [ Continue Reading ]
Σίμων ὁ Καναναῖος : Luke gives τὸν καλ.
Ζηλωτὴν = the zealot, possibly a piece of information based on
an independent reliable source, or his interpretation of the Hebrew
word קַנְאָנִי. The form Καναναῖος seems to be
based on the idea that the word referred to a place. Jerome took it to
mean “of Ca... [ Continue Reading ]
Τούτους τ. δώδ : _These, the Twelve_, Jesus sent forth,
under the injunctions following (παραγγείλας). εἰς
ὀδὸν ἐθ. μὴ ἀπέλθητε. This prohibition occurs in
Matthew only, but there is no reason to doubt its authenticity except
indeed that it went without saying. The very prohibition implies a
conscio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Instructions to the missioners_.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀπολωλότα, “the _lost_ sheep,” an expression consecrated
by prophetic use (Jeremiah 50:6, Swete's ed., Matthew 27:6), the
epithet here first introduced, often occurring in Gospels, was used by
Jesus not in blame but in pity. “Lost” in His vocabulary meant
“neglected” (Matthew 9:36), in danger also o... [ Continue Reading ]
πορευόμενοι κηρύσσετε, as ye go, keep preaching;
participle and finite verb, both present. Preaching first in the
Master's thoughts, if not in the evangelist's (Matthew 10:1).
ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τ. ο.: the theme is, of course,
the kingdom longed for by all, constantly on the lips of Jesus. The
messa... [ Continue Reading ]
νεκροὺς ἐγείρετε. This clause is wanting in several
Codd., including L [58], so often associated with [59] [60] in good
readings. It is, however, too well attested to be omitted. It must
either have found a place in the autograph, or it must have crept in
as a gloss at a very early period. The evang... [ Continue Reading ]
μὴ κτήσησθε : Vulgate: nolite possidere. But the
prohibition is directed not merely against possessing, but against
_acquiring_ (κέκτημαι, perfect = possess). The question is as
to the scope of the prohibition. Does it refer merely to the way, or
also to the mission? In one case it will mean: do not... [ Continue Reading ]
πήραν, a wallet for holding provisions, slung over the shoulder
(Jdt 13:10, πήραν τῶν βρωμάτων). δύο
χιτῶνας): not even two under-garments, shirts; one would say
very necessary for comfort and cleanliness in a hot climate, and for
travellers along dusty roads. In Mark the prohibition seems to be
aga... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐξετάσατε (ἐκ ἐτάζω, from ἐτεός, true; to
inquire as to the truth of a matter). A host to be carefully sought
out in each place: not to stay with the first who offers. ἄξιος
points to personal moral worth, the deciding consideration to be
goodness, not wealth (worth so much). The host to be a man ge... [ Continue Reading ]
τὴν οἰκίαν, the house selected after due inquiry.
ἀσπάσασθε, salute it, not as a matter of formal courtesy,
but with a serious mind, saying: “peace be with you,” thinking the
while of what peace the kingdom can bring.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐὰν μὲν ᾖ ἡ ο. ἀξία : after all pains have been
taken, a mistake may be made; therefore the worthiness of the house is
spoken of as uncertain (ᾖ, in an emphatic position, so μὴ ᾖ, in
next clause). ἐλθέτω ἡ εἰρήνη …
ἐπιστραφήτω. The meaning is: the word of peace will not be
spoken in vain; it will bl... [ Continue Reading ]
γῇ Σ. καὶ Γ.: Sodom and Gomorrah, a byword for great iniquity
and awful doom (Isaiah 1:9), γῇ, land for people.
ἀνεκτότερον : yet the punishment of these wicked cities,
tragic though it was, or the punishment still in store, more endurable
than that of city or village which rejects the message of th... [ Continue Reading ]
ἰδού, something important is going to be said. ἐγὼ,
emphatic: Jesus is conscious that connection with Him will be a source
not only of power, but of trouble to the Twelve. ἐν μέσῳ : not
_to_ wolves (πρὸς λύκους, Chrys.). They were not sent for
that purpose, which would be a mission to destruction, b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prophetic picture of future apostolic tribulations_. An interpolation
of our evangelist after his manner of grouping _logia_ of kindred
import. The greater part of the material is given in other connections
in Mark, and especially in Luke. No feeling of delicacy should prevent
even the preacher fro... [ Continue Reading ]
τῶν ἀνθρώπων : Weiss, regarding Matthew 10:17 as the
beginning of an interpolation, takes τῶν generically = the whole
race of men conceived of as on the whole hostile to the truth =
κόσμος in the fourth Gospel (Matthew 15:19; Matthew 17:14). It
seems more natural to find in it a reference to the λύκ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἡγεμόνας, provincial governors, including the three degrees:
Propraetors, Proconsuls, and Procurators. From the point of view of
the evangelist, who conceives the whole discourse as connected with
the Galiean mission confined to Jews, the reference can only be to
Roman governors in _Palestine_. But... [ Continue Reading ]
μὴ μεριμνήσητε, etc.: a second counsel against anxiety
(Matthew 6:25), this time not as to food and raiment, but as to speech
at a critical hour. With equal emphasis: trouble not yourselves either
as to manner or matter, word or thought (πῶς ἢ τί).
δοθήσεται : thought, word, tone, gesture everything... [ Continue Reading ]
εἰς τέλος, to the end (of the tribulations) described
(Matthew 10:21-22); to the end, and not merely at the beginning
(Theophy., Beza, Fritzsche, Weiss, etc.). No easy thing to do, when
such inhumanities and barbarities are going on, all natural and family
affections outraged. But it helps to know,... [ Continue Reading ]
ὅταν δὲ : the thought takes a new comforting turn, much needed
to reconcile disciples to the grim prospect. With courage and loyalty
effort for self-preservation is quite compatible. Therefore, when they
persecute here flee there. ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ, in
_this_ city, pointing to it, _this_ standing fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 10:24-25 point to another source of consolation companionship
with the Master in tribulation. A hard lot, but mine as well as yours;
you would not expect to be better off than the Master and Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀρκετὸν, not as in Matthew 6:34 a neuter adjective used as a
noun, but a predicate qualifying the clause ἵνα γεν., etc., as
noun to verb ἐστι understood. ἵνα γένηται instead of
the infinitive; ὁ δοῦλος instead of τῷ δούλῳ
dependent like τῷ μαθητῇ on ἀρκετὸν, by attraction
of the nearer word γένηται... [ Continue Reading ]
μὴ οὖν φοβηθῆτε : “fear not,” and again “fear
not” in Matthew 10:28, and yet again, 31, says Jesus, knowing well
what temptation there would be to fear. οὖν connects with Matthew
10:24-25; fear not the inevitable for all connected with me, as you
are, take it calmly. γάρ supplies a reason for fearle... [ Continue Reading ]
σκοτίᾳ, the darkness of the initial stage; the beginnings of
great epoch-making movements always obscure. φωτί, the light of
publicity, when causes begin to make a noise in the wide world.
εἰς τὸ οὖς : a phrase current among Greeks for confidential
communications. For such communications to disciple... [ Continue Reading ]
New antidote to fear drawn from a greater fear, and from the paternal
providence of God. φοβήθητε ἀπὸ like the Hebrew
יָרֵא מִן, but also one of several ways in which the Greeks
connected this verb with its object. τὸ σῶμα : that is all the
persecutor as such can injure or destroy He not only cannot... [ Continue Reading ]
στρουθία, im. for στρουθός, small birds in general,
sparrows in particular. ἀσσαρίου, a brass coin, Latin _as_,
1/10 of a δραχμή = about 3/4d. The smallness of the price makes
it probable that sparrows are meant (Fritzsche). We are apt to wonder
that _sparrows_ had a price at all. ἓν … οὐ looks like... [ Continue Reading ]
ὑμῶν, emphatic position: _your_ hairs. τρίχες : of little
value all together, can be lost without detriment to life or health.
πᾶσαι, all, every one without exception.
ἠριθμημέναι, counted. Men count only valuable things, gold
pieces, sheep, etc. Note the perfect participle. They have been
counted o... [ Continue Reading ]
π. σ. διαφέρετε : once more, as in Matthew 6:26, a
comparison between men and birds as to value: ye of more worth than
many sparrows; one hair of your head as much worth to God as one
sparrow. “It is a litotes to say that there is a great difference
between many sparrows and a human being” (Holtz.,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Solemn reference to the final Judgment_. οὖν points back to
Matthew 10:27, containing injunction to make open proclamation of the
truth. πᾶς ὅστις : nominative absolute at the head of the
sentence. ἐν ἐμοὶ, ἐν αὐτῷ : observe these phrases
after the verb in Matthew 10:32, compared with the use of th... [ Continue Reading ]
μὴ νομίσητε, do not imagine, as you are very likely to do
(_cf._ Matthew 5:17). ἦλθον βαλεῖν : the use of the
infinitive to express aim is common in Matt., but Christ has here in
view result rather than purpose, which are not carefully distinguished
in Scripture. For βαλεῖν Luke has δοῦναι, possibly... [ Continue Reading ]
The whole foregoing discourse, by its announcements and consolations,
implies that dread experiences are in store for the apostles of the
faith. To the inexperienced the question might naturally suggest
itself, why? Can the new religion not propagate itself quietly and
peaceably? Jesus meets the que... [ Continue Reading ]
escription of the discord. διχάσαι, to divide in two
(δίχα), to separate in feeling and interest, here only in N.T.;
verifies the truth of Grotius' comment as to the “sword”.
ἄνθρωπον κατὰ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ. In
this and the following clauses it is the _young_ that are set against
the _old_. “In all g... [ Continue Reading ]
ἔχθροὶ : the predicate standing first for emphasis; _enemies_,
not friends as one would expect, the members of one's family
(οἰκιακοὶ, as in Matthew 10:25). The passage reproduces
freely Micah 7:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
uch a state of matters imposes the necessity of making a very painful
choice between relatives and truth. φιλῶν : this verb denotes
natural affection as distinct from ἀγαπάω, which points to love
of an ethical kind. The distinction corresponds to that between
_amare_ and _diligere. vide_ Trench, _Sy... [ Continue Reading ]
σταυρὸν. There is here no necessary allusion to the death of
Jesus Himself by crucifixion, though one possessing such insight into
the course of events, as this whole discourse indicates, must have
known quite well when He uttered the words what awaited Himself, the
worst possible probable if not ce... [ Continue Reading ]
εὑρὼν … ἀπολέσει, ἀπολέσας …
εὑρήσει : crucifixion, death ignominious, as a criminal
horrible; but horrible though it be it means salvation. This paradox
is one of Christ's great, deep, yet ever true words. It turns on a
double sense of the term ψυχή as denoting now the lower now the
higher life. Ev... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐμὲ δέχεται : first the principle is laid down that to
receive the messenger is to receive the Master who sent him (Matthew
25:40), as to receive the Master is to receive God.... [ Continue Reading ]
The following sentences might have been spoken in connection with the
early Galilean mission, and are accordingly regarded by Weiss as the
conclusion of the instructions then given. Luke gives their gist
(Matthew 10:16) at the close of the instructions to the seventy. After
uttering many awful, ster... [ Continue Reading ]
hen in two distinct forms the law is stated that to befriend the
representative of Christ and God ensures the reward belonging to that
representative. εἰς ὄνομα, having regard to the fact that he
is a prophet or righteous man. The prophet is the principal object of
thought, naturally, in connection... [ Continue Reading ]
he last word, and the most beautiful; spoken with deep pathos as an
aside; about the disciples rather than to them, though heard by them.
“Whosoever shall do the smallest service, were it but to give a
drink to one of these little ones (ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν
τούτων, _cf._ Matthew 25:40) in the name of a di... [ Continue Reading ]