Matthew 10:1

CHAPTER X.

Jesus calls, commissions, and names his twelve disciples, 1-4.

Gives them particular instructions relative to the objects of

their ministry, 5, 6.

Mode of preaching, c., 7-15.

Foretells the afflictions and persecutions they would have to

endure, and the support they should receive, 16-25.

Cautions them against betraying his cause, in order to procure

their personal safety, 26-39.

And gives especial promises to those who should assist his

faithful servants in the execution of their work, 40-42.

NOTES ON CHAP. X.

Verse Matthew 10:1. Twelve disciples] Our Lord seems to have had the twelve patriarchs, heads of the congregation of Israel, in view, in his choosing twelve disciples. That he had the plan of the ancient Jewish Church in his eye is sufficiently evident from Matthew 19:28 and from Luke 10:1; Luke 22:30; John 17:1, c., and Revelation 21:12.

He gave them power against unclean spirits] The word κατα, against, which our translators have supplied in Italic, is found in many MSS. of good note, and in the principal versions. Here we find the first call to the Christian ministry, and the end proposed by the commission given. To call persons to the ministry belongs only to Him who can give them power to cast out unclean spirits. He whose ministry is not accompanied with healing to diseased souls, was never called of God. But let it be observed, that, though the spiritual gifts requisite for the ministry must be supplied by God himself, yet this does not preclude the importance of human learning. No man can have his mind too well cultivated, to whom a dispensation of the Gospel is committed. The influence of the Spirit of God was no more designed to render human learning useless, than that learning should be considered as superseding the necessity of Divine inspiration.