10:1
This is another instance where we should ignore the chapter division. Jesus has just spoken about asking the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest field. Now Jesus sends out the twelve! Jesus is the Lord of the harvest, and the disciples (and by implication, us) are the workers. Jesus gave the disciples authority, and this was authority to drive out demons and to heal every disease and sickness. We cannot but read this verse and think that we really are missing something. It seems to me that from any reading of the gospels it is God’s intention and desire that His disciples have an awful lot more authority than we seem to have. Now this must be taken in context, and that it is part of our mission. Teaching and preaching is essential, as is sharing in Christ’s sufferings, but it is part of the mission.
10:2-4
We then get a list of the names of the twelve. 10:2 is the only occurrence of the word apostle in the Matthew’s gospel. Apostle means one who is sent, and Jesus is sending the disciples, so it is a very appropriate use. They are a very mixed bunch, and include Judas who would betray Jesus.
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