Holy Boldness

Chapter 19 A postolic P rotocols M atthew 10

Matthew 10 records the extraordinary instructions that Jesus gave his disciples before they went out on an apostolic campaign to the nation of Israel. Though His instructions were unique to His original followers, every line of this chapter carries significant meaning and instruction for those who would one day in the future minister in the name of Christ. Without a deep understanding of the fear of the Lord, these instructions would seem irrational and foolhardy. However, Jesus was not organizing a political campaign but setting in motion a kingdom invasion supplied by heaven and administrated by His servants that would not stop. It was not political but moral and spiritual. It would, however, affect things in the natural and political worlds. The ministry of Jesus was more than preaching to the multitudes and healing the sick. It was an announcement of another governmental order invading the earth. Jesus brought the kingdom of Heaven into the world in tangible, noticeable ways. This was not just ministry to felt need but the announcement of a government (Kingdom), a constitutional declaration of God’s will and standards and and then a demonstration of its reality and effectiveness. Critical to His campaign was raising up His disciples and that process involved preparing them for ministry. Almost from the beginning, Jesus went about gathering His key followers whom He equipped and trained for outreach and expansion of His message and ministry. Practically every line and every word in Matthew 10 implied a public display of authority. Jesus’ ministry cannot be understood in any authentic way if it is not understood from the aspect of one kingdom invading another. Therefore, Jesus’ commission of the twelve would have to include a provision of authority to genuinely break through in places of resistance. As we have already noted on numerous occasions, the key

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