The Life of Christ

• Take just one staff, not two; take only one pair of shoes, not two.

He wanted His apostles to travel light.

• He wanted them to be on the run, ready to go, not distracted with the trivial cares of this life.

Mt. 10:11 “And into whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it; and abide there until you go away.”

By asking “who is worthy” means to discover who is supportive of your ministry and of Jesus of Nazareth.

• Let us take with us the mindset that the person owning the home we stay in is highly fortunate to even have us there.

• His or her house will be blessed; if there is sickness, people will be healed.

• When the ark of God rested at Obed- edom’s house for those few short months, the Lord greatly blessed his house (2 Sam. 6:11).

• Let us never feel we are imposing; our presence makes them the honored hosts!

Mt. 10:12-14 “And as you enter the house, give it your greeting. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your greeting of peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your greeting of peace return to you. 14 And whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.”

Shaking the dust off one’s feet was a symbolic act practiced by the Pharisees whenever they left a ceremonially unclean Gentile area.

• Not everybody will receive us; when our message is rejected, we simply shake off that dust, lift our heads high, and move forward!

Mt. 10:15 “Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.”

Those who reject us will someday have to face the rejection of Jesus, Himself, which could even be more severe than what awaits Sodom and Gomorrah.

Mt. 10:16-20 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore, be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. 17 But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18 and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak. 20 For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

Jesus is predicting well beyond this initial sending; this will be the price of ministry in the years to come.

• When put before men of position, the Holy Spirit promises to give us exactly what to say.

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