Daily Devotional For Friday, October 17, 2025
Good morning Southsiders, if it is morning for you. We are making our way through Matthew’s Gospel and today we come to Matthew 10:5-15:
“These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; (6) but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (7) And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (8) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you receive, freely give. (9) Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, (10) or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. (11) And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. (12) As you enter the house, give it your greeting. (13) If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. (14) Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. (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” (NASB).
As you read this passage, what are your first initial thoughts and why? If Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, does this passage suggest that Gentiles were not part of that? Let’s break this down. First, Gentiles were anyone who was not by ethnicity a Jew. Samaritans were Jews in the north who had violated the Torah, the Old Testament Law, and intermarried with Assyrians when they were conquered in 722 BC. See 2 Kings 17:24.
As a result their Jewish faith and beliefs got compromised. The Samaritans only accepted the first five books of the Old Testament as Scripture. They rejected everything else from Joshua all the way through Malachi. That is a lot left out, especially all the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. Jesus was not opposing evangelizing the Gentiles or Samaritans because He had already done this. We see Jesus encounter with Gentiles in Matthew 8:28-34 and with Samaritans in John 4.
Jesus wanted to have His disciples first focus on the lost sheep of Israel. So, as Jesus sent out His disciples on this short-term mission trip, He wanted them focused. Gentile territory was to the north and Samaritan territory to the south. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that Jesus came first for the Jews (Romans 1:16). God chose the Jews to be His first evangelists of the Gospel to the rest of the world. The disciples would take the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire to Gentiles (Matthew 28:19).
The Bible clearly teaches that the Gospel is for everyone regardless of sex, ethnicity, intelligence, status, economic background, etc. See Genesis 12:3, Isaiah 25:6, Isaiah 56:3-7, Malachi 1:11, Acts 10:34-35, Romans 3:29, and Galatians 3:28. The message Jesus told His disciples to preach was the “kingdom of God is at hand.” Unfortunately, many Jews saw this as a political and military kingdom, not a spiritual kingdom. The wanted Rome destroyed and Israel restored as the one superpower as in the kingdoms of David and Solomon. Since the disciples had freely received salvation, they were to freely share it with others.
The four miracles Jesus said His disciples would perform would prove they had been sent out by Him with His power to do these. We see that Jesus said that employed workers for the Gospel deserve a reasonable wage for their labors, but not one that enriches them. Sorry televangelists, “faith” healers, and PTL.
In verses 9-10, Jesus seems to be inhibiting His disciples in this short-term mission trip. New Testament scholar Bruce B. Barton helps us understand Matthew 10:9-10:
“This simply reveals the urgency of the task and its temporary nature. Jesus sent the disciples in pairs (Mark 6:7), expecting them to return with a full report. This was a training mission; they were to leave immediately and travel light, taking along only minimal supplies. They were to depend on God and on the people to whom they ministered (Matthew 10:11). Most people leaving on a journey would carry money in their belts. Normally each one would carry a bag for the journey to carry supplies, an extra tunic for added warmth at night, sandals to protect feet on rough terrain, and a staff for help in walking. But Jesus forbade them to take along any of these things so that they would be forced to depend on Him” (Source: Bruce B. Barton, The Life Application Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” pp. 202-203).
Tomorrow we will continue and finish looking at Matthew 10:11-15. Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs to share the Gospel with people they knew best – other Jews. Their own kinsmen – they knew their language, culture, religion, traditions, and etc. This made it simpler for them. So, first Jesus told them where to go and where not to go. Second, Jesus told them what to say and what not to say. Third, Jesus equipped them with His power to do what He sent them to do.
Assignment: Just like Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs to a very specific group they knew well, who is Jesus wanting you to possibly pair up with to take the Gospel to very soon? Jesus told His disciples to take only the bear essentials because they had His power. Why do you think we often feel we need more to share the Gospel personally? In what area of your life do you have to depend on Jesus the most?
Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 3:2, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, please forgive me for thinking I need more than You to share the Gospel. You are the Gospel. No one can tell my story of what You have done for me as I can. I am the only one who can make it both personal and powerful through You. Please forgive me when I am hesitant to share You with others. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly