Daily Devotional For Thursday, October 16, 2025

Good morning Southsiders! We are making our way through Matthew’s Gospel. Today, we are now in chapter 10. And for today’s reading, we are going to break this chapter into multiple devotionals so that we can do it justice. For today, we are going to read Matthew 10:1-4:

“Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. (2) Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; (3) Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; (4)Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him” (NASB).

Before giving us the names of the 12 disciples, Matthew tells us why they were sent out on this first mission and what they were to do. In Matthew’s Gospel, this is the first time Jesus has sent them out on their own. These 12 men were His closest friends and had access to Him that others did not. This is why they received such intense training to do what Jesus wanted. And after the Resurrection, we see the impact these disciples minus Judas, replaced by Matthias later.

These disciples started the Christian church and through persecution and martyrdom of their lives, we are here today. After the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, they are no longer called disciples but apostles. Why did Jesus choose 12 disciples? The number is significant for it corresponds to the 12 tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). This shows the continuity between the Old Testament Law and the New Testament message of the love of Jesus. These 12 men represent the bridge between the Old Testament rules, rituals and regulations of the Law and the New Testament means of salvation through a relationship to Jesus Christ.  These 12 men were in many respects the righteous remnant of Israel.

They were chosen by Jesus out of an apostate nation, a rebellious people of God, to be the light and salt of salvation through Jesus Christ. These 12 men represent the nation before God and they are to reach the nation for God.The number 12 was so important that after Judas committed suicided, he was replaced (Acts 1:15-26).

What Jesus does here in sending His disciples out is to give them authority over evil and demons. All they had to do was say the word and demons would be cast out of people. Think of that! Jesus’ power flowed through them and out of them to exorcise demons out of people. Jesus also gave them the power to heal every kind of disease and illness. Imagine that! What if Jesus empowered you to do this. Who would you start healing first? 

Jesus called His disciples. He did not force them. They voluntarily followed Him. He did not call them because of their holy lives. He did not call them because of their faith. He chose them because of their potential. Not one of them stood out with great credentials. None of them at the time had any great leadership skills, but they all eventually would. They were no more leaders than the people Jesus didn’t choose to call to be His disciples. Going into Jesus’ last week they were arguing between themselves who was the greatest — who should sit on Jesus’ right and left when He established His earthly kingdom (Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:32-45). But in the end all of them had one trait in common – they would obey Jesus even to martyrdom. So let's look briefly at these 12 disciples Jesus called:

1. Simon – He was also called Peter. Sometimes he is called Cephas. “Cephas” is his Aramaic name and it means “rock or stone.” Peter is his Greek name and it means “rock or stone.” We know that Peter had been a fisherman (Matthew 4:18). He would later become part of the core three closest disciples to Jesus (Peter, James and John). He confessed that Jesus was the Messiah (Matthew 16:16). He would later go on to write two epistles, 1 & 2 Peter. He died as a martyr by being crucified upside down by Rome.
2. Andrew – was Peter’s brother and he also was a fisherman (Matthew 4:18). He had originally been a disciple of John the Baptizer and he accepted John’s testimony that Jesus was the Messiah. He is the one who brought his brother Peter to Jesus (John 1:35-42). Andrew and John were Jesus’ first disciples. 
3. James, the son of Zebedee and his brother John – We know that both James and John were fishermen (Matthew 4:21). John would go on to write the Gospel of John, 1, 2, 3 John and the Book of Revelation. They were cousins to Jesus and their mother, Salome Jesus’ aunt (Mary’s sister), requested that Jesus give her 2 sons the two highest positions of honor in His earthly kingdom (Matthew 20:20-28).
4. John – John would go on to write the Gospel of John, 1, 2, 3 John and the Book of Revelation. They were cousins to Jesus and their mother, Salome Jesus’ aunt (Mary’s sister), requested that Jesus give her 2 sons the two highest positions of honor in His earthly kingdom (Matthew 20:20-28).
5. Philip – he was the 4th to meet Jesus (John 1:43). Philip brought his brother Nathanael, also called Bartholomew to Jesus (John 1:45). Since they were from the same town as Andrew and Peter, they probably knew each other as fishermen (John 1:44).
6. Bartholomew – since two names are used for him (Nathanael and Bartholomew), scholars believe they are the same person. In Mark’s Gospel, Philip and Bartholomew are paired together (Mark 3:18). And in John’s Gospel, Philip and Nathanael are paired up (John 1:45). Since John does not mention Bartholomew and Mark does not mention Nathanael, scholars believe they are one in the same. One of the first traits we learn about Nathanael or Bartholomew is he is an honest and truthful man (John 1:47). Bartholomew was not impressed at first with Jesus because he did not believe the Messiah could come from Nazareth (John 1:46). He would quickly accept Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:49).
7. Thomas – we often referred to him as “doubting Thomas” because he doubted the Resurrection of Jesus (John 20:24-25). We learn that Thomas was committed and tough and tended to be a little pessimistic. We see this in John 11:16. We know he may have had a twin. His other name, Didymus means “twin.” Scholars are not sure since his twin is never named. Some scholars think it may have been a nickname because he resembled someone else. 
8. Matthew – we know he was also called Levi and that he was a tax collector (Matthew 9:9). He would have been hated by the Jews because of his loyalty to Rome and their profession and personal corruption – charging more taxes than due and pocketing the difference for themselves. 
9. James Son of Alphaeus – he is called this to differentiate him from James the son of Zebedee and brother to John (Matthew 9:9). He is also called James the Younger (Mark 15:40). He is also called the “son of Alphaeus” (Mark 2:14). His brother was Matthew. 
10. Thaddaeus – He is also called “Judas son of James” (Luke 6:16, Acts 1:13). 
11. Simon the Zealot – Some versions of Scripture call this disciple Simon the Canaanite. Simon was probably not a member of the party of Zealots, for that political party did not appear until A.D. 68. Most likely the word “Zealot” that is used here indicates zeal for God’s honor and not extreme nationalism; it was an affectionate nickname.
12. Judas Iscariot – The name “Iscariot” is probably a compound word meaning “the man from Kerioth.” Thus, Judas’s hometown was Kerioth in southern Judea (see Joshua 15:25), making him the only one of the Twelve who was not from Galilee. It was Judas, son of Simon Iscariot (John 6:71),  who would betray Jesus to his enemies and then commit suicide (Matthew 27:3-5, Luke 22:47-48). “Iscariot” may be a reference to a dagger called a sacarii. This dagger was hidden under an opening in the robe and could quickly be used if needed. So, this would mean Jesus called a closeted zealot who hated Rome and would kill any Roman soldier if he had the chance. He was replaced with Matthias in Acts 1:15-26 after he committed suicide for betraying Jesus.

Now having looked at these 12 disciples of Jesus, the New Testament does not give us many details about them because in all probability they were not very impressive. They were fishermen, zealots, tax collectors – just common, poor, unimpressive and uneducated men. It was upon these 12 men Jesus entrusted the Gospel and who after the Resurrection changed the world and continue to change the world to this day. This tells us that God can use anyone no matter how insignificant or unimportant they may seem. God called ordinary people and if He can use them, He can use you and me too.

Assignment: Christ has called you to be His disciple. How well are you following Him? Is it wholeheartedly or half-heartedly or no heart at all? Having a brief description of each disciple, how do you relate to them? If you are not wholeheartedly committed to Jesus, why? You may think there is nothing impressive about you either that God could use. That’s the point. What is impressive is the Lord Jesus Christ and what He does through just ordinary people like you and me. Take a moment to thank the Lord for His calling in and on your life.

Scripture To Meditate On: Acts 1:8, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (NASB).

Prayer To Pray: “Lord, help me to stop making and giving excuses as to why I will not commit completely to You. Such reluctance is betraying You just like Judas did. I want to be all in for You. Please use me to be Your disciples wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly