Disciples Commissioned with Power Matthew 10:1

Matthew the apostle shared when Jesus, “saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then said he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” In chapter ten and verse one of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus, “called unto him his twelve disciples” and “gave them power against unclean spirits” where we read:

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

The verse reads, “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “he had called” which means “Jesus bid, summoned and invited” “unto him” or “to Jesus Himself” “his twelve disciples” which refers to “Jesus' twelve students, pupils and attendants”, “he gave them power” or “Jesus granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied authority, rule and right to His disciples” “against” which means “in opposition towards” “unclean spirits” or “not cleansed, foul and lewd demons or evil spirits”. Matthew shared how Jesus beckoned His “disciples” to Himself and granted them “authority and rule” over wicked spiritual beings.

The verse continues, “... and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” Matthew added the words, “and to heal” or “and to cure and restore to health” “all manner” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone” “of sickness” or “pertaining to disease, malady and infirmities” “and all manner” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone” “of disease” which means “pertaining to debilities, bodily weakness and physical sickness”. Matthew shared how Jesus also gave His “disciples” the ability to “cure and restore” physical bodies which were afflicted with physical “weakness” and “sickness”.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus is training His disciples to function as He did in the world. Not only were the disciples to have “power” over “evil spirits and demons”, but they were also to have the authority to cure and release “sickness and disease” from the bodies of people. Almighty God, who really needs no help to perform these duties, employs the aid of those who are willing to “trust in, rely upon and cling to” His Son Jesus, and when they align with Him, He includes them in His “saving” of the human race. May all who read these words take heed and submit themselves to the only One who is able to “save” and to “send” people through His gospel.

Next time Matthew shares the, “names of the twelve apostles”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.