Matthew 10:7-13
Chapter 10
7
Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.
8
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
9
Do not carry any gold, silver, or money in your purses.
10
Do not bring a travel bag, an extra shirt, sandals, or a walking stick: workers deserve compensation.
11
When you arrive in a town or village, seek out a worthy person, and remain there until you leave.
12
When you enter the house, wish it peace.
13
If the people are worthy, your peace will rest on them; if they are not, your blessing will come back to you.
Commentaries
Mission of the Twelve.
The message the envoys must share is that of Jesus—the nearness of the kingdom of God (7), which enters history and frees people from all bonds. Like Jesus, his envoys (the apostles) must live a similar itinerant and humble lifestyle. The peace that Matthew describes as part of the kingdom of God involves the need for reconciliation between God and humanity and among men and women; this cannot happen without justice and the removal of all barriers that discriminate, exploit, or oppress.