Matthew 9:36—10:8
Chapter 9
Jesus’ Compassion
When he saw the crowds, he was filled with compassion, for they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.Then he said to his disciples:
“The harvest is abundant, but the workers are only a few.
Ask the master of the harvest to send workers to gather his harvest.”
Chapter 10
The Twelve
Jesus called his Twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.
These are the names of the Twelve apostles: first, Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Simon, the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, the man who would betray him.
Mission of the Twelve
Jesus sent these Twelve on a mission with the instructions: “Do not visit pagan territory and do not enter a Samaritan town.
Go, instead, to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.
Go and proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven is near.
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Commentaries
Narrative Summary of Jesus’ Activity – Jesus’ Compassion.
These four verses serve as an interlude, closing one section and opening another. Jesus, the Messiah, has announced the beginning of God’s reign with words and actions. His first sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, has been validated through signs and miracles. The success of his power to heal people from all kinds of diseases and ailments has drawn a large crowd of the poor and needy. This sets the stage for the next section: the missionary sending of the Twelve, close followers who will learn from Jesus the scope of the mission, how to carry it out, and God’s initiative, signaled by his call.
The Twelve.
Twelve are chosen, like the tribes of Israel (19:28), and now symbolize the universality of the new people of God. The title of apostles, meaning ‘sent ones,’ is hinted at. They are led by Simon, who has a new name in ministry: Peter. They come from diverse backgrounds and mindsets… But amid them is Jesus, the unifying center. To this first missionary team, the Master will deliver his second discourse, focusing on their mission.
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.