PrevMatthew 10:7Next

Matthew 10

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.

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

And when ye come into an house, salute it.

And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

What does Matthew 10:7 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 10:7 is a directive that Jesus Christ gives to His twelve disciples as He sends them out on a mission to the towns and villages of Israel.

Literally, the verse commands the disciples to proclaim that "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." This declaration signifies that the sovereign rule of God, typically associated with the end times, is now approaching or has already come near through the ministry of Jesus.

The verse emphasizes the urgency and immediacy of the disciples' preaching, suggesting the presence of God's kingdom is a current reality that requires people's response.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

The verse is situated within the Gospel of Matthew, which is generally considered to have been written for a Jewish-Christian audience.

The Gospel situates Jesus within the broader history of Israel and emphasizes His role as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

At the time of this verse, Jesus was sending out His disciples to preach to "the lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew 10:6), stressing the initial ministry focus on the Jewish people.

The announcement that "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" aligns with the Jewish expectation of a coming Messiah who would establish God's reign.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse speaks to several key concepts:

Imminence of God’s Kingdom: The phrase emphasizes the nearness of God's kingdom, suggesting that in Jesus' ministry, God's redemptive work is breaking into history.
Eschatology: In Jewish thought, the kingdom of heaven was associated with eschatological expectations, events of the end times.

The verse thus connects Jesus' ministry with these expectations.

Messiahship of Jesus: By associating Jesus with the coming kingdom, Matthew is underlining Jesus' identity as the Messiah, the anointed one sent by God to establish His kingdom.
Mission of the Church: The directive to the disciples extends to the mission of the church, calling followers of Jesus to proclaim the kingdom's presence in word and deed throughout history.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in various practical ways:

Evangelism: Christians may view this as a call to share the message of Jesus with others, emphasizing the immediacy of God's kingdom.
Social Justice: As part of proclaiming the kingdom, believers might be motivated to engage in social justice work, as the kingdom of heaven entails justice, peace, and righteousness.
Personal Transformation: The nearness of the kingdom prompts introspection and personal transformation in light of God's imminent rule.

Cross-References

Matthew 3:2: "And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 4:17: "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Luke 10:9: "And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."
Mark 1:15: "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

Language Study

The key phrase "is at hand" translates the Greek verb ἤγγικεν (ēngiken), a perfect active indicative form of ἐγγίζω (eggizō), meaning "to draw near." This denotes both an action that has been completed and its continuing results.

The phrase "kingdom of heaven" translates from the Greek βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν (basileia tōn ouranōn), a term often used in Matthew's Gospel to reference what is also called "the kingdom of God" in other Gospels, reflecting a Jewish reverence for God's name.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures and religions, the concept of a divine kingdom or rule often involved gods overcoming chaos or establishing order.

In Judaism, the kingdom of heaven concept is characterized by Yahweh's sovereign rule and linked to messianic hope.

These kingdom ideas stand apart from the Greco-Roman world's mythological and emperor cults, emphasizing earthly power and deification of human leaders.

Scientific Perspectives

The phrase "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" addresses theological and metaphysical realities rather than empirical scientific claims.

Thus, from a scientific standpoint, the verse doesn't lend itself to scientific analysis but rather speaks to spiritual truths and beliefs that transcend empirical measurement.

commentaries

William Barclay: Barclay notes the urgency in the message of Jesus as delivered by His disciples, emphasizing that the kingdom is not a distant dream but a present reality.
John Calvin: Calvin interprets this verse as a call for repentance and a turning away from sin because the kingdom of heaven signifies God's governance, which is manifested through the saving grace of Jesus.
Matthew Henry: Henry views this commission as a directive to both preach the gospel and evidence its power through works of healing, noting that the message of the kingdom must be accompanied by signs of its truth.
**Craig S.

Keener**: Keener suggests that the verse indicates the reversal of social orders, as the kingdom of heaven challenges worldly structures with its proclamation of hope and justice.

Matthew 10

Matthew 10

What does Matthew 10:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 10:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?