The Great Sending, Chapter 10

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
~ Matthew 10:6-7

STUDY 10: The Disciples are Sent to the Towns and Villages

pp. 84-87

Scripture: Matthew 10:1-42; Mark 6:7-12; Luke 9:1-9; 10:1-24

by Reverand Dr. David Buegler

Have you ever wondered why we call Matthew 28:16-20 the GREAT commission? One reason to call it GREAT is because it is WONDERFUL to be commissioned to mission by our Lord Jesus Christ. Before Jesus ever stood on the Mount of Ascension and issued the GREAT COMMISSION He sent the twelve disciples. Then, He eventually seventy-two more, commissioning them into the towns and villages to preach the gospel and show miraculous acts of mercy.

The disciples Jesus sent to the towns and villages were, for the most part, uneducated, unsophisticated, weak in faith, and slow to teach their followers. But they had been touched by Jesus and they could accomplish their mission only through the authority and power of the Lord who was sending them. It was, after all, His mission.

When the twelve were sent out by Jesus – and later, the seventy- two – they were sent two-by-two so they could each support and encourage their partner. But more importantly, having been sent by the authority of Christ meant they always had the authority of the gospel with them, guiding their proclamation and healing acts of mercy.

The sent ones were also warned that they were going out “like sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16). They were warned that since this was a divine mission, there would be devil-directed opposition. And since there was such urgency to the mission (“the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”), the mission demanded that the disciples shake the dust off their feet when hard-hearted rejection came to them, as a testimony against those who resisted. The very action of moving on could cause those who rejected the mission to rethink and bring them to repentance. It is important for Christ’s church to see the possible extent of this sending. Luke 10:17-24 gives three wonderful encouragements for our mission. In verses 17-19 the disciples are thrilled to have seen Spirit-driven results to their work. In verse 20, Jesus tells them the greatest thrill is to rejoice in their own eternal salvation. And then the Lord prays to the Father, rejoicing that His holy will is being done. And then turning to the disciples he said privately, “I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see and did not see it.” How blessed are the sent to be in mission and to go into the towns and villages of this lost world!

Have you ever wondered why we call Matthew 28:16-20 the GREAT commission? One reason to call it GREAT is because it is WONDERFUL to be commissioned to mission by our Lord Jesus Christ. Before Jesus ever stood on the Mount of Ascension and issued the GREAT COMMISSION He sent the twelve disciples. Then, He eventually seventy-two more, commissioning them into the towns and villages to preach the gospel and show miraculous acts of mercy.

The disciples Jesus sent to the towns and villages were, for the most part, uneducated, unsophisticated, weak in faith, and slow to teach their followers. But they had been touched by Jesus and they could accomplish their mission only through the authority and power of the Lord who was sending them. It was, after all, His mission. When the twelve were sent out by Jesus – and later, the seventy- two – they were sent two-by-two so they could each support and encourage their partner. But more importantly, having been sent by the authority of Christ meant they always had the authority of the gospel with them, guiding their proclamation and healing acts of mercy.

The sent ones were also warned that they were going out “like sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16). They were warned that since this was a divine mission, there would be devil-directed opposition. And since there was such urgency to the mission (“the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few”), the mission demanded that the disciples shake the dust off their feet when hard-hearted rejection came to them, as a testimony against those who resisted. The very action of moving on could cause those who rejected the mission to rethink and bring them to repentance. It is important for Christ’s church to see the possible extent of this sending. Luke 10:17-24 gives three wonderful encouragements for our mission. In verses 17-19 the disciples are thrilled to have seen Spirit-driven results to their work. In verse 20, Jesus tells them the greatest thrill is to rejoice in their own eternal salvation. And then the Lord prays to the Father, rejoicing that His holy will is being done. And then turning to the disciples he said privately, “I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see and did not see it.” How blessed are the sent to be in mission and to go into the towns and villages of this lost world!

Questions to ponder with
yourself and others

• Since the sent ones were on a divine mission, they were warned about devil-directed opposition. Where do you see the truth of that warning in your personal and congregational mission work?
• How important is it for us to recognize that the “mission of God” is not our mission? What false leanings do we succumb to if we believe the mission in fact belongs to us?
• Do you think the Great Commission is called great because it is so wonderful, or because it is so huge? Talk about both. Why is the act of us being sent so wonderful? Why is the mission so huge?

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