Mateo 10

1 Entonces llamando a sus doce discípulos, Jesús les dio poder sobre los espíritus inmundos para expulsarlos y para sanar toda enfermedad y toda dolencia.

2 Y los nombres de los doce apóstoles son éstos: primero, Simón, llamado Pedro, y Andrés su hermano; y Jacobo , el hijo de Zebedeo, y Juan su hermano;

3 Felipe y Bartolomé; Tomás y Mateo, el recaudador de impuestos; Jacobo, el hijo de Alfeo, y Tadeo;

4 Simón el cananita, y Judas Iscariote, el que también le entregó.

5 A estos doce envió Jesús después de instruirlos, diciendo: No vayáis por el camino de los gentiles, y no entréis en ninguna ciudad de los samaritanos.

6 Sino id más bien a las ovejas perdidas de la casa de Israel.

7 Y cuando vayáis, predicad diciendo: "El reino de los cielos se ha acercado."

8 Sanad enfermos, resucitad muertos, limpiad leprosos, expulsad demonios; de gracia recibisteis, dad de gracia.

9 No os proveáis de oro, ni de plata, ni de cobre para llevar en vuestros cintos,

10 ni de alforja para el camino, ni de dos túnicas, ni de sandalias, ni de bordón; porque el obrero es digno de su sostén.

11 Y en cualquier ciudad o aldea donde entréis, averiguad quién es digno en ella, y quedaos allí hasta que os marchéis.

12 Al entrar en la casa, dadle vuestro saludo de paz.

13 Y si la casa es digna, que vuestro saludo de paz venga sobre ella; pero si no es digna, que vuestro saludo de paz se vuelva a vosotros.

14 Y cualquiera que no os reciba ni oiga vuestras palabras, al salir de esa casa o de esa ciudad, sacudid el polvo de vuestros pies.

15 En verdad os digo que en el día del juicio será más tolerable el castigo para la tierra de Sodoma y Gomorra que para esa ciudad.

16 Mirad, yo os envío como ovejas en medio de lobos; por tanto, sed astutos como las serpientes e inocentes como las palomas.

17 Pero cuidaos de los hombres, porque os entregarán a los tribunales y os azotarán en sus sinagogas;

18 y hasta seréis llevados delante de gobernadores y reyes por mi causa, como un testimonio a ellos y a los gentiles.

19 Pero cuando os entreguen, no os preocupéis de cómo o qué hablaréis; porque a esa hora se os dará lo que habréis de hablar.

20 Porque no sois vosotros los que habláis, sino el Espíritu de vuestro Padre que habla en vosotros.

21 Y el hermano entregará a la muerte al hermano, y el padre al hijo; y los hijos se levantarán contra los padres, y les causarán la muerte.

22 Y seréis odiados de todos por causa de mi nombre, pero el que persevere hasta el fin, ése será salvo.

23 Pero cuando os persigan en esta ciudad, huid a la otra; porque en verdad os digo: no terminaréis de recorrer las ciudades de Israel antes que venga el Hijo del Hombre.

24 Un discípulo no está por encima del maestro, ni un siervo por encima de su señor.

25 Le basta al discípulo llegar a ser como su maestro, y al siervo como su señor. Si al dueño de la casa lo han llamado Beelzebú, ¡cuánto más a los de su casa!

26 Así que no les temáis, porque nada hay encubierto que no haya de ser revelado, ni oculto que no haya de saberse.

27 Lo que os digo en la oscuridad, habladlo en la luz; y lo que oís al oído, proclamadlo desde las azoteas.

28 Y no temáis a los que matan el cuerpo, pero no pueden matar el alma; más bien temed a aquel que puede hacer perecer tanto el alma como el cuerpo en el infierno .

29 ¿No se venden dos pajarillos por un cuarto ? Y sin embargo, ni uno de ellos caerá a tierra sin permitirlo vuestro Padre.

30 Y hasta los cabellos de vuestra cabeza están todos contados.

31 Así que no temáis; vosotros valéis más que muchos pajarillos.

32 Por tanto, todo el que me confiese delante de los hombres, yo también le confesaré delante de mi Padre que está en los cielos.

33 Pero cualquiera que me niegue delante de los hombres, yo también lo negaré delante de mi Padre que está en los cielos.

34 No penséis que vine a traer paz a la tierra; no vine a traer paz, sino espada.

35 Porque vine a PONER AL HOMBRE CONTRA SU PADRE, A LA HIJA CONTRA SU MADRE, Y A LA NUERA CONTRA SU SUEGRA;

36 y LOS ENEMIGOS DEL HOMBRE serán LOS DE SU MISMA CASA.

37 El que ama al padre o a la madre más que a mí, no es digno de mí; y el que ama al hijo o a la hija más que a mí, no es digno de mí.

38 Y el que no toma su cruz y sigue en pos de mí, no es digno de mí.

39 El que ha hallado su vida, la perderá; y el que ha perdido su vida por mi causa, la hallará.

40 El que os recibe a vosotros, a mí me recibe; y el que me recibe a mí, recibe al que me envió.

41 El que recibe a un profeta como profeta, recibirá recompensa de profeta; y el que recibe a un justo como justo, recibirá recompensa de justo.

42 Y cualquiera que como discípulo dé de beber aunque sólo sea un vaso de agua fría a uno de estos pequeños, en verdad os digo que no perderá su recompensa.

Mateo 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

The apostles called. (1-4) The apostles instructed and sent forth. (5-15) Directions to the apostles. (16-42)

Verses 1-4 The word "apostle" signifies messenger; they were Christ's messengers, sent forth to proclaim his kingdom. Christ gave them power to heal all manner of sickness. In the grace of the gospel there is a slave for every sore, a remedy for every malady. There is no spiritual disease, but there is power in Christ for the cure of it. There names are recorded, and it is their honour; yet they had more reason to rejoice that their names were written in heaven, while the high and mighty names of the great ones of the earth are buried in the dust.

Verses 5-15 The Gentiles must not have the gospel brought them, till the Jews have refused it. This restraint on the apostles was only in their first mission. Wherever they went they must proclaim, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. They preached, to establish the faith; the kingdom, to animate the hope; of heaven, to inspire the love of heavenly things, and the contempt of earthly; which is at hand, that men may prepare for it without delay. Christ gave power to work miracles for the confirming of their doctrine. This is not necessary now that the kingdom of God is come. It showed that the intent of the doctrine they preached, was to heal sick souls, and to raise those that were dead in sin. In proclaiming the gospel of free grace for the healing and saving of men's souls, we must above all avoid the appearance of the spirit of an hireling. They are directed what to do in strange towns and cities. The servant of Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent. His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behoves him to find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all. They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase their condemnation.

Verses 16-42 Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has dealt fairly and faithfully with us, in telling us the worst we can meet with in his service; and he would have us deal so with ourselves, in sitting down and counting the cost. Persecutors are worse than beasts, in that they prey upon those of their own kind. The strongest bonds of love and duty, have often been broken through from enmity against Christ. Sufferings from friends and relations are very grievous; nothing cuts more. It appears plainly, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution; and we must expect to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations. With these predictions of trouble, are counsels and comforts for a time of trial. The disciples of Christ are hated and persecuted as serpents, and their ruin is sought, and they need the serpent's wisdom. Be ye harmless as doves. Not only, do nobody any hurt, but bear nobody any ill-will. Prudent care there must be, but not an anxious, perplexing thought; let this care be cast upon God. The disciples of Christ must think more how to do well, than how to speak well. In case of great peril, the disciples of Christ may go out of the way of danger, though they must not go out of the way of duty. No sinful, unlawful means may be used to escape; for then it is not a door of God's opening. The fear of man brings a snare, a perplexing snare, that disturbs our peace; an entangling snare, by which we are drawn into sin; and, therefore, it must be striven and prayed against. Tribulation, distress, and persecution cannot take away God's love to them, or theirs to him. Fear Him, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. They must deliver their message publicly, for all are deeply concerned in the doctrine of the gospel. The whole counsel of God must be made known, ( Acts 20:27 ) . Christ shows them why they should be of good cheer. Their sufferings witnessed against those who oppose his gospel. When God calls us to speak for him, we may depend on him to teach us what to say. A believing prospect of the end of our troubles, will be of great use to support us under them. They may be borne to the end, because the sufferers shall be borne up under them. The strength shall be according to the day. And it is great encouragement to those who are doing Christ's work, that it is a work which shall certainly be done. See how the care of Providence extends to all creatures, even to the sparrows. This should silence all the fears of God's people; Ye are of more value than many sparrows. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. This denotes the account God takes and keeps of his people. It is our duty, not only to believe in Christ, but to profess that faith, in suffering for him, when we are called to it, as well as in serving him. That denial of Christ only is here meant which is persisted in, and that confession only can have the blessed recompence here promised, which is the real and constant language of faith and love. Religion is worth every thing; all who believe the truth of it, will come up to the price, and make every thing else yield to it. Christ will lead us through sufferings, to glory with him. Those are best prepared for the life to come, that sit most loose to this present life. Though the kindness done to Christ's disciples be ever so small, yet if there be occasion for it, and ability to do no more, it shall be accepted. Christ does not say that they deserve a reward; for we cannot merit any thing from the hand of God; but they shall receive a reward from the free gift of God. Let us boldly confess Christ, and show love to him in all things.

Footnotes

• [a]. O, Santiago
• [b]. Gr., Gehenna
• [c]. Gr., assarion; equivale aprox. a 1/16 denario