Mateo 10

1 Jesús envía a los doce apóstoles
Jesús reunió a sus doce discípulos y les dio autoridad para expulsar espíritus malignos
y para sanar toda clase de enfermedades y dolencias.

2 Los nombres de los doce apóstoles son los siguientes:
Primero, Simón (también llamado Pedro),
luego Andrés (el hermano de Pedro),
Santiago (hijo de Zebedeo),
Juan (el hermano de Santiago),

3 Felipe,
Bartolomé,
Tomás,
Mateo (el cobrador de impuestos),
Santiago (hijo de Alfeo),
Tadeo,

4 Simón (el zelote),
Judas Iscariote (quien después lo traicionó).

5 Jesús envió a los doce apóstoles con las siguientes instrucciones:

6 sino solo al pueblo de Israel, las ovejas perdidas de Dios.

7 Vayan y anúncienles que el reino del cielo está cerca.

8 Sanen a los enfermos, resuciten a los muertos, curen a los leprosos y expulsen a los demonios. ¡Den tan gratuitamente como han recibido!

9 »No lleven nada de dinero en el cinturón, ni monedas de oro, ni de plata, ni siquiera de cobre.

10 No lleven bolso de viaje con una muda de ropa ni con sandalias, ni siquiera lleven un bastón. No duden en aceptar la hospitalidad, porque los que trabajan merecen que se les dé alimento.

11 »Cada vez que entren en una ciudad o una aldea, busquen a una persona digna y quédense en su casa hasta que salgan de ese lugar.

12 Cuando entren en el hogar, bendíganlo.

13 Si resulta ser un hogar digno, dejen que su bendición siga allí; si no lo es, retiren la bendición.

14 Si cualquier casa o ciudad se niega a darles la bienvenida o a escuchar su mensaje, sacúdanse el polvo de los pies al salir.

15 Les digo la verdad, el día del juicio les irá mejor a las ciudades perversas de Sodoma y Gomorra que a esa ciudad.

16 »Miren, los envío como ovejas en medio de lobos. Por lo tanto, sean astutos como serpientes e inofensivos como palomas.

17 Tengan cuidado, porque los entregarán a los tribunales y los azotarán con látigos en las sinagogas.

18 Serán sometidos a juicio delante de gobernantes y reyes por ser mis seguidores; pero esa será una oportunidad para que les hablen a los gobernantes y a otros incrédulos acerca de mí.

19 Cuando los arresten, no se preocupen por cómo responder o qué decir. Dios les dará las palabras apropiadas en el momento preciso.

20 Pues no serán ustedes los que hablen, sino que el Espíritu de su Padre hablará por medio de ustedes.

21 »Un hermano traicionará a muerte a su hermano, un padre traicionará a su propio hijo, los hijos se rebelarán contra sus padres y harán que los maten.

22 Todas las naciones los odiarán a ustedes por ser mis seguidores,
pero todo el que se mantenga firme hasta el fin será salvo.

23 Cuando los persigan en una ciudad, huyan a la siguiente. Les digo la verdad, el Hijo del Hombre
regresará antes de que hayan llegado a todas las ciudades de Israel.

24 »Los alumnos
no son superiores a su maestro, y los esclavos no son superiores a su amo.

25 Los alumnos deben parecerse a su maestro, y los esclavos deben parecerse a su amo. Si a mí, el amo de la casa, me han llamado príncipe de los demonios,
a los miembros de mi casa los llamarán con nombres todavía peores.

26 »Así que no tengan miedo de aquellos que los amenazan; pues llegará el tiempo en que todo lo que está encubierto será revelado y todo lo secreto se dará a conocer a todos.

27 Lo que ahora les digo en la oscuridad grítenlo por todas partes cuando llegue el amanecer. Lo que les susurro al oído grítenlo desde las azoteas, para que todos lo escuchen.

28 »No teman a los que quieren matarles el cuerpo; no pueden tocar el alma. Teman solo a Dios, quien puede destruir tanto el alma como el cuerpo en el infierno.

29 ¿Cuánto cuestan dos gorriones: una moneda de cobre?
Sin embargo, ni un solo gorrión puede caer a tierra sin que el Padre lo sepa.

30 En cuanto a ustedes, cada cabello de su cabeza está contado.

31 Así que no tengan miedo; para Dios ustedes son más valiosos que toda una bandada de gorriones.

32 »Todo aquel que me reconozca en público aquí en la tierra también lo reconoceré delante de mi Padre en el cielo;

33 pero al que me niegue aquí en la tierra también yo lo negaré delante de mi Padre en el cielo.

34 »¡No crean que vine a traer paz a la tierra! No vine a traer paz, sino espada.

35 “He venido a poner a un hombre contra su padre,
a una hija contra su madre
y a una nuera contra su suegra.

36 ¡Sus enemigos estarán dentro de su propia casa!”
.

37 »Si amas a tu padre o a tu madre más que a mí, no eres digno de ser mío; si amas a tu hijo o a tu hija más que a mí, no eres digno de ser mío.

38 Si te niegas a tomar tu cruz y a seguirme, no eres digno de ser mío.

39 Si te aferras a tu vida, la perderás; pero, si entregas tu vida por mí, la salvarás.

40 »El que los recibe a ustedes me recibe a mí, y el que me recibe a mí recibe al Padre, quien me envió.

41 Si reciben a un profeta como a alguien que habla de parte de Dios,
recibirán la misma recompensa que un profeta. Y, si reciben a un justo debido a su justicia, recibirán una recompensa similar a la de él.

42 Y si le dan siquiera un vaso de agua fresca a uno de mis seguidores más insignificantes, les aseguro que recibirán una 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.