Mateo 10

Jesús envía a los doce

1 Reunió a sus doce discípulos y les dio autoridad para expulsar a los espíritus malignos y sanar toda enfermedad y toda dolencia.

2 Estos son los nombres de los doce apóstoles: primero Simón, llamado Pedro, y su hermano Andrés; Jacobo y su hermano Juan, hijos de Zebedeo;

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

4 Simón el Zelote y Judas Iscariote, el que lo traicionó.

5 Jesús envió a estos doce con las siguientes instrucciones: «No vayan entre los gentiles ni entren en ningún pueblo de los samaritanos.

6 Vayan más bien a las ovejas descarriadas del pueblo de Israel.

7 Dondequiera que vayan, prediquen este mensaje: “El reino de los cielos está cerca”.

8 Sanen a los enfermos, resuciten a los muertos, limpien de su enfermedad a los que tienen lepra, expulsen a los demonios. Lo que ustedes recibieron gratis, denlo gratuitamente.

9 No lleven oro ni plata ni cobre en el cinturón,

10 ni bolsa para el camino, ni dos mudas de ropa, ni sandalias, ni bastón; porque el trabajador merece que se le dé su sustento.

11 »En cualquier pueblo o aldea donde entren, busquen a alguien que merezca recibirlos, y quédense en su casa hasta que se vayan de ese lugar.

12 Al entrar, digan: “Paz a esta casa”.^[a]

13 Si el hogar se lo merece, que la paz de ustedes reine en él; y si no, que la paz se vaya con ustedes.

14 Si alguno no los recibe bien ni escucha sus palabras, al salir de esa casa o de ese pueblo, sacúdanse el polvo de los pies.

15 Les aseguro que en el día del juicio el castigo para Sodoma y Gomorra será más tolerable que para ese pueblo.

16 Los envío como ovejas en medio de lobos. Por tanto, sean astutos como serpientes y sencillos como palomas.

17 »Tengan cuidado con la gente; los entregarán a los tribunales y los azotarán en las sinagogas.

18 Por mi causa los llevarán ante gobernadores y reyes para dar testimonio a ellos y a los gentiles.

19 Pero cuando los arresten, no se preocupen por lo que van a decir o cómo van a decirlo. En ese momento se les dará lo que han de decir,

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

21 »El hermano entregará a la muerte al hermano, y el padre al hijo. Los hijos se rebelarán contra sus padres y harán que los maten.

22 Por causa de mi nombre todo el mundo los odiará, pero el que se mantenga firme hasta el fin será salvo.

23 Cuando los persigan en una ciudad, huyan a otra. Les aseguro que no terminarán de recorrer las ciudades de Israel antes de que venga el Hijo del hombre.

24 »El discípulo no es superior a su maestro, ni el siervo superior a su amo.

25 Basta con que el discípulo sea como su maestro, y el siervo como su amo. Si al jefe de la casa lo han llamado Beelzebú, ¡cuánto más a los de su familia!

26 »Así que no les tengan miedo; porque no hay nada encubierto que no llegue a revelarse, ni nada escondido que no llegue a conocerse.

27 Lo que les digo en la oscuridad, díganlo ustedes a plena luz; lo que se les susurra al oído, proclámenlo desde las azoteas.

28 No teman a los que matan el cuerpo pero no pueden matar el alma.^[b] Teman más bien al que puede destruir alma y cuerpo en el infierno.^[c]

29 ¿No se venden dos gorriones por una monedita?^[d] Sin embargo, ni uno de ellos caerá a tierra sin que lo permita el Padre;

30 y él les tiene contados a ustedes aun los cabellos de la cabeza.

31 Así que no tengan miedo; ustedes valen más que muchos gorriones.

32 »A cualquiera que me reconozca delante de los demás, yo también lo reconoceré delante de mi Padre que está en el cielo.

33 Pero a cualquiera que me desconozca delante de los demás, yo también lo desconoceré delante de mi Padre que está en el cielo.

34 »No crean que he venido a traer paz a la tierra. No vine a traer paz sino espada.

35 Porque he venido a poner en conflicto“al hombre contra su padre,a la hija contra su madre,a la nuera contra su suegra;

36 los enemigos de cada cual serán los de su propia familia”.^[e]

37 »El que quiere a su padre o a su madre más que a mí no es digno de mí; el que quiere a su hijo o a su hija más que a mí no es digno de mí;

38 y el que no toma su cruz y me sigue no es digno de mí.

39 El que se aferre a su propia vida, la perderá, y el que renuncie a^[f] su propia vida por mi causa, la encontrará.

40 »Quien los recibe a ustedes, me recibe a mí; y quien me recibe a mí, recibe al que me envió.

41 Cualquiera que recibe a un profeta por tratarse de un profeta, recibirá recompensa de profeta; y el que recibe a un justo por tratarse de un justo, recibirá recompensa de justo.

42 Y quien dé siquiera un vaso de agua fresca a uno de estos pequeños por tratarse de uno de mis discípulos, les aseguro 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]. "Al entrar " "… " "casa”" . Lit. "Al entrar en la casa, salúdenla" .
• [b]. "alma" . Este vocablo griego también puede significar "vida" .
• [c]. "infierno" . Lit. "Gehenna" .
• [d]. "una monedita" . Lit. "un asarion" .
• [e]. Mi 7:6
• [f]. "se aferre a " "… " "renuncie a" . Lit. "encuentre … pierda" .