Sermon Tone Analysis

Matthew 10:1-15

Introduction

Those whom Jesus had called to pray for workers He then called to become workers.

As they began to see the world as He sees it, looking out on lost humanity through their Lord’s eyes and with His heart of compassion, they also began to see that they themselves were called to go out and warn that lost world of the coming harvest of judgment and to invite them into the Lord’s kingdom.

Vital as it is, prayer is not all that is required.

The believer who prays for God to send workers but is unwilling to go himself, prays insincerely and hypocritically.

The Christian who genuinely prays for God to send witnesses is also willing to be a witness.

William Barclay reports that when Martin Luther became convinced that the biblical way of salvation was by God’s grace working through man’s faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, he began earnestly preaching and contending for this doctrine that became the hallmark of the Protestant Reformation.

A friend of his was equally convinced of this truth, and the two men agreed that Luther would spend his time out in the world preaching, writing, and debating, while the friend would spend his time alone in a monastery upholding Luther and the cause of the Reformation in prayer.

As Luther visited the friend from time to time and reported the difficulties and obstacles of the work, the friend would intensify his praying.

One night the friend had a dream in which he saw a gigantic field that stretched over the whole earth.

But only one lone figure was working in the field, and when he looked closer the man saw that the lone figure was his dear friend Luther.

When he woke up he immediately went to find Luther and tell him that God made clear to him through the dream that it was not enough simply to pray.

He, too, must give himself directly to the work of spreading the good news of salvation.

He did not forsake praying, but he set aside his pious solitude and began to labor beside Luther in the heat and dirt of battle.

In this text our Lord instructs us in how to Prepare for Service:

\\ 1A.

The Master’s Men (10:1-4)

1B.

Their calling (10:1)

“*summoned*” is /proskaleoô/, a compound of /kaleoô/ (to* *call) and /pros/ (toward, or to).

It is an intense term that means to call someone to oneself in order to confront him face to face.

They were chosen sovereignly

*John 15:16 *“You did not choose Me but I chose you…”

Ø      That has always been and will continue to be God’s way!

They were chosen after prayer (Luke 6:12)

Ø      He chose these because they were the Father’s choice.

*John 17:6 *“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”

They were chosen to be prepared (10:1)

Ø       “disciples” /Matheôteôs/ refers to those who learn under the instruction of a master teacher.

They were chosen to be sent (10:2).

Ø       “apostles” /Apostoloi/ refers to qualified representatives who are sent out on a mission.

Ø      They had to be learners before they could be sent as representatives.

\\ 2B.

Their identity (10:2-4)

“The greatness of God’s grace is seen in His choosing the undeserving to be His people and the unqualified to do His work.

We are tempted to become discouraged and disheartened when our spiritual life and witness suffer because of our sins and failures.

Satan attempts to convince us that those shortcomings render us useless to God; but His use of the apostles testifies to the opposite.

They did not lead the church in turning the world upside down because they were extraordinarily talented or naturally gifted, but because—in spite of their human limitations and failures—they surrendered themselves to God, whose power is perfected in man’s weakness (2 Cor.

12:9).”

(MacArthur)

Always 3 groups; the first name in each group is  always the same, Peter, Phillip, and James the son of Alphaeus.

The brothers (10:2)

Ø      Peter and Andrew

Peter the leader

Andrew the soulwinner

Ø      James and John

James the first martyr

John the revelator

The friends (10:3)

Ø      Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanel)

Philip the servant~/leader

Bartholomew a genuine follower of Christ.

Ø      Thomas and Matthew

Thomas the doubter

Matthew the tax collector

\\ The others (10:3b)

Ø      James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus

James the lesser; may have been related to Matthew

Thaddaeus also called Judas the son of James

Ø      Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot

Simon the Zealot, member of the Zealots

Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Christ

2A.

The Master’s Mandate

1B.

The mission (10:5-6)

The commission – “Jesus sent out…”

Ø      How can I know that it is the Lord calling and sending me?

A strong desire to serve the Lord (1 Timothy 3:1).

The confirmation by the church (Acts 13:1-4)

An opportunity to serve (1 Corinthians 16:9)

The command (10:5b-6)

Ø      The reason for the limits

Because of the Jews were the covenant people

Because the immaturity of the disciples.

Because of the prejudice of the Jewish leaders

Ø      The application of the principle

We must focus our efforts; no ministry can be all things to all people.

We must have specific Bible based objectives and make them our priorities.

2B.

The message (10:7)

What it is

Ø      The central theme of the kingdom is the King.

It is all about Jesus.

*1 Corinthians 1:23 *but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

What it does – the message of the kingdom:

Ø      Manifests itself in the conversion of the sinner (Matthew 18:3).

Ø      Demonstrates itself in consecration as believers live out the divine principles of God’s revelation by obedience to His Word.

(Romans 14:17).

Ø      Will be complete in His eternal kingdom (Matthew 25:31; Acts 3:19-21; Revelation 11:15; 20:4).

3B.

The miracles (10:8)

The purpose

Ø      These were the same works that Jesus had done and they were for the same purpose that is to prove that this ministry was from God.

The application

Ø      They demonstrate the love and compassion of God.

Ø      They also force us to go to those in need of the Savior.

\\ 4B.

The method (10:9-15)

Trust God for everything (10:9-10)