Matthew 10:1-4, part 3

Matthew Chapter 9:36-10:42 – Jesus Prepares and Commissions the Twelve Apostles Part 3 – Matthew 10:3 – Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas Review: In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus declares to His disciples that it is time to increase the shepherds because the people were distressed and dispirited by the Pharisees and scribes who were not shepherding the people in accordance with the Law. Fortunately, Jesus had been training shepherds as their replacement. The apostles and other disciples are called to be gentle, merciful, peacemakers; they are salt and light and are being trained by Jesus not only in the message of the kingdom but will also receive power to do the same actions as Jesus to validate the message of the kingdom of heaven. So far, we have discussed Peter, James, John, and Andrew. Philip The next apostle on the list is Philip. In the New Testament, there are three persons named Philip: 1. Philip, the brother of Herod 2. Philip, the evangelist, one of the seven (Acts 6:5, 8:1-40, 21:8) 3. Philip, the apostle (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14) From this point, when I mention Philip, it is the apostle. Philip is only mentioned in the list in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. But there is more information about him in John. John 1:43-51 – Philip was familiar with and friends with Andrew and Peter. Philip was from Bethsaida. He is the one who introduced Nathanael to Jesus with the famous words “Come and see….” John 6:5-7 – In connection to Andrew, Philip was the one Jesus tested by asking him, “Where are we going to buy bread for the large crowd?” Philip responded, “200 denarii is not enough.” John 12:20-22 – Philip is the one who Greeks first engaged when they wanted to see Jesus. John 14:7-9 – This very important dialogue includes some very unperceptive questions from Thomas and Philip. Philip’s request is to be shown the Father. How can Philip see Jesus as the Messiah, understand the nature of the power and authority of Jesus, then ask to be shown the Father? All the apostles should have understood that the Son is the representation of the Father and the only way to see God with human eyes is to behold the Son. There is very little information about Philip after Acts 2. There is a book written called The Acts of Philip that was written around 350-400 AD, but the earliest full copy is from the 1300s. This was rejected as a true account and is obviously embellished as a Greek Heroic Romance with some obviously untrue statements. 1 “When he was come out of Galilee, a widow was carrying out her only son to burial. Philip asked her about her grief: I have spent in vain much money on the gods, Ares, Apollo, Hermes, Artemis, Zeus, Athena, the Sun, and Moon, and I think they are asleep as far as I am concerned. And I consulted a diviner to no purpose. Book of Matthew – 039 Beth Haven Church 2022 1 Matthew Chapter 9:36-10:42 – Jesus Prepares and Commissions the Twelve Apostles Part 3 – Matthew 10:3 – Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas 2 The apostle said: Thou hast suffered nothing strange, mother, for thus doth the devil deceive men. Assuage thy grief and I will raise thy son in the name of Jesus. 3 She said: It seems it were better for me not to marry, and to eat nothing but bread and water. Philip: You are right. Chastity is especially dear to God. 4 She said: I believe in Jesus whom thou preachest. He raised her son, who sat up and said: Whence is this light? and how comes it that an angel came and opened the prison of judgment where I was shut up? where I saw such torments as the tongue of man cannot describe. 5 So all were baptized. And the youth followed the apostle.” In the text, a woman named Mariamne is identified as Philip's sister and is a leading figure in the second half of the text. They form a community that seems to practice vegetarianism and celibacy and uses a form of the eucharist where vegetables and water were consumed in place of bread and wine. After Philp is martyred, Jesus appears to Marianmne in the form of Philip and told her that he has entered paradise and to go your own way, so she went to Jordan. Also in this apocryphal account, it states that Philip was crucified in Hierapolis, Egypt. But this is the only source that speaks of this. The tradition is held by most historians that Philip did die a martyr’s death in Egypt. Bartholomew This name is probably a patronym, “son of Tholomaeus.” He is mentioned only four times, all in list form (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14, Acts 1:13). Philip and Bartholomew are mentioned together in the Synoptics, but the name is not in tandem in Acts. Is it possible that we know Bartholomew by a different name? In John 1, we have a person that Philip introduces to Jesus, Nathanael. Nathanael is not mentioned in the Synoptics, and it is suspected and regularly agreed that Nathanael’s surname is Bartholomew. As we saw with Philip, Nathanael Bartholomew was also a Galilean and from the city of Cana (John 21:2). He was a man with no guile; no deceit was present in him (as identified by Jesus). Hearing the words of Jesus about being seen under the fig tree, Nathaniel said one of the most aware statements. “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.” This statement is early recognition of the purpose that the Gospel of John was written (John 20:30-31). He was one of the first, but by the end, he still fell into difficulty. Nathanael was one of the seven in John 21 that went fishing with Peter. Tradition (much like the traditions about Philip) states that Nathanael went to Armenia and was flayed and beheaded there. Book of Matthew – 039 Beth Haven Church 2022 2 Matthew Chapter 9:36-10:42 – Jesus Prepares and Commissions the Twelve Apostles Part 3 – Matthew 10:3 – Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas Thomas In the same manner as Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas is only mentioned in list form in the Synoptics and Acts (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13). However, in John, there is more information. John 11:7-8, 14-16 – Thomas is called Didymus (transliterated). This is translated “twin,” so does this mean that he is a twin? Thomas’s name in Hebrew is “‫( ְתֹּאם‬te'om),” which means twin. This does not necessarily mean that he has a twin but just could have been his name. Thomas is recorded as being resigned to the fact that Jesus was going down to Judea and states, “Let us also go, with the result (purpose) that we would die with Him.” Is this courage, defeat, or just being realistic? John 14:1-6 – Thomas is in the same scenario as Philip, and we are given one of the most well-known statements by Jesus in response to Thomas’ question. Thomas is asking a question from a physical perspective; Jesus answers it in the spiritual reality. John 20:19-29 – This is where we get “Doubting Thomas,” although he is never referred to in this manner. This is the name that has been given to him as a moniker by Christendom. • • • • Jesus appears, but Thomas was getting lunch. Thomas exclaims something (verse 25) that appears to be an emotional response to his frustration. Eight days later, Jesus appears and directly addresses Thomas. Jesus’ statement is remarkable, but notice that Thomas did not do what he said was needed before coming to terms with Jesus’ resurrection. • Notice that in the previous sections, Thomas did not desire to be apart from the Lord under any circumstance. Thomas’ statement is more of an emotional yearning than a statement of doubt. • Three statements are very important: 1. Do not be unbelieving but believing These two words are adjectives “πιστός pistos” and “ἄπιστος apistos.” The meaning of these words is the same, but with a negation. The word means to be characterized by faith, or “persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties.” Thomas’ issue is that he was not faithful with the knowledge that was given to him. He was not living his life being characterized by what he believed. Thomas’ emotions got in the way of accepting the testimony of the other disciples. 2. My Lord and my God “The Lord of my and the God of my.” Both statements are directed to Jesus. Thomas answered and said to Him. As stated and recorded, Thomas understood that Jesus is both Master and Deity. Jesus does not correct Thomas but declares something to him (verse 29). 3. Blessed are they who did not see and yet believed Book of Matthew – 039 Beth Haven Church 2022 3 Matthew Chapter 9:36-10:42 – Jesus Prepares and Commissions the Twelve Apostles Part 3 – Matthew 10:3 – Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas This is a proclamation about those who would believe based upon the testimony of the apostles (John 17:20). Jesus says that those who accept the testimony of His witnesses are blessed. Thomas was also with Peter when he went fishing. Accounts of Thomas’ extrabiblical activities are unreliable, but the most widely accepted report holds that he preached in India. He proclaimed the Gospel as he went east, forming churches and building places of learning while in India. To this day, Thomas is venerated as the Apostle of India. In fact, there exists a population of Christians along the Malabar Coast, on the western coast of India, who lay claim to conversion by Thomas. Their tradition holds that he built seven churches, was martyred during prayer by spearing on the “Big Hill” near Madras, and was buried in Mylapore on the east coast of India. Book of Matthew – 039 Beth Haven Church 2022 4