How does Matthew 10:2 connect with Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? The Texts Side by Side • Matthew 10:2 — “These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;” • Matthew 28:19-20 — “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Why the Apostles Are Named in Matthew 10:2 • Personal Identification: Jesus calls each man by name, underscoring that the mission begins with real, known individuals. • Foundation Laying: Ephesians 2:20 calls the apostles the foundation of the Church, Christ Himself the cornerstone. Naming them highlights their foundational role. • Covenant Echo: Just as Israel’s tribes were listed when God formed the nation (Numbers 1), Jesus lists the Twelve as He forms His new covenant community. From Local Mission to Global Commission • Matthew 10:5-6 — The Twelve are first sent “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” • Matthew 28:19 — The same core group (minus Judas, later replaced by Matthias; Acts 1:26) is sent “to all nations.” • Progression: – Local testing ground → Galilean towns (Matthew 10) – Worldwide outreach → “the very end of the age” (Matthew 28) • Jesus’ method: Train in a limited field, then release with global scope. Authority Handed Down • Matthew 10:1 — “He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.” • Matthew 28:18 — “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go…” • The same authority that enabled miracles in chapter 10 now undergirds disciple-making, baptism, and teaching in chapter 28. Continuity of Teaching • Matthew 10:7-8 — They preach, heal, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. • Matthew 28:20 — They are to teach “all that I have commanded you,” which includes everything modeled and instructed in Matthew 10 and the rest of His ministry. Presence and Power Promised • Matthew 10:20 — “It will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” • Matthew 28:20 — “I am with you always.” • Acts 1:8 ties both together: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” Practical Takeaways for Today • Named Disciples, Named Mission: Every believer is personally called, just as the Twelve were. • Progressive Growth: Faithful obedience in small assignments positions us for larger kingdom impact. • Same Message, Wider Audience: We share the identical gospel the apostles preached, now reaching every culture. • Confidence in His Presence: The promise that sustained the Twelve sustains us—Jesus is with His people until He returns. Summary Connection Matthew 10:2 lists the very men Jesus groomed for mission. Matthew 28:19-20 sends those same men—now seasoned, Spirit-empowered—to disciple the nations. The first passage plants the seed; the Great Commission harvests the world with that seed fully matured. |
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