Matthew 10

Matthew 10:1

ANd when he had] Mark 3:14. Luke 9. 1.

called unto him] Not to be his attendants now, for that had he done before, Luke 6:13. But having kept them with him for sometime, to fit them for their publike ministery, and seeing many of the people willing to be taught, he now sends them forth among the Jews to instruct them, Luke 9:1-2.

he gave them power] And authority also, Luke 9:1.

against] Or, over. No king could give his ambassadours power over devils, nor no prophet to his scholars.

all manner of sicknesse, &c.] See on Matthew 4:23.

Matthew 10:2

the names of the twelve apostles] They are called Apostles, because they were first sent by Christ to preach the Gospel. Their names God would have recorded for their honour, who having been instruments of so much good, must not be forgotten; and also, that we may imitate them. They are twelve, in allusion to the twelve patriarchs, and twelve tribes, Chap. 19. 28. Luke 22. 30. Revel. 21. 12, 14.

The first, Simon] Theophylact saith, That Peter and Andrew are named The first, because they were first called. See Matthew 4:18.

who is called Peter] This name Christ gave him, either at his first coming to him, John 1:42. or, upon his confession of Christ, the rock, Chap. 16. 18.

Matthew 10:3

Matthew the Publican] See his humility, although he were now an apostle, yet he tells us what he had been: So doth Paul, 1 Tim. 1. 12, 13.

James the son of Alpheus] To distinguish him from the other James, verse 3.

Lebbeus] Called also Judas the brother of James, Luke 6:16. who writ the epistle of Jude, as his brother did that of James.

Matthew 10:4

Simon the Canaanite] Or, Cannite, that is, the zealous, Luke 6. 15. This is added to distinguish him from Simon Peter, verse 2.

Judas Iscariot] A man of Kerioth in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:25. or, of Issachar, Judges 10:1. or, a man of reward: For he betrayed Christ for money, Chap. 26. 15. By this epithite, and the words following he is distinguished from the other Judas. See on verse 3.

Matthew 10:5

into the way of the Gentiles] Not yet, till after my death, then ye must go thither, Acts 1:8. when the time of the calling of the Gentiles shall be come.

of the Samaritanes] A mungrell people mixed of Assyrians and Israelites, 2 King. 17. and hated of the Jews, John 4:9. whom Christ would not have his apostles now to offend.

Matthew 10:6

But go rather] You must first preach to the Israelites, of whom I come, and to whom I was foretold, Acts 3:29. and Acts 13:46. and principally sent, Chap. 15. 24.

to the lost sheep] They belong to Gods election, though yet they remain in their naturall condition.

Matthew 10:7

preach] Cry aloud or proclaim, like Heraulds.

The kingdom of heaven is at hand] Luke 10:9. Teach the same doctrine that John Baptist and I have done before you. See on Matthew 3:2. and Matthew 4:17.

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick] Confirm your doctrine by these profitable miracles.

freely give] Make no merchandise of the gift of miracles freely bestowed on you. Take no money for the cures ye do.

Matthew 10:9

Provide neither] Mark 6:8. Luke 9. 3. Or, Get neither. Take none with you for this journey, that nothing may hinder you, and that ye may see Gods speciall providence over you: therefore he asks them what they wanted by the way, Luke 22 35.

gold, nor silver, &c.] No kinde of money of greater or lesser value to buy provision.

in your purses] Gr. girdles. It seems they used to put their money in their girdles when they travelled. See on Chap. 3. 4.

Matthew 10:10

Nor scrip] To put your provision in for the journey.

two coats] Two upper-coats for change. And so of shoes: for he allowed them sandals, Mark 6:9.

nor yet staves] For defence, or offence: for they might carry such an one as they used ordinarily to walk with, for more ase, Mark 6:8.

for the workman is worthy] Luke 10:7. 1 Timothy 5:18. God who sets you on work, will finde you food, if men of whom ye deserve it will not: or, it is reasonable you should have maintenance from them, for whose good ye are imployed.

of his meat] Of all manner of necessary provisions, for he had forbidden them to carry other things besides meat, verse 10.

Matthew 10:11

And into whatsoever citie] Luke 10. 8.

enquire] Of the inhabitants, before ye thrust your selves into any mans house: or, try by the note following.

who in it is worthy] Who is it to have the Gospel preached unto him, and to have the honour to receive Gods ambassadours, Verse 10. Ephesians 4:1. Philippians 1:27. Colossians 1:10. 1 Thessalonians 2:12.

till ye go thence] Remove not from one hose to another, that ye may not offend him who first received you: or, that ye may not seem to wander from house to house, as vagrants do from door to door: or, give men occasion of suspition, that those were weary of you, by whom ye were first entertained. Tarry in his house till ye go out of that citie to preach to another.

Matthew 10:12

salute it] By wishing all happinesse to the inhabitants, as Luke 10. 5.

Matthew 10:13

if the house be worthy] That is, if they courteously entertain you, like sons of peace, Luke 10. 6. This is the token intimated, verse 11. like Eliezers way, to know which should be Isaac’s wife, Gen. 24. 14, 18, 19.

let your peace come upon it] Preach the Gospel of peace unto them: or, it shall come upon them, as Luke 10:6. That is, God will bring upon them all the good ye wish them.

if it be not worthy] If they shew themselves unworthy to have the Gospel preached to them, by refusing you, the ministers of it, Acts 13:46.

let your peace return unto you] Carry away the Gospel of peace with you, to preach it to others, that shall receive you more kindely: or, God will bring that good on you, that ye wished to them. See Psalms 35:13.

Matthew 10:14

And whosoever shall not receive you] Mark 6:11.

shake off the dust of your feet] As a token, that God will shake them off, and destroy them, Nehe. 5. 13. Or, to signifie, that ye will have no more to do with them, Acts 13:51.

Matthew 10:15

It shall be more tolerable] Grosse sinners, that never heard of the Gospel, are not in so bad a condition, as they that refuse it, Chap 11. 24.

in the day of judgement] Of the generall account, Acts 17:31.

Matthew 10:16

Behold] Luke 10. 3.

I send you] I shall send you, after my resurrection: for in this journey they had no want, or opposition, Luke 22:35. It is likely, that our Saviour being now to send them forth among the Jews, intermixed divers things that concerned their sending forth after his resurrection: as Chap. 24. speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, he addes divers things concerning the end of the world.

as sheep] Altogether unarmed.

in the midst of wolves] Into great dangers, where ye shall be compassed about with wicked men, Psalms 57:4.

wise as serpents, &c.] Genesis 3:1. Seek to avoid danger as far as lawfully you may, and give no just cause to them to persecute you: Be like serpents in the one, who avoid dangers by flying and hiding themselves, and like doves in the other, who do nothing to provoke.

harmlesse] Or, simple.

Matthew 10:17

beware of men] Here he shews, that by wolves he meant cruell men: Or, beware of those men: That are like wolves, verse 16.

in their synagogues] Some think that the synagogues were publike places of meeting, as well for civill, as sacred affairs. Others, that they did use to scourge men for offences in matters of religion in their synagogues. Others, that they had two sorts of synagogues, and did pray in the one, and scourge in the other.

Matthew 10:18

for my sake] Ye need not be discouraged, for it is not for your sins, but for your religion ye are persecuted, Matth. 5. 11, 12.

for a testimony] I could keep you from those dangers, but I would have you to suffer them, that ye may make your persecutours inexcusable.

against them and the Gentiles] Ye shall be persecuted both by Jews and Gentiles.

Matthew 10:19

But when they deliver you up] Mark 13:11. Luke 12, 11.

take no thought] Use no anxious and labourious preparation, as oratours and lawyers do, when they are to plead.

it shall be given you] You apostles. See the like, Exodus 3:11.

Matthew 10:20

it is not ye that speak] Not so much ye, as the spirit of God in you, 2 Samuel 23:2. See Chap. 9. 13.

Matthew 10:21

And the brother] Luke 21. 16. Ye shall be so hated for your religion, that all bands of nature shall be forgotten, verse 35.

Matthew 10:22

hated of all men] Of very many, or of almost all, John 3. 22. Phil. 2. 21. Luke 21. 17.

he that endureth to the end] Mark 13:13.

shall be saved] Ye cannot be saved else, as 1 Corinthians 10:31. Do all to Gods glory, that is, Do nothing to his dishonour.

Matthew 10:23

flee ye into another] Christ gives liberty for slight in case of persecution, partly for their own safetie and indemnitie, and partly also for the further propagation of the ministery of the Gospel into other places, which, through Gods providence, is by that means oftentimes brought about, Acts 13. 50, 51. and 14. 5, 6, 7.

ye shall not have gone over] Or, end, or finish: This shews, that they were not to slee for safetie alone, but to hasten their work, to teach all the cities of Israel: Unlesse the meaning be, Ye shall have some cities left to flee unto.

till the son of man be come] To destroy Jerusalem and the Jewish state. See on Matthew 16:28. For they did not slee from citie to citie, before his resurrection, but after, and then were their persecutions, Acts 8:1. and Acts 12:1. See on verse 16.

Matthew 10:24

The disciple is not above his master] Luke 6. 40. John 13. 16. and 15. 20. If they persecute me your Master, and Lord; you that are in a lower condition, must not look to escape.

Matthew 10:25

Beelzebub] It was the idol of the Ekronites, 2 Kin. 1. 3. called so, either because there were store of flies in his temple about the sacrifices, or else, because the people oppressed with flies, sought to him for help. Afterwards, as idols are called devils, Deuteronomy 32:17. So the chief devil is called Beelzebub by the Jews, in detestation of this idol, Matthew 12:24. Or, it may signifie, a dung-hill god, in contempt.

Matthew 10:26

for there is nothing covered] Mark 4:22. Luke 8. 27. and 12. 2. Fear not what they can inflict upon you, for your innocency shall be made known here, or hereafter, Psalms 37:6. Or, fear not, but preach the Gospel freely, for it will be known, and prevail in the end. This sense best agrees with the words following.

Matthew 10:27

in darknesse] What I teach you in private when others are absent, as they use to be in the night: Therefore he addes, in the ear, to shew that he spake of private instruction.

upon the house tops] Openly, and in the highest places. For they could walk on their house tops, Deuteronomy 22:8. Matthew 24:17. Acts 10:9. and from thence publish things to multitudes belowe.

Matthew 10:28

And fear not] Fear not any man, rather then God, or so as to do ought that is evil, or for fear, doing what God requires of you, to avoid danger from them. See Acts 4:19. and Acts 5:29.

them which kill the body] Luke 12:4. Though tyrants be never so cruell, they cannot hurt you so much for preaching the Gospel, as God can for not preaching it.

in hell] He doth not say, to destroy soul and body simply, for that many men could be content withall, rather then run into danger in the world; but to plague them in hell, which is worse then destruction.

Matthew 10:29

Are not two sparrows] He doth not instance in prophets, or famous men, lest the apostles should think God might take care of such eminent persons, and yet neglect them: but in sparrows, little birds, of small account, of little price.

sold for a farthing] The fourth part of an ounce. It is in value half-peny farthing, in the originall, as being the tenth part of the Roman peny.

not fall on the ground] Being shot with an arrow, or by any other means. No more can ye be killed by tyrants for preaching, unlesse God give leave. Some take it of a sparrow lighting on the ground.

without your Father] He will be more carefull then of you his children, than of sparrows. See on Chap. 5. 45. and 6. 32.

Matthew 10:30

But] 2 Samuel 14:11. Acts 27:34.

the very hairs] Not you onely, or your usefull members, but your hairs.

all] Every one. None so little, or neglected by you, but God knows it.

numbred] Not known onely to God, but as things laid up by tale, kept, so that no enemy can take one of them from you, without leave from God: Much more are the dayes of your life numbred.

Matthew 10:31

ye are of more value] More excellent creatures, and of greater account with God, ye need not therefore fear, that he will neglect you, Chap. 6. 26.

Matthew 10:32

Whosoever therefore] Luke 12. 8.

shall confesse me before men] What more equall, then that servants which acknowledge and obey their masters in time of danger, should be owned by them in times of safety and honour: and that such as forsake their masters in perilous times, should be turned, out of doors afterwards? Thus will I deal with you. If you stand to me in times of persecution, I will own you publikely at the day of judgement. Otherwise, I will discard you.

Matthew 10:33

But whosoever] Mark 8:38. Luke 9. 26. 2 Tim. 2. 12. See also notes on verse 32.

Matthew 10:34

Think not that I am come] Luke 12. 5.

to send peace on earth] He endeavours to correct the erroneous opinion of the Jews, and the apostles also, who thought the times under the Messias should be peaceable, prosperous and glorious times, misunderstanding the prophets, as if the things they spake of spirituall peace with God had been meant of worldly peace with men.

but a sword] Not so much war, as division, as Luke 12:51. A sword is used sometimes to divide, 1 King. 3. 24, 25. Hebrews 4:12. Yet these divisions about religion break out oftentimes into open war. These are not the fruits of the Gospel of peace, but occasioned by the preaching of it, while those that will not be reclaimed from their errours, dissent from them that will, Acts 28:24-25; Acts 28:29. John 7:40-43.

Matthew 10:35

against his father] The times shall be as unquiet, as those spoken of, Mic. 7. 6.

the daughter in law against her mother in law] No bands, either sacred or civil, should restrain persons from manifesting, and exercising their malice and cruelty against the professours of the Gospel. See verse 21.

Matthew 10:36

of his own house] See on verse 21.

Matthew 10:37

He that loveth father or mother] Luke 14. 26.

more then me] As fear of evil, so likewise love of worldly objects, and those fit to be loved also in their kinde, as parents, may make men fail in their affection, and duty to Christ. This is here forbidden.

is not worthy of me] I count him not fit to be saved by me: for none is worthy by way of merit: Or, I count him not fit to be my disciple, Luke 14:26. See on Chap. 3. 8.

he that loveth son or daughter] This is added as a greater tryall, because love descends, rather then ascends, and many can more easily part with their parents, then with their children.

Matthew 10:38

He that taketh] Chap. 16. 24. Luke 9. 23. Mark 8:34. That brings not affliction on himself, nor resuseth it, when God sends it. An allusion to such as were condemned to be crucified, who used to carry their crosses. See on Chap. 27. 32.

his crosse] That is yet a greater triall then before. A man may be content to lose any wordly comfort, that would not endure pain, (Job 2:4-5.) especially death, and such a kinde of cruel opprobrious and accursed death. But this must be done also for Christs sake. By crosse is meant, the heaviest and sorest afflictions and calamities, by alluding to the course of the Romans or Persians, with whom that punishment was used, and accounted most ignominious.

and followeth after me] And with such an affection comes to me: Or, is content if he be called to it, to be crucified, as I must be.

is not worthy of me] See on verse 37.

Matthew 10:39

He that findeth his life] John 12:25. That saves it, Chap. 16. 25. Mark 8:35. Luke 9. 24. and 15. 24, 32. So Proverbs 24:10. He that thinks he hath secured his life by renouncing his religion. It is called finding, because worldly men think them all lost that are dead.

shall lose it] Shall go to hell, and lose all the comfort of his life.

he that loseth his life for my sake] That dies for the true religion, Chap. 5. 11, 12.

shall finde it] In heaven for ever.

Matthew 10:40

He that receiveth you] Luke 10. 16. John 13. 20. That heareth your doctrine willingly, and giveth entertainment to your persons. This is added to encourage them, that yet amidst such difficulties, and distresses, some should be found, that should shew them respect, and afford them relief.

receiveth me] He shall have more honourable guests, then he expected, Hebrews 13:2. Me, and my father.

Matthew 10:41

He that receiveth a prophet] A minister.

in the name of a prophet] Not for kinred, or civill respects, but because he is Gods messenger.

shall receive a prophets reward] Such a reward as a prophet shall have: or, as is sit for him that hath relieved a prophet, and so furthered Gods service in an extraordinary manner.

a righteous man] A man fearing God, and of a good progresse in religion, Matthew 13:17.

Matthew 10:42

And whosoever shall give to drink] Mark 9:41.

unto one] How much more, if he give to many.

of these little ones] Who newly made a profession of the true religion, and are as babes in it, Mark 9:42. Luke 17:2. Matth. 25. 40, 45. 1 Corinthians 3:1. 1 John 2:12; 1 John 2:14.

a cup of cold water onely] The least and cheapest courtesie, that can be done. How much more, if he provide other things also liberally for him?

he shall in no wise lose] He shall be sure of it.

his reward] The phrase is altered. He said before, The reward of a prophet, and of a righteous man, verse 41. Here he doth not say, The reward of a little one, lest it should be thought to be a small reward, but, His reward. That is, a reward beseeming his work and affection to the cause of God.