1 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,700 Hi everyone. Let's get straight into today's 2 00:00:13,700 --> 00:00:19,900 podcast and we're looking at Matthew 9:36 right through to 3 00:00:19,900 --> 00:00:24,300 10:8. So as always, I'll read the 4 00:00:24,300 --> 00:00:28,100 passage and then we'll have a go at doing an exegesis of this 5 00:00:28,100 --> 00:00:32,500 text. When Jesus saw the crowds, he 6 00:00:32,500 --> 00:00:36,900 felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected like 7 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:41,300 sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 8 00:00:42,300 --> 00:00:45,400 the Harvest is Rich, but the laborers are few. 9 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:49,700 So ask the lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into his 10 00:00:49,700 --> 00:00:53,900 Harvest. He summoned his 12 disciples and 11 00:00:53,900 --> 00:00:58,400 gave them authority over unclean spirits with power, to cast them 12 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:02,200 out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness. 13 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,600 These are the names of The Twelve Apostles. 14 00:01:07,900 --> 00:01:12,700 First Simon, who is called Peter and his brother, Andrew James, 15 00:01:12,700 --> 00:01:16,200 the son of Zebedee. And his brother, John, Philip 16 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:20,300 and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector, 17 00:01:21,100 --> 00:01:26,300 James, the son of alphaeus and thaddaeus Simon, the Zealot and 18 00:01:26,300 --> 00:01:29,600 Judas, Iscariot the one who was to betray him. 19 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:36,000 These twelve Jesus sent out instructing them as follows, do 20 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,900 not turn your steps to Pagan territory and do not enter any 21 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:44,100 Samaritan Town, go rather to the lost sheep of the House of 22 00:01:44,100 --> 00:01:46,900 Israel. And as you go Proclaim that the 23 00:01:46,900 --> 00:01:51,400 Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand, cure, the sick, raise the 24 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:55,300 dead cleanse, the lepers, cast out Devils. 25 00:01:55,900 --> 00:01:59,600 You received without charge. Give without charge. 26 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,000 So, what's the context? What's been happening prior to 27 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,300 this? So Jesus has been moving 28 00:02:08,300 --> 00:02:11,400 throughout Galilee and he's been doing lots of different healings 29 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:13,600 and has been teaching in their synagogues. 30 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,000 Matthew, the author has ended the previous section about Jesus 31 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,000 Healing Ministry, which covers chapter 8 and 9. 32 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,000 It appears that he's brought that to an end at 9:35. 33 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:29,200 So here we get today to verse 36, which begins a new section 34 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:32,700 and some scholars, believe the focus on this section in 35 00:02:32,700 --> 00:02:36,000 chapters. 9 and 10 is the issue of leadership. 36 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:39,800 Verse 36 when Jesus saw the crowds. 37 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,400 So we're talking thousands of people flocking to him from all 38 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:47,000 over the countryside. The crowds were harassed and 39 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,300 helpless. Now, in context, it appears that 40 00:02:50,700 --> 00:02:54,200 the harassment and the helplessness is because the 41 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,700 crowds are so large that it was becoming uncomfortable like they 42 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:00,300 were all pushing and jostling against each other and Jesus 43 00:03:00,300 --> 00:03:03,000 couldn't get to everyone. So they're getting harassed and 44 00:03:03,100 --> 00:03:06,600 Helpless and frustrated, but of course, it could also refer to 45 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:09,100 the fact that they don't have spiritual leadership. 46 00:03:09,500 --> 00:03:14,200 Jesus is moved with pity and that carries this idea of deep 47 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:18,100 emotional concern. So, Jesus is genuinely concerned 48 00:03:18,100 --> 00:03:21,500 about the crowds. He sees that they are like sheep 49 00:03:21,500 --> 00:03:25,900 without a shepherd. Now, Matthew says this and that 50 00:03:25,900 --> 00:03:28,800 would be a metaphor that his audience for was familiar with. 51 00:03:30,300 --> 00:03:32,200 Because they were from that area. 52 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:34,700 And the Jews were quite familiar with sheeps and Shepherds. 53 00:03:34,700 --> 00:03:38,800 So the idea is, this crowd needs care and they need a leader to 54 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:39,900 help. Keep them going. 55 00:03:39,900 --> 00:03:44,000 Just like sheep need a Shepherd. The expression is also used in 56 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,300 Ezekiel chapter 34 and again Matthews audience would have 57 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:50,300 known their Old Testament. And in that context, it 58 00:03:50,300 --> 00:03:52,600 describes the suffering of God's people. 59 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,000 Do to them, having corrupt leaders who did not help the 60 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,900 people, walk in God's ways and instead left them vulnerable, 61 00:04:00,100 --> 00:04:05,500 People verse 37, Jesus said to his disciples. 62 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:08,200 Now he's speaking only to his followers here, not to the whole 63 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:12,400 crowds, the Harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are 64 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,300 few. So now Jesus brings in an 65 00:04:15,300 --> 00:04:19,200 agricultural metaphor, the idea is that there's lots of people 66 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,500 ready to enter and progress in the kingdom of God. 67 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,200 The Harvest is plentiful. There's people ready for the 68 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,900 kingdom, but there's not enough workers of the Kingdom, or in 69 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:32,400 other words, has of the Kingdom to help bring them into the 70 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,900 kingdom. That's the problem that Jesus 71 00:04:34,900 --> 00:04:37,100 diagnosis, we need more laborers. 72 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,800 So, Jesus is about to remedy this problem. 73 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,600 He needs more laborers for the kingdom. 74 00:04:42,300 --> 00:04:44,100 Verse 38. He still talking to his 75 00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:47,800 disciples pray that the lord of the Harvest will send out 76 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,100 laborers. So here, Jesus instructs his 77 00:04:51,100 --> 00:04:55,200 disciples to keep praying for more converts and particularly 78 00:04:55,500 --> 00:04:58,700 to pray for more leaders, who can work to expand the kingdom. 79 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,500 So now we get to chapter 10 verse 1. 80 00:05:02,500 --> 00:05:06,600 He summoned his 12 disciples because the chapter divisions 81 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,400 weren't in the original, we sometimes forget that Matthew 82 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,100 would have intended people to keep reading chapter 9 and to 83 00:05:13,100 --> 00:05:16,300 keep going into chapter 10. So it's all one unit here. 84 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,100 So what Jesus is about to do with calling, the Twelve 85 00:05:19,100 --> 00:05:21,900 Apostles is a continuation of Jesus. 86 00:05:21,900 --> 00:05:24,600 Thought about having laborers for the vineyard. 87 00:05:25,500 --> 00:05:28,500 So these twelve disciples by. Now, all of them have become 88 00:05:28,500 --> 00:05:31,500 Jesus, disciples, Jesus. Just doesn't pull them out of 89 00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:33,000 nowhere. They have been following him 90 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,100 around and he's going to give them a special Authority. 91 00:05:37,100 --> 00:05:39,400 We need to keep in mind that the authority. 92 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:43,100 He gives them is for them specifically, because they are 93 00:05:43,100 --> 00:05:44,700 going to be the Future Leaders of the church. 94 00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:47,800 He does not give this authority to all disciples. 95 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,400 This is an invite only thing. What he's about to do. 96 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:56,000 Now in marks version of this in chapter 3, Jesus goes up to the 97 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:00,100 Galilee Hills in order to do this Authority imparting. 98 00:06:00,100 --> 00:06:04,000 The ceremony and typically Jesus goes up into the hills when he 99 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:08,100 wants a bit of privacy. So this might have been perhaps 100 00:06:08,100 --> 00:06:11,400 a kind of a private occasion. Obviously Matthew knows about it 101 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:15,100 because he's one of the people that was there So he summoned 102 00:06:15,100 --> 00:06:19,200 his 12 disciples and he gave them authority, to cast out 103 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,100 demons, and to heal every disease and infirmity. 104 00:06:23,500 --> 00:06:27,000 Once again, notice that this is a special gift of healing and 105 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:30,900 casting out demons, which is given only to the apostles, it 106 00:06:30,900 --> 00:06:34,000 comes directly from Jesus so that they can share in what he 107 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,400 has been doing. He has to give them a specific 108 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:39,800 power and commissioning that allows them to do this. 109 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,700 If Jesus doesn't give them this commissioning here, they 110 00:06:42,700 --> 00:06:45,000 wouldn't be able to do all the healings and Authority. 111 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,300 They need his power, which is what he's giving them. 112 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,200 So, in that sense, Jesus is imparting a supernatural gift 113 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:56,000 that not everyone has. And in fact, the gift probably 114 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,400 was not passed on to the Apostle successes, we know that the 115 00:06:59,500 --> 00:07:03,200 apostles did make successors which are the Bishops, but this 116 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,300 special Supernatural, gift of healing and casting out Demons 117 00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:11,100 probably wasn't passed on Jesus only gave it to the 12 for this 118 00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:13,600 time, period of the initial preaching of the Kingdom. 119 00:07:15,300 --> 00:07:18,600 Mark adds another detail here on top of casting out demons in 120 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,100 healing. Mark says the Twelve Apostles 121 00:07:21,100 --> 00:07:24,200 are called to be with Jesus to be his companions. 122 00:07:24,500 --> 00:07:29,500 You see that in Mark chapter 3 verse 33 And we know that 123 00:07:29,500 --> 00:07:34,400 Matthews readers intended, these gifts to only refer to the 124 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:37,300 apostles not to all the disciples because the next thing 125 00:07:37,300 --> 00:07:40,800 he does is he tells his readers the names of the Apostles so 126 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:45,500 that his readers know exactly who had these gifts verse 2. 127 00:07:45,500 --> 00:07:47,600 These are the names of The Twelve Apostles. 128 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:50,500 So what's happened? What's going on with the number 129 00:07:50,500 --> 00:07:53,300 12? He's chosen, 12 deliberately 130 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,300 most likely Jesus chose 12 because it represents the 131 00:07:57,300 --> 00:08:02,400 original Twelve leaders of the tribes of Israel, as well as the 132 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:07,000 12 tribal leaders, who assisted Moses in leading Israel as well. 133 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,300 And you see that in Numbers Chapter 1 by tube choosing 12, 134 00:08:11,300 --> 00:08:15,900 which is a symbol of or a sign of the leaders of Israel. 135 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:20,900 Jesus is is signaling that he is establishing new leaders for a 136 00:08:20,907 --> 00:08:23,500 new Israel, which is exactly what the church is. 137 00:08:25,100 --> 00:08:27,600 Now this number 12 is so significant that the early 138 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:31,700 church noticed that when Judas died, they felt that they had to 139 00:08:31,707 --> 00:08:33,700 replace him. They felt that they always 140 00:08:33,700 --> 00:08:36,600 needed to have 12 Apostles for as long as possible. 141 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:42,000 Anyway, notice that Jesus is fixing the problem about Israel, 142 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,600 lacking Shepherds. He is now providing Shepherds. 143 00:08:44,900 --> 00:08:48,300 Remember earlier, he said that they are like sheep without a 144 00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:49,700 Shepherd. Well now here come the 145 00:08:49,700 --> 00:08:53,200 shepherd's, lots of Scholars have pointed out that this whole 146 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,300 passage that we're looking at. On a follows like a chiasm where 147 00:08:56,300 --> 00:08:59,100 it starts with the observation that the people need Shepherds. 148 00:08:59,500 --> 00:09:02,900 Some stuff happens in the middle and then the Apostles of the end 149 00:09:02,900 --> 00:09:05,800 is sent out to be the shepherd. So there's a really interesting 150 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,600 literary structure that Matthew has employed here. 151 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,800 So Matthew is now going to list the names of The Twelve 152 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,800 Apostles. Jesus probably knew each of 153 00:09:15,808 --> 00:09:18,500 these men already. We know that he knew at least 154 00:09:18,500 --> 00:09:20,000 seven of them. If you look at the Gospel of 155 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:25,000 John by now Jesus is actually met and talked to at least Seven 156 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:28,300 of the 12 apostles. So these are all disciples 157 00:09:28,300 --> 00:09:31,200 already and now he's promoting them to his, in a group of 158 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,600 disciples. It was quite common in that 159 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,900 culture for rabbis and produced to have an inner group of 160 00:09:37,900 --> 00:09:40,500 disciples. But what is unique here? 161 00:09:40,500 --> 00:09:43,700 And a lot could be said about this is that Jesus although he 162 00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:48,300 has male and female disciples, he only chooses men to be part 163 00:09:48,300 --> 00:09:52,900 of the very Inner Circle. Now, there were other people in 164 00:09:52,900 --> 00:09:56,200 the world in the Roman Empire, at this time who were choosing 165 00:09:56,200 --> 00:10:01,000 female clothes disciples as part of the Inner Circle that was 166 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:02,900 quite common particularly in Roman. 167 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:07,900 Organisms priestesses were quite commonly the closest distance of 168 00:10:07,900 --> 00:10:13,200 the preacher so Jesus could have it is possible that in this time 169 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:17,000 period he could have chosen clothes women to be part of The 170 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:21,200 Twelve Apostles and yet he doesn't do that and the Catholic 171 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,300 Church sees that as a significant indicator that Jesus 172 00:10:24,300 --> 00:10:28,100 deliberately chosen men. And it should tell us something 173 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:30,700 about his desire for the priesthood which is a, it should 174 00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:34,100 be male only obviously there's a a lot more that could be said 175 00:10:34,100 --> 00:10:36,800 there and there's lots of church documents have been written 176 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,300 about it but basically the church does come back to this 177 00:10:39,700 --> 00:10:44,700 idea that Jesus has not left that option open for female 178 00:10:44,700 --> 00:10:47,900 priests because of his own actions during his ministry. 179 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:53,100 So here he lists the 12, apostles first Simon, who is 180 00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:56,200 called Peter. Now, Simon is always mentioned 181 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,200 first in the list of the Apostles to highlight his 182 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,700 Primacy as leader. Jesus had actually already named 183 00:11:02,700 --> 00:11:04,500 him. I'm and when he first met him 184 00:11:04,500 --> 00:11:07,800 people miss this, they think that Jesus called Simon Peter in 185 00:11:07,800 --> 00:11:11,300 Matthew 16, but actually the very first time he met him, 186 00:11:11,700 --> 00:11:16,500 which is early in the Gospel of John, Jesus names him, Peter and 187 00:11:16,500 --> 00:11:18,900 he was his actually been in Matthew earlier as well. 188 00:11:18,900 --> 00:11:23,600 In chapter 4, Peter appears. Now we'll just briefly touch on 189 00:11:23,700 --> 00:11:26,400 each of the 12 apostles that Matthew lists here. 190 00:11:26,700 --> 00:11:29,000 So, his brother Andrew, that's the brother of Simon. 191 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:32,900 He's also met Jesus earlier James, the son of Zebedee and 192 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,200 His brother John. So Jesus met these fishermen 193 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:41,100 earlier in Matthew as well. Verse 3, we have Philip Philip 194 00:11:41,100 --> 00:11:44,200 is from bethsaida and he also met Jesus earlier on 195 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,900 Bartholomew. He's sometimes called Nathaniel 196 00:11:47,900 --> 00:11:51,000 and he also met Jesus early in the Gospel of John. 197 00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:54,400 And now we get to the rest of them. 198 00:11:54,700 --> 00:11:58,300 Thomas, Thomas is famous for doubting Jesus after his 199 00:11:58,300 --> 00:12:00,800 resurrection. And then next in the list is 200 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,000 Matthew, the tax collector. That's probably the author of 201 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:05,600 this gospel. He's probably talking about 202 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,700 himself now. He is met Jesus slightly 203 00:12:08,700 --> 00:12:10,400 earlier. So in chapter 9, we're 204 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,400 introduced to Matthew the tax collector, interesting that 205 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:16,100 Matthew doesn't put himself at the top or the bottom of the 206 00:12:16,100 --> 00:12:18,400 list. He puts himself in the middle of 207 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,100 the list, of the Apostles, which is probably an act of humility. 208 00:12:21,100 --> 00:12:24,500 Really James the son of alphaeus. 209 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,500 Now, this is different from James, the son of Zebedee. 210 00:12:28,300 --> 00:12:29,600 There's different theories about who? 211 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,200 Exactly this James, the son of alphaeus is it might actually be 212 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,600 Matthews. The tax collectors brother, 213 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,100 because Levi's, father is also said to be obvious. 214 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:44,600 And then we have Thaddeus, he doesn't have any lines in this 215 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:46,900 gospel. Sometimes Thaddeus is called 216 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:51,400 dude or Judas. Verse 4, we have Simon the 217 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:53,900 Zealot. Some translations have this as 218 00:12:53,900 --> 00:12:57,800 Simon the Canaanite and now it's not Canaanite as in someone from 219 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:01,100 Canaan a Canaan. Ian, the translation they are 220 00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:04,300 basically means someone who is zealous for the Jewish law. 221 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:06,900 That's why Simon is called the Zealot. 222 00:13:06,900 --> 00:13:10,000 In other translations. A zealot was a real group of 223 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,200 Jews that existed at the time. And basically, they wanted 224 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,200 political revolution. As Ellis was, someone who 225 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,100 believed in overthrowing, the Romans they were political 226 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,600 revolutionaries. It's interesting that Jesus 227 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:24,300 would include him amongst his list of Apostles. 228 00:13:24,300 --> 00:13:27,600 He's probably quite a violent man, and that tells us that 229 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:32,400 Jesus is welcoming in terms of his 12, Apostles of all, 230 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:37,200 different backgrounds and Persuasions and then last in the 231 00:13:37,208 --> 00:13:40,700 list is Judas, Iscariot the one who was to betray him. 232 00:13:41,300 --> 00:13:43,200 Now Iscariot is an interesting term. 233 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,700 It's not his last name. A lot of Scholars. 234 00:13:45,700 --> 00:13:48,600 Think that means he's from the village of kiriath. 235 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,000 You scary. It's scary. 236 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,200 Ultimatums from kiriath, that's possible. 237 00:13:52,900 --> 00:13:56,400 He's always listed last by the gospel writers, which indicates 238 00:13:56,400 --> 00:14:00,100 that he should be considered to be the least Apostle, because he 239 00:14:00,100 --> 00:14:06,200 betrayed Jesus Pope Benedict summarizes the list of Apostles. 240 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:10,000 Well, Pope Benedict. The 16th said precisely in this 241 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,800 wide range of backgrounds, temperaments and approaches the 242 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:18,100 12-person personify. The Church of all ages and is 243 00:14:18,100 --> 00:14:21,200 difficult task. Of purifying and you not 244 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,400 unifying these men in their Zeal for Christ Jesus. 245 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:28,600 So in a way, the Twelve Apostles and their differences model the 246 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:33,800 church today. Verse 5, these twelve Jesus sent 247 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:37,400 out and the Greek for sent out is apostolos, so that's what 248 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,600 Apostle means. Basically, it's one who's sent 249 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,500 with the authority of the sender, which is exactly what 250 00:14:43,500 --> 00:14:47,500 the apostles are now, they have Jesus Authority, but before he 251 00:14:47,500 --> 00:14:49,800 sends them out, he gives them some instructions. 252 00:14:50,500 --> 00:14:53,000 It's actually quite a long speech that he gives them. 253 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,400 We're just going to hear the start of it today, so he 254 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:59,400 instructs them as follows. Now their words he's going to 255 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:03,300 give them are for a very Civic time period for the initial 256 00:15:03,300 --> 00:15:06,000 preaching of the Kingdom. The instructions were about to 257 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:09,800 hear do not apply to all believers in all times, it was 258 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:13,000 very much restricted to the apostles for this time. 259 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,400 Period. Do not turn your steps to Pagan 260 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,500 territory or more. Literally go nowhere among the 261 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:23,400 Gentiles and do not enter any Samaritan town. 262 00:15:24,300 --> 00:15:27,400 A lot of people really struggle with this idea that Jesus tells 263 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:30,100 his Apostles not to preach to the Gentiles. 264 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,400 If you know your new testament, well, you'll know that the 265 00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:38,000 initial preaching of the kingdom of God is only for Israel, while 266 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,500 Jesus is on earth, once Jesus is gone soon. 267 00:15:41,500 --> 00:15:45,200 After that, in fact, the kingdom of God is opened up to Gentiles, 268 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,200 but at the start, it's only for Jews. 269 00:15:47,700 --> 00:15:49,700 So, that's what Jesus says in verse 6. 270 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,700 Go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. 271 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,600 So Jesus has come to minister to his own people primarily the 272 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,800 Jews particularly to those who have become law. 273 00:16:01,300 --> 00:16:04,600 Estranged from God. So this is when the preaching of 274 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:06,700 the kingdom of God is just beginning. 275 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,300 As part of God's Plan of Salvation, the Jews must be 276 00:16:10,300 --> 00:16:13,700 offered the fullness of Salvation first, because they 277 00:16:13,700 --> 00:16:16,300 were given the Old Testament and all the promises of that. 278 00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:20,000 So they get to be offered at least the kingdom of God before 279 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,200 the Gentiles are. Jesus knows that, of course, he 280 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,600 knows that one day. The Gentiles will be offered the 281 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,500 kingdom but he's setting things up so that the preaching of the 282 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:32,000 kingdom is done in stages. He doesn't Do it all at once. 283 00:16:32,700 --> 00:16:35,400 Later in the book of Acts, they do start to preach to the 284 00:16:35,408 --> 00:16:40,900 Gentiles Verse 7 as you go Proclaim or more literally 285 00:16:40,900 --> 00:16:44,900 preach as you go, that the Kingdom of Heaven is close at 286 00:16:44,900 --> 00:16:47,600 hand. Now there's a lot to say about 287 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,800 this phrase. The Kingdom of Heaven, it's 288 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:51,800 equivalent to what the other gospel authors. 289 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,400 Call the kingdom of God. It appears that Matthew refers 290 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:58,900 the word Heaven, because he's a faithful Jew and Jews. 291 00:16:58,900 --> 00:17:03,000 Tended, not to use the word God. So he's using a substitute word, 292 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,099 which is a closely associated with God. 293 00:17:05,099 --> 00:17:09,000 So the Kingdom of Heaven means the kingdom of A lot notice, he 294 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:13,200 says, the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand Scholars. 295 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:17,300 Talk about how that means, that the kingdom is just beginning as 296 00:17:17,300 --> 00:17:21,200 Jesus has arrived, but it has not yet reached its fullness. 297 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,599 So the kingdom of God is at hand, meaning it's starting, but 298 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:27,500 it's not fully here yet. And they compare it to like a 299 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:30,600 sun coming over the horizon. That's what it means to say. 300 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:34,100 The kingdom is at hand. This is the kingdom of God, that 301 00:17:34,100 --> 00:17:38,000 the Jews have been waiting for, for years and Has has come to 302 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,700 bring the kingdom of God. It's a central message of the 303 00:17:41,700 --> 00:17:44,400 entire Gospel of Matthew and one that will spend a bit of time 304 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:46,800 unpacking as we go through the gospel. 305 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:50,100 This is actually the same message that both John, the 306 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:53,000 Baptist and Jesus himself had proclaimed earlier. 307 00:17:53,300 --> 00:17:55,100 The Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. 308 00:17:55,100 --> 00:17:58,600 And now the apostles are to Proclaim that same message. 309 00:17:59,700 --> 00:18:02,300 Notice they're being called to preach the kingdom of God. 310 00:18:02,300 --> 00:18:07,300 Jesus does not say go and preach the sinner's prayer and tell 311 00:18:07,300 --> 00:18:10,000 everyone that they will be saved if they say the sinner's prayer. 312 00:18:10,300 --> 00:18:12,500 That's not what he says. He wants them to preach the full 313 00:18:12,500 --> 00:18:15,000 implications of the kingdom of God. 314 00:18:16,700 --> 00:18:21,200 The instructions continued verse 8, cure the sick, raise the dead 315 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:23,800 cleanse, the lepers, cast out Devils. 316 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,400 So Matthew makes it clear that the apostles given the power to 317 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,300 do everything that Jesus himself? 318 00:18:29,500 --> 00:18:32,800 They doing up to that point. Curing the sick, raising the 319 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:36,100 dead cleansing the lepers lepers casting out devils. 320 00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:40,400 Notice that the apostles are even given the ability to raise 321 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,000 the dead. That's fascinating. 322 00:18:43,500 --> 00:18:44,600 Although we don't see them do that. 323 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,500 During Jesus Ministry. They do, do it later in the book 324 00:18:47,500 --> 00:18:49,900 of Acts. If you look at Acts chapter 9, 325 00:18:49,900 --> 00:18:53,800 you'll see the apostles raising the dead there, so by Jews is 326 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,600 giving them this commission. They have the power to do it. 327 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,400 He finishes this section by saying, you received without 328 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:06,300 charge give without charge. So, the Apostle's have received, 329 00:19:06,300 --> 00:19:10,100 these Supernatural Gifts of healing from Jesus for free and 330 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:14,400 now he expects them to use those same gifts it to spread the 331 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,900 kingdom without being paid. Jesus gave it to them for free 332 00:19:17,900 --> 00:19:21,100 and the other Apostles need to hand out or pass on these gifts, 333 00:19:21,100 --> 00:19:24,100 by using them for free. It's not really their own work 334 00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:26,000 anyway, so they shouldn't be paid for it. 335 00:19:26,300 --> 00:19:30,600 It's God's work. From here, Jesus goes on to give 336 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,300 further instructions. It's quite an extended discourse 337 00:19:33,300 --> 00:19:35,500 actually. And that indicates that the 338 00:19:35,500 --> 00:19:38,200 apostles are going to be away for some time, he's giving them 339 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:41,000 Specific Instructions, because they could be away for quite a 340 00:19:41,008 --> 00:19:45,300 few weeks, or even some months. If you're listening to this on a 341 00:19:45,300 --> 00:19:50,300 Sunday, perhaps in year a then you probably won't get to hear 342 00:19:50,300 --> 00:19:53,200 the next part of Jesus. Instructions of the Apostles, 343 00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:57,600 but it is part of the weekday cycle, particularly around week 344 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:03,400 11 and 12 of ordinary time, the gospel does go through the full 345 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:06,200 sermon that Jesus preached his here. 346 00:20:07,700 --> 00:20:09,800 Now, let's have a look at some catechism references. 347 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:14,500 Just a few short ones about Matthew, chapter 9 and 10, 348 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,600 paragraph, 26 11, the prayer of faith. 349 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,300 Consists not only in saying, Lord Lord. 350 00:20:21,500 --> 00:20:24,200 But in disposing, the heart to do, the will of the father, 351 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,800 Jesus calls his disciples to bring into their prayer. 352 00:20:28,100 --> 00:20:33,800 This concern for cooperating, with the divine plan, So this 353 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:38,100 seems to relate specifically to Jesus instruction here to pray 354 00:20:38,500 --> 00:20:41,700 that more people will be raised up more laborers for the 355 00:20:41,700 --> 00:20:43,600 vineyard. That's certainly something we 356 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:47,200 should pray for paragraph 5 4 3. This is about the kingdom of 357 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,400 God. Everyone is called to enter the 358 00:20:49,408 --> 00:20:52,000 kingdom. First announced to the children 359 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,200 of Israel. This Messianic kingdom is 360 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:57,500 intended to accept, man of all Nations. 361 00:20:58,300 --> 00:21:01,000 So, of course, the kingdom of God would one day be open to 362 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,100 Gentiles. Paragraph 1509. 363 00:21:04,100 --> 00:21:07,500 This is about Healing. The Sick heal the sick. 364 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,400 The church has received this charge from the Lord and strives 365 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,900 to carried out by taking care of the sick, as well as by 366 00:21:14,900 --> 00:21:17,900 accompanying them with her prayer of intercession. 367 00:21:19,300 --> 00:21:23,000 She believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, The 368 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:30,500 Physician of Souls and bodies. Paragraph 2 1 2 1. 369 00:21:30,500 --> 00:21:33,800 This is about irreligion and it in context here. 370 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,000 It's going to refer to Jesus commandment. 371 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:40,100 Not for the apostles, not to ask for money for their gifts. 372 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,400 Simony is defined as the buying or selling of spiritual things 373 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,900 to Simon the Magician who wanted to buy the spiritual power. 374 00:21:47,900 --> 00:21:50,800 He saw it. Work in the apostles, Saint 375 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,600 Peter responded. Your silver perish with you 376 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:56,700 because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money. 377 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:01,400 Peter, thus held to the words of Jesus, you received without pay 378 00:22:01,700 --> 00:22:05,200 give without pay. It is impossible to appropriate 379 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:09,900 to oneself spiritual goods and behave toward them as their 380 00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:13,400 owner or Master for. They have their Source in God. 381 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:17,900 One can only receive them only from him without payment. 382 00:22:18,900 --> 00:22:21,500 So that's a really clear application of Jesus 383 00:22:21,500 --> 00:22:25,000 instructions here. People should never ask for 384 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:30,100 money when parting the spiritual gifts of God paragraph. 2443 in 385 00:22:30,108 --> 00:22:33,100 this is in love for the poor God, blesses. 386 00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:36,900 Those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn 387 00:22:36,900 --> 00:22:40,100 away from them. Give to him, who begs from you, 388 00:22:40,300 --> 00:22:42,900 but do not refuse him. Who would borrow from you. 389 00:22:43,300 --> 00:22:46,300 You received without pay give without pay. 390 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:49,600 Now, notice, that's a very different application of those. 391 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,500 Same words you received without pay give without pay the idea 392 00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:55,000 here. According to Catholic teaching, 393 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:58,600 is we have been freely forgiven? So God has given us lots of 394 00:22:58,600 --> 00:22:59,500 free. Gifts. 395 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:04,100 So we should actually give away some of our gifts to the poor in 396 00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:08,500 a similar way. So that's where we'll end the 397 00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:10,500 podcast for today. Thank you for listening. 398 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:12,800 If you've learned something new and you think there's others in 399 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:16,300 your life, who would benefit from hearing a Catholic academic 400 00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:19,500 analysis of the scriptures? Then please share this with 401 00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:21,800 them. Thanks, we'll see you tomorrow. 402 00:23:07,300 --> 00:23:09,400 So that's where we'll end the podcast for today. 403 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:11,800 Thank you for listening. If you've learned something new 404 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,000 and you think there's others in your life, who would benefit 405 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:18,400 from hearing a Catholic academic analysis of the scriptures? 406 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:19,800 Then please share this with them. 407 00:23:20,300 --> 00:23:21,800 Thanks, we'll see you tomorrow.