WEEK FIVE
MISSION OF THE APOSTLES
Mission is a set of tasks that fulfills a purpose or duty. It can also be referred to as an assignment set by an employer, teacher or a person of higher authority.
a. Mission of the Twelve – (Matthew 10:1-15, Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-16)
Note the instructions given to them
In Matthew 10:1-15, Jesus called his twelve disciples together and having given them authority to heal every disease and infirmity and to cast out unclean spirits, He sent them out.
In Matthew 10:5, Jesus charged the twelve disciples to
1. Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and preach that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
2. He instructed them neither to go to the Gentiles nor the Samaritans.
3. He charged them to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leper and cast out demons.
4. He warned them not to receive gratification from anyone.
5. He also instructed them not to take gold, silver nor copper in their belt. They should not take a bag, not more than one set of clothes, sandals nor staff.
6. He says they should enter into a town that deserves to hear the word of God
7. To anyone that receives them, they should enter and do the work of gospel but to any house that rejects them, they should dust off the dust of their feet. That kind of house will have it worse than Sodom and Gomorrah.
According to Mark 6:7-13, the mission of the twelve can be highlighted thus;
1. Do not take anything for your journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.
2. Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.
3. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.”
4. Go out and preached that men should repent
5. Cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.
6. He sent them in twos
In Luke 9: 1 – 6, it can be highlighted thus
1. He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God
2. He sent them out to heal
3. Take nothing for your journey; no staff, no bag, no bread, no money and do not have two tunics.
4. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.
5. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
So, they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
b. Differences in the synoptic accounts of the Mission of the twelve.
1. Mark said they should preach that all men should repent, while Matthew and Luke stated that they should preach the kingdom of God.
2. Luke stated that they should heal, Matthew and mark included that they should cast out demons
3. Matthew’s account forbade them from going to the Gentiles and the Samaritans but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, while Mark and Luke are silent on that
4. Matthew charged them to enter only the towns they feel that deserves or proves itself worthy.
5. Mark and Luke stated that the dust that was shaken off the disciples’ feet will be a testimony against them while Matthew only stated that the house that rejects them will be ranked worse in comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah in the evil that would befall them.
6. Only Mark recorded that Jesus sent them out two by two
c. Achievements of the mission of the twelve disciples
The disciples recorded achievements in this assignment that was sent them.
1. They preached to many as they were received by the people.
2. They didn’t lack anything as all that they needed were provided for them during this mission.
3. They were able to perform miracles of healing and casting out of demons
Unprecedented 