Fifth Sunday after Pentecost June 15, 2008
Scripture	Matthew 9:35-10:23 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 10 Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel . 7 As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9 Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Devotional	Matthew includes a lengthily introduction that places the naming of the Twelve in a specific context. This is a reminder that ministry always takes place in specific context, in response to specific needs. 1 Matthew’s teachings in 9:35 -10:8 contrast with other parts of Matthew as well as Mark and Luke so we may understand it in a specific contest. Jesus’ ministry includes the cities and villages in lower Galilee . The center of Jesus’ ministry is at Capernaum with an estimated population of ten thousand people. This was a well traveled route for traders so the population would be acquainted with the East and West. The city of Tiberius located on the coast would remind the residents of Rome , who collected taxes and whose troops the tax supported. This is the context in which Jesus is performing his ministry. The exclusion of Samaritans and Gentiles is for this immediate ministry and not long term. Matthew’s mention of the Samaritans seems significant at this point. The animosity between the Jews and Samaritans revolve around the question of which is the right place to worship God or whether the Writings and Prophets have the same authority as the Pentateuch. Are these much different from our discussion of issues which separate us today? Which translation of the scriptures is most accurate, which kind of music is appropriate for worship, and how much do we sit and stand? This is just a few of the items we deem important as we discuss the correct way to worship and serve God. Compare these with Jesus’ ministry of healing the sick and raising the dead. Jesus sends the Twelve out to minister to those who are “harassed and helpless”. Does Jesus send us out to accomplish the same things today? Is the context of doing ministry the same today as when Jesus was speaking to the Twelve? It seems we have two choices: discussing things which matter little to God or doing the ministry with the “harassed and helpless.” 1 David B. Lott Editor, New Proclamation. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2008. p. 107