The kingdom of heaven is at hand

At the conclusion of chapter 9 the Lord said, ‘The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few’, exhorting the disciples to pray to ‘the Lord of the harvest’ to ‘send forth labourers into his harvest’. Thus it is our responsibility to pray; His prerogative, to send. As we come into chapter 10, as ‘Lord of the harvest’ He calls and sends forth the Twelve. Those sent were men who had followed Him, had learnt from Him, and to whom the need to pray for labourers had been made known. Are we spending time with Him, learning of Him, praying in the light of His revealed will, as individuals He could choose and send forth today?

The commission given to the Twelve was distinctly Jewish in character, and while it embraces principles that are equally applicable today, the literal details can only be rightly understood when viewed in connection with the ministry of the apostles, and the witness of a future Jewish remnant living in tribulation days prior to the manifestation of Christ in glory. Specific mention is made of the ‘house’ and ‘cities’ of Israel, vv. 6, 23. The content of the message, ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand’, concerned the kingdom promised by God through the ministry of the Old Testament prophets, v. 7. To demonstrate the authority and validity of the message the preaching would be accompanied by the working of miracles, ‘the powers of the world to come’, v. 8; Heb. 6. 5. As encouragement to the preachers the promise is given, ‘He that endureth to the end shall be saved’: the ‘end’ being a reference to the coming of ‘the Son of man’ in power, Matt. 10. 22, 23, cp. 24. 13.

While we must not ignore the literal interpretation of these verses, neither should we overlook some of the very practical lessons for ourselves today. The Lord not only calls men, He empowers and equips those called, and determines the sphere of their ministry and the message to be preached, 10. 1, 6, 7. Those called will need to act with wisdom and prudence, and although opposition is to be expected, the Holy Spirit will give help, vv. 16-22. An anticipation of the Lord’s coming and kingdom imparts a sense of urgency to the work, 2 Tim. 4. 1, 2.