05. Matt 10-11

Here we have the list of the 12 disciples, note they are listed in pairs and Matthew is the only one with a former profession named. Once they are named they are sent out in to the "lost sheep" of Israel not to the other areas.  They are to announce the coming of the kingdom of heaven and perform miracles. They are to go and trust that the people they preach to will receive them and take care of them.  Some of the situations in the chapter seem to tell of what the disciples and early church were experiencing after Jesus' death and resurrection in terms of persecution and punishment. The job of being a disciple or follower of Jesus would not be easy then nor is it today, to radically life for him is counter cultural and has its consequences from family and friends and the rest of society to which one lives contrary.

The troubles in the families may have arisen after AD 70 when the Christians were no longer accepted as a part of the Jewish faith for having let non circumcised Jews into their faith communities. Some families were split apart by one generation belonging to one faith and another belonging to another.  Sometimes we see similar tensions in families today when children choose a different path than their parents.

At the end of Chapter 10 Jesus affirms that people who receive his disciples also receive him and God who sent him. And they shall be thus rewarded. For me this chapter has a focus on the future and what will happen in the end rather than a pep talk to send the twelve on their mission.

The next chapter begins with Jesus finishing the teaching and then he goes on to other places and presumably the disciples go on their own ways, too. We hear an odd question coming from John who is now in prison, we will hear more about this in chapter 14, but for now John sends word asking if Jesus is in fact the one or if John should be looking for another Messiah.  Perhaps John had a sense that the Messiah would do something and do it quickly and he has not seen or heard of it yet.  Jesus report back is that the scriptures (in italics) and more are being fulfilled by him.  Jesus then affirms John's mission and ministry to the crowds that have gathered to hear him.

Jesus has rather harsh words for the communities where he teaches and performs miraculous signs yet the people do not seem to believe and change their hearts and lives to follow him and his teaching.  The chapter ends with a quotable quote describing for those who are struggling with heavy burdens how Jesus will give us rest. He is gentle and his yoke is easy to bear and his burden is light.  I see this referencing the burden of following the old Mosaic law and all of its minutia of interpretations laid on by the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus offers a yoke on which to carry the double commandment to love God and to love neighbor as yourself.