Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 10].
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10:1 {His twelve disciples} (\tous d•deka math•tas autou\). First
mention of the group of "learners" by Matthew and assumed as
already in existence (note the article) as they were (Mr 3:14).
They were chosen before the Sermon on the Mount was delivered,
but Matthew did not mention it in connection with that sermon.
{Gave them authority} (\ed•ken autois exousian\). "Power"
(Moffatt, Goodspeed). One may be surprised that here only the
healing work is mentioned, though Luke (Lu 9:2) has it "to
preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." And Matthew
says (Mt 10:7), "And as ye go, preach." Hence it is not fair to
say that Matthew knows only the charge to heal the sick,
important as that is. The physical distress was great, but the
spiritual even greater. Power is more likely the idea of
\exousia\ here. This healing ministry attracted attention and did
a vast deal of good. Today we have hospitals and skilled
physicians and nurses, but we should not deny the power of God to
bless all these agencies and to cure disease as he wills. Jesus
is still the master of soul and body. But intelligent faith does
not justify us in abstaining from the help of the physician who
must not be confounded with the quack and the charlatan.
10:2 {The names of the twelve apostles} (\t•n d•deka apostol•n ta
onomata\). This is the official name (missionaries) used here by
Matthew for the first time. The names are given here, but Matthew
does not say that they were chosen at this time. Mark (Mr
3:13-19) and Luke (Lu 6:12-16) state that Jesus "chose" them,
"appointed" them after a night of prayer in the mountain and came
down with them and then delivered the Sermon (Lu 6:17). Simon
heads the list (\pr•tos\) in all four lists including Ac 1:13f.
He came to be first and foremost at the great Pentecost (Ac 2
and Ac 3). The apostles disputed a number of times as to which
was greatest. Judas Iscariot comes last each time save that he is
absent in Acts, being already dead. Matthew calls him the
betrayer (\ho paradidous\). Iscariot is usually explained as "man
of Kerioth" down near Edom (Jos 15:25). Philip comes fifth and
James the son of Alphaeus the ninth. Bartholomew is the name for
Nathanael. Thaddaeus is Judas the brother of James. Simon Zelotes
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MT10.RWP.html (1 of 8) [28/08/2004 09:03:05 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Matthew: Chapter 10)