Matthew 9:35- 10:1

In Matthew 10 we see that Jesus gave his disciples authority over “unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.” In Matthew we see that verse 10:1 is a mirror image of 9:35. The power and authority that Jesus had over “unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness” was extended to his disciples. It is my belief that Jesus had two primary goals for doing this.

First, it is important to understand that the space in your bible between Malachi and Matthew is called the Intertestamental Period. This is a 200-400 year period that heaven was shut up. During this time man heard nothing from God and was led, for the most part, by ungodly men. As Pompey defeated Aristobulus, Rome became the ruling power and thus the rise of the Pharisees and Sadducees. These were ungodly rulers who desired nothing more than to elevate themselves in the eyes of the people, and to remain in power by the approval of Rome, “If we let Him continue in this way, everyone will believe in Him! Then the Romans will come and remove both our place and our nation (John 11:48)."

Jesus repeatedly rebuked these leaders, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are (Matthew 23:15)! These men were revered, educated in the law, and the final authority in the Jewish community. But now there will be a changing of the guard. God is appointing these twelve nobody’s as his ambassador’s. Fishermen and Tax Collectors were the men that God had appointment to bring a message of repentance to Israel. Why would the people stop listening to the established leaders and begin to follow these nobodies? They wouldn’t. Which is why, I believe, the Lord extended his authority to them. As evidence that they were truly called and sent by him.

The Jews saw miracles as a sign that an individual was sent by God the father. Nicodemus stated in John 3:2 concerning the Lord Jesus, "Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him." The signs and wonders that were performed by the Apostles (whom no longer exist), was evidence that they were, in fact, messengers of God.

Secondly, the people, to the best of their ability, tried to follow the laws that were presented to them. But the leaders of the day made it very difficult, so much so that the people were “weary and worn out”, Matthew 9:36. As Jesus looked at the people, Matthew say’s that he had compassion; they were like sheep without a shepherd. As is so many cases today, having bad leaders is equivalent to having no leaders.

As we follow the Lord through Capernaum, we can see the crowds grow. When the Lord healed the paralyzed man in Matthew 9:8, the bible says "they were awestruck and gave glory to God who had given such authority to men.” It was what he did that connected him to God in their sight. From healing the leaper in Matthew 8:1-4 to driving out the demon in 9:32, these signs or miracles where important in establishing Jesus as the promised Messiah, which is why Matthew shared these specific events with us.

God gave this authority to these 12 men, I believe, for the purpose of connecting them to him. This would allow Israel to trust their testimony, and to establish the coming church.