p. 341 | The Sabbath School

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 4, 1881

The Sabbath School.

LESSON FOR PACIFIC COAST.—AUG. 6.

Sending forth the Disciples.—Matt. 10; Mark 6: 1-13; Luke 9: 1-6.

LESSON COMMENTS.

The apostles had now passed through a lengthened and varied experience, and besides the constant instruction of their Master's words and life, had learned from their own hearts how great their moral deficiencies still were. Their faint-heartedness, irresoluteness, and want of faith, were evident, and they were thus brought to that modest self-distrust which alone could fit them for the heavier duties before them. They were now to rise from the position of dependent and simple followers and scholars, and become co-workers with Jesus, and that not only on the good soil already sown, but, rather, on the hard trodden paths, the stony ground, and that pre-occupied by thorns. In Gadara and Nazareth they had learned to distinguish the opposite aspects of unbelief; in the one, that of common natural selfishness and harshness; in the other, that of proud, perverted fanaticism. After long wanderings and continuous trials, the twelve were now, in their Master's opinion, in a measure prepared to work by themselves in spreading the new kingdom. In spite of the opposition of the interested professional classes, the enthusiasm of the people to hear the new teaching was unabated. Multitudes followed Jesus wherever he appeared; the synagogues still offered access to the whole population each Sabbath, and in all the cities and villages of Galilee, the "gospel of the kingdom" was the great topic of conversation.

Under any circumstances, the crowds following Jesus would have touched a heart so tender, but their wild despair and religious enthusiasm made the sight of them doubly affecting. Might they not be won to the peace and joy of the glad tidings? They seemed to him, the Good Shepherd, like a great flock needing many shepherds, but with none; footsore with long travel, wandering they knew not whither, with no one to lead them to still waters and green pastures. "The harvest," said he to his disciples, "is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." There were multitudes to be won for the new kingdom,—multitudes prepared to hear, for their spirits were broken under personal and national sorrow. But the number of right teachers was small.

He decided, therefore, to delay no longer sending forth the twelve. Calling them together, he told them his purpose, and fitted them to carry it out. As a proof of their mission from him, he invested them with authority over spirits, and gave them power to heal diseases. They were to confine themselves for the present to Jewish districts, avoiding Samaritan towns, and not entering on the road to heathen parts. Galilee itself was thus virtually their field of labor, for heathenism had a footing in every place round it, and within a few miles of them lay Gadara, Hippos, Pella, Scythopolis, and even Sepphoris, with heathen worship in their midst. Judea and Jerusalem were not to be thought of. The simple Galileans would be a better beginning for the apostles than the dark, bigoted population of the south. One day they would be free to visit Samaria, as he himself had already. Meanwhile they must not stir up Jewish hatred by going to either Samaritans or heathens. Moreover, their own Jewish prejudices unfitted them for a mission to any but Jews, for, even after this, the first signs of hostility made John wish to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village, and they were not fit as yet to handle aright the many questions such a journey would elicit. Besides, Israel must have another year in which to bring forth fruit; and withal, it was their first independent journey.

The burden of their preaching was to be the repetition of that of John, and of Jesus himself, when he began. "The kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Like John, they were heralds, to prepare the way. "Heal the sick," said He, "raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons." They had received their miraculous gifts freely, and must dispense them as freely. Their equipment was to be of the simplest, for superfluity diverted the mind from the great object, and made an extra burden which would only hinder them on their journeys. It became them, also, by their humble guise, to disarm the suspicion of worldliness, and to show their implicit trust in God. They were to take no money; not even any copper coin in their girdles—the usual Eastern purse; nor a wallet for their food by the way; nor two under garments, but were to wear only one; nor were they to have shoes, which looked like luxury, but only the sandals of the common people, and they were to have only one staff. They were to go as the peasants of Palestine often do yet, trusting to hospitality for food and shelter; offering in their simplicity a striking contrast to the overflowing robes and bright colors of the population at large. But they were not to go alone. Each must have a companion, to accustom them to brotherly communion, to give counsel and help to each other in difficulties, and to cheer each other on the way.

No mention is made of the synagogues in their instructions; it may be, because the apostles were not yet confident enough to come forward so publicly. It was to be a house-to-house mission. While every traveler, according to the custom of the country, greeted his acquaintances with laborious formality, raising the hand from the heart to the forehead, and then laying it in the right hand of the person met; even, according to circumstances, bowing thrice, or as many as seven times; they were forbidden to indulge in any greetings by the way. Time was too precious, and their mission too earnest for empty courtesies. On entering a town or village, they were to make inquiries, to guard against their seeking hospitality from the unworthy, but having once become guests, they were to stay in the same family till they left the place. They were to enter the dwelling which heartily welcomed them, with a prayer for its peace. Any house or city, however, that refused to receive them, was to be treated openly as heathen, by their shaking off its dust from their feet as they left it. But woe to such as brought down this wrath; it would be better at the last day for Sodom and Gomorrah, than for the Galilean village in such a case.

To these directions for the way Jesus added warnings that might have well filled with dismay men less devoted. He predicted for them only "the persecution and universal hatred, jails, public whipping, and even death, but cheered them by the promise that their brave and faithful confession of faith in him, before governors and kings, would serve his cause, and that endurance to the end would secure their eternal salvation. They would be like helpless sheep in the midst of treacherous wolves."

No details are given of the mission, except that the twelve went on a lengthened circuit through the towns and villages of Galilee, preaching the need of repentance, and the glad tidings of the new kingdom; and that their ministry was accompanied by miraculous works of mercy—the casting out of devils, and the anointing of many sick with oil, and healing them—which were themselves proofs of their higher success, since such wonders were, doubtless, as in the case of their Master, wrought only when there was a measure of faith.—Geikie's Life of Christ.