Matthew 10:3
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
Matthew 10:3 belongs to the account of Jesus preparing and sending out the twelve apostles, naming Philip, and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the publican, James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus. They were disciples who had learned from Jesus and were then sent as His representatives to preach the kingdom of God and do evangelistic work. That sending included Matthew 10:3 among those named in Christ's commission.
Their mission joined preaching the word with healing the sick and casting out devils as one work rather than separate lines. The context therefore supports the unity of gospel ministry and medical missionary work.
That commission applies as a pattern for gospel work in the world's harvest and for the abundant, sacred work open to every soul. It calls each person to do his part in faith, filled with Christ's Spirit, while relying on Jesus as the Healer.
The surrounding list includes Judas, whom Christ chose and did not reject for imperfection and faults. Judas went with the other disciples on their tours, was trusted with evangelistic work, was given power to heal the sick, cure diseases, and cast out devils, worked with the apostles, and was entrusted with the money bag for expenses, even though he did not fully surrender to Christ.
Judas failed to be converted day by day in order to become a sanctified and polished instrument. His unchecked spirit of superiority and desire to exercise authority, and his unsurrendered hereditary and natural tendencies, were used by Satan to dishonor the Master, led him toward betraying Jesus, and imperiled his own soul.
Being counted and numbered among the disciples and apostles, and having a name registered on the church books, never by itself makes a person a Christian or a faithful believer. His place shows that false brethren can be found in the church, that only doing the Word makes men sons and daughters of God, and that Christ bears patiently with people who prove perverse.
The same result follows church members who have a knowledge of the truth without being sanctified by it. They constantly work out wrong characters, do more harm because of their knowledge, depart from the faith, confederate with apostates, and betray sacred trusts, while God calls for the whole-sided, undivided interests of those He has chosen.