Read & explore together
Jesus Sends and Instructs the Twelve
Jesus sends the twelve on a specific mission with clear directions about where to go, what to announce, how to travel, and how to respond to both welcome and rejection.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
These verses bring together the sending of the twelve in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Matthew includes extended instructions and warnings about rejection, persecution, and loyalty to Jesus. Mark and Luke also report the mission itself, showing the twelve going out to preach, heal, and confront demons.
Matthew 10:5–42; Mark 6:7–13; Luke 9:1–6Main takeaway
Jesus sent the twelve with authority, a message about God’s Kingdom, and instructions for faithful service in both welcome and severe opposition.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Sent with authority and a clear messageJesus calls the twelve, sends them out, and gives them authority over demons and diseases.
Explanation
Jesus calls the twelve, sends them out, and gives them authority over demons and diseases. In Matthew, this mission is directed to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, not to Gentile or Samaritan towns. Their message is that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and Mark adds the call to repent.
02Travel simply and depend on what is providedJesus tells them not to carry extra money, food, bags, or spare clothing. Matthew explains this with the saying that the labourer is worthy of his food.
Explanation
Jesus tells them not to carry extra money, food, bags, or spare clothing. Matthew explains this with the saying that the labourer is worthy of his food. When they enter a place, they are to find a suitable house and stay there until they leave, rather than moving around.
03Offer peace, but recognise rejectionAs they enter a household, they are to greet it with peace. If the house receives them, that peace remains.
Explanation
As they enter a household, they are to greet it with peace. If the house receives them, that peace remains. If people will not receive them or hear their words, they are to leave and shake the dust from their feet. Matthew and Mark connect this refusal with coming judgement.
04Warnings about persecution and costly loyaltyMatthew then gives sober warnings. Jesus says they are like sheep among wolves and will face councils, scourging, rulers, hatred, and persecution.
Explanation
Matthew then gives sober warnings. Jesus says they are like sheep among wolves and will face councils, scourging, rulers, hatred, and persecution. He also speaks of family division, death, and the need to endure. They are not to fear people, but to confess Jesus openly, take up the cross, and follow him.
05The twelve went out, and Jesus closes with receiving his messengersMark and Luke show the twelve obeying Jesus. They went through villages preaching, calling people to repent, casting out demons, and healing the sick.
Explanation
Mark and Luke show the twelve obeying Jesus. They went through villages preaching, calling people to repent, casting out demons, and healing the sick. Matthew closes by saying that receiving these messengers is connected to receiving Jesus and the one who sent him, and even a cup of cold water given in a disciple’s name is noticed.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Who were the twelve told to go to, and what were they told to announce?
Look at Matthew’s specific direction about Israel and compare it with the words about the Kingdom and repentance.
02What were the disciples meant to do when people did not receive them or listen to them?
Read the verses about peace, leaving the place, and shaking dust from their feet as a testimony.
03What kinds of hardship does Matthew say may come with this mission, and what response does Jesus call for?
Notice the warnings about persecution and family conflict, then the commands not to fear and to confess and follow Jesus.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Matthew 10:5–42
5Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans.
6Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’
8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
9Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts.
10Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.
11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on.
12As you enter into the household, greet it.
13If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you.
14Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
15Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
17But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.
19But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
22You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come.
24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.
25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
26Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
27What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
29“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
33But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.
34“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.
35For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36A man’s foes will be those of his own household.
37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
38He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me.
39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
40“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
42Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.”
Mark 6:7–13
7He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
8He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse,
9but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.
10He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.
11Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
12They went out and preached that people should repent.
13They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick and healed them.
Luke 9:1–6
1He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
2He sent them out to preach God’s Kingdom and to heal the sick.
3He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—no staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money. Don’t have two tunics each.
4Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.
5As many as don’t receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”
6They departed and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News and healing everywhere.