These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not. Matthew 10:5
I have met a few Jewish Christians, but not many. Among Christians, I expect the percentage of Jews is rather small. Most Christians are Gentiles, so it makes us realize how dramatically things have changed since the Lord Jesus sent out His disciples on their first mission. Specifically told to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, they were to avoid Gentiles. Maybe some of the disciples had this admonition in mind in the early days of the book of Acts. Their initial efforts were certainly directed toward the Jews. Initially, almost all Christians were Jews, and it took a few decades for that to change as the Gospel spread throughout the world. So, why does today’s text contrast so sharply with the Great Commission Jesus gave the disciples after His resurrection?
Our text provides a directive to the disciples to target Israelites only. I believe this was the great opportunity being given to the Jews to as a nation accept the arrival of their Messiah. We are not told exactly what they were to preach as they went out, but it would certainly be a message that the Son of God was with men, and that Israel’s long wait for the Messiah was over. Nationally, the Jews failed to accept that message, although many individuals did receive it. In the great program that was to bring in us Gentiles, the Jews were to first exercise their responsibility. Their rejection was to our benefit. The Gentiles are greatly blessed with the Gospel. God’s great program is working.
The instructions given to the disciples bring us to another important truth: the spread of the Gospel is not a haphazard, random, or unorganized effort. Just as the Lord Jesus had specific instructions for those to be approached by the disciples, He also has specific instructions for us today as we carry the Gospel forward. No, we are not to ignore or avoid anyone with the Gospel message. We definitely desire and try to reach everybody, because the Gospel is for all. But we will never achieve much in Gospel work if we don’t find out who the Lord would have us target with our efforts. If our personal exercise in the Gospel is ‘everybody’, we will never zone in on anybody. Some will preach, some will go to mission fields, some will teach Sunday School, some will giver out tracts, some will witness to friends, neighbours, and co-workers, some will pray, some will provide financial support. But without specifics, nobody is reached with the Gospel.
Jesus’ instructions to His disciples were specific. His instructions to you will be specific too, if you ask. -Jim MacIntosh