Daily Word Of God
Matthew 10:1-7
Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who was also his betrayer.
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows: ‘Do not make your way to gentile territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go instead to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- As disciples of the Lord, the twelve apostles’ sworn duty was to preach His word. Jesus did not tell them to do things like ‘move mountains’ or ‘call down fire from heaven’, but to ‘cure all kinds of diseases.’
- Truly, Jesus’ primary concern is not that of glamour and power, but that of love and compassion. His love for us knows no bounds, and our well-being is always first on His mind.
- As disciples of the Lord, we have the duty to spread the word of God to all who are ‘lost’ and looking for God (the ‘Lost Sheep of Israel’) and the genuine hope that the world cannot give.