Bible Commentaries
Matthew 10

Verse 2

apostles = those sent forth. See note on Mark 3:14 .

Zebedee. See note on Matthew 4:21 .

Verse 3

Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew . . . Alphaeus . . . Thaddaeus. These are all Aramaic words. See App-94 .

the publican = the tax-gatherer. Note the Figure of speech Ampliatio. App-6 .

Alphaeus. Hebrew. halphah. Same root as Cleophas; and probably the same name, if not the same person, as John 19:25 .

Verse 4

Canaanite. The Aramaic word for the Greek Zelotes (Luke 6:15 .Acts 1:13; Acts 1:13 ) = Zealot: so called from his zeal for the Law. See App-94 . Josephus ( Bell . Jud. Matthew 4:3 , Matthew 4:9 ) says the sect of "Zealots" did not arise till just before the fall of Jerusalem.

Judas Iscariot. The only apostle not from Galilee. He belonged to Judah.

also betrayed Him = even betrayed Him.

betrayed = delivered up.

Verse 5

Go not = Go not abroad: i.e. from the land.

Verse 6

to. Greek. pros .

lost sheep. Compare Ezekiel 34:16 ; and Matthew 15:24 ; Matthew 18:11 .Luke 19:10 .

the house of Israel. A Hebraism = the family of Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .

Verse 7

preach = herald. Greek. kerusso. See App-121 .

The kingdom of heaven. See App-114 .

heaven = the heavens. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

is at hand = is drawn nigh. Compare Matthew 4:17 .

Verse 8

the sick = sick ones.

the lepers = leprous ones.

the dead = dead people. See App-139 .

devils = demons. Compare Matthew 10:1 .

Verse 9

gold . . . silver . . . brass. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the money made from them.

purses = girdles, some of which contain pockets for money and valuables.

Verse 10

scrip = that which is written: then a small wallet that holds such a writing. Greek. pera. Only here, Mark 6:8 . Luke 9:3 ; Luke 10:4 , and Luke 22:35 , Luke 22:36 . Not a "purse", because no money: not a "bread bag" because no bread (Luke 9:4 . Deissmann quotes an Inscription at Kefr-Hauar, in Syria, in which a slave of a temple, "sent by the lady" on a begging expedition, brought back each journey seventy bags ( pera ) of money which he had collected. The Lord means they were not to beg.

shoes = sandals (i.e. not a spare pair).

Staves = a staff (for walking), not clubs. See note on Matthew 26:47 .

meat. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for all kinds of food.

Verse 11

town = village, as in Matthew 9:35 .

Verse 12

an house = a man's house.

salute it: i.e. make your salaam = pronounce "peace".

Verse 13

peace. Referring to the salaam of Matthew 10:12 .

Verse 14

shake off, &c. Figure of speech Paroemia. App-6 . Compare Matthew 18:17 . See Acts 13:51 .

Verse 15

Verily, &c. See note on Matthew 6:18 .

the day of judgment. Which the Lord spoke of as imminent, and coming at the end of that dispensation, had the nation repented.

Verse 16

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

sheep . . . wolves. No Art., for all sheep are not in the midst of wolves.

be ye = become ye.

serpents . . . doves. With Art., because all serpents are prudent, and all doves harmless.

harmless = guileless.

Verse 17

of = away from: i.e. beware [and keep] away from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

men. Plural of anthropos. App-123 .

you. This was true of the Twelve ("them that heard Him": Hebrews 2:3 ) in the dispensation of the Acts.

to = unto.

the councils = councils. Courts of justice.

Verse 18

And = Yea and; or And . . . kings also.

before. Greek. epi.

for My sake = on account of Me. Greek. heneken.

for = with a view to.

against = unto.

Gentiles = nations.

Verse 19

they deliver you up. All texts read "they shall have delivered you up".

take no thought = be not anxious (as in Matthew 6:25 , Matthew 6:27 , Matthew 6:28 , Matthew 6:31 , Matthew 6:34 ).

shall = should.

Verse 20

the Spirit = the Spirit (Himself). See App-101 .

Verse 21

child . . . children. Greek plural of teknon. App-108 .

against. Greek. epi . App-104 . Not the same as in Matthew 10:18 .

cause them to be put to death = will put them to death.

Verse 22

shall = will.

of = by. Greek. hupo.

all. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6 , for the greater part.

for = on account of. Greek. dia .

end. Greek. telo s (not sunteleia) . See notes on Matthew 24:3 , and App-114 ): i.e. of that dispensation, which would have thus ended had the nation repented at the call of Peter (Acts 3:19-26 ). As it did not repent, this is of course now future. Compare 1 Corinthians 1:8 .

shall be saved = he shall be saved (escape or be delivered). Compare Matthew 24:4-14 .

Verse 23

another = into the other: i.e. the next. Greek. allos ( App-124 .), but all texts read heteros. App-124 .

not = by no means; in no wise. Greek. ou me.

gone over = completed, or finished [going over].

till. See the four: Matthew 10:23 ; Matthew 16:28 ; Mat 28:39 ; Matthew 24:34 .

the Son of man. See App-98 .

be come = may have come. This is rendered hypothetical by the Particle an (which cannot be translated), because His coming depended on the repentance of Israel (Acts 3:19-26 ). It would then have been (and will now yet be) the judicial coming of "the Son of Man". Compare Acts 17:31 .

Verse 24

The disciple = a pupil.

above. Greek. huper.

master = teacher. App-98 . Matthew 10:4 .

servant = bondservant.

lord = master.

Verse 25

enough = sufficient.

be = become.

have called. All the texts read "have surnamed".

Beelzebub. Aramaic, Beelzeboul. App-94 .

Beelzebub = the lord of flies (2 Kings 1:2 ), was the god of the Ekronites. It was changed in contempt by the Israelites to Baalzebel = lord of the dunghill, and thence used of the prince of the demons.

shall they call. These italics are unnecessary.

them of his household. Greek. oikiakos. Occurs only here, and Matthew 10:36 .

Verse 26

Fear . . . not = Ye should not fear.

covered = concealed.

Verse 27

darkness = the darkness.

that. For this word italics are not needed.

light = the light.

hear in the ear. A Hebraism. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . Compare Genesis 20:8 ; Genesis 23:16 . Exodus 10:2 .Isaiah 5:9 . Acts 11:22 .

in = into. Greek. eis.

upon. Greek. epi . App-104 .

housetops. The usual place of proclamation.

Verse 28

fear not. Hebrew. yare'min. Deuteronomy 1:29 ; Deuteronomy 5:5 .Psalms 3:6 ; Psalms 27:1 .

them = [and flee] from them. Greek. apo.

kill. Man causes the loss of life, but he cannot kill: i.e. "destroy" it. Only God can do that.

the soul. Greek. psuche. See App-110 .

destroy. Note the difference. Not "kill" merely. Compare Luke 12:4 , Luke 12:5 .

hell. Greek. geenna. See note on Matthew 5:22 , and App-131 .

Verse 29

for a farthing. Greek. assarion. Compare Luke 12:6 , "five sold for two assarions " is not the same; but the difference may arise from the market price, which varied from time to time. Deissmann tells us that a fragment of a papyrus was discovered at Aegira (in Achaea, on the Corinthian gulf), in 1899, containing part of a market tariff of Diocletian (third century, A.D.), showing that sparrows were sold in tens. The tariff fixed the maximum price of ten for sixteen denarii (about 31/2 d. Eng. In our Lord's day, therefore, the market value would be Neh 1 d . Eng.) See App-51 .

of = from among Greek. ek.

on. Greek. epi.

without your Father: i.e. without His knowledge or will.

Verse 30

hairs . . . numbered. Note the Figure of speech Parechesis. App-6 . In Aramaic, hairs = mene .

numbered = mana.

Verse 32

confess Me. Greek confess in ( en . App-104 .) Me. Aramaic idiom.

I confess also = I also confess. Compare Matthew 10:33 .

Verse 34

I am come = I came. Compare Matthew 10:6 , and Matthew 15:24 .

send = cast, as seed. Compare Mark 4:26 .

earth. Greek. ge. See App-129 .

sword. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for "war" or "fightings".

Verse 35

set . . . at variance. Greek. dichazo. Occurs only here. Quoted from Micah 7:6 .

the daughter, &c. See App-117 .

Verse 37

loveth = is fonder of. See App-135 .

more than = above. Greek. huper.

Verse 38

cross. Greek. stauros. See App-162 . All criminals bore their own cross (John 19:17 ). Compare Matthew 16:25 .

Verse 39

He that findeth = He that has found. Note the Introversion in this verse (find, lose; lose, find).

life = soul. See App-110 .

loseth = has lost.

for My sake = on account of Me. Luke 14:14 ; Luke 20:35 , Luke 20:36 . John 5:29 ; John 11:25 .

find it. In resurrection. Compare 1 Peter 4:19 .

Verse 40

you. Those to whom the Lord spoke cannot be excluded.

receiveth. Note the Figure of speech Anadiplosis ( App-6 ), in verses: Matthew 10:40 , Matthew 10:41 .

Verse 41

a prophet. See App-49 .

in the name of: i.e. because he is. A Hebraism ( b'shem) . Exodus 5:23 .Jeremiah 11:21 .

in. Greek. eis. As in Matthew 10:27 .

Verse 42

these little ones: i.e. the Twelve. Compare Matthew 18:6 .

of = full of or containing. Genitive of the contents. App-17 .

in no wise. See App-105 .