Commissioning of the Twelve: An Analysis of Matthew 10:5-15.

Abstract

Prior to Matthew 10:5-15 Jesus evidently executes his mission. The Matthean Jesus proclaims about the kingdom of heaven and heals many who are sick. He heals a leper, paralytic and the blind to mention but a few (Mat 8; 9). Hence, in chapter 10:5-15 Jesus sends his twelve disciples to further his mission. Hence, it is imperative that in this paper, I analyse the commission discourse as presented in Matthew 10:5-15 and ascertain how the disciples were to accomplish it. To achieve this aim, the work commences by looking at the term apostle as background information followed by an analysis of the passage. Thereafter, I will discuss what is in the primary texts and what the secondary literature say showing whether I agree or not to the facts highlighted therein giving justification for my
position. Eventually, a conclusion will be drawn that Matthew’s heightening
moment in the mission discourse is his radical demand for simplicity. This
simplicity would prove the value of their mission.