Mat 10:5-14 | TNotes | STEP | 10:5 Don’t go to the Gentiles: Jesus’ mission was limited to Jews at this stage (15:24 ). Through the Jews, God would reach the Gentiles (Isa 2:2-4 ; 42:6-7 ; 49:6 ; 60:3 ). • Jews regarded Samaritans as impure Jews (Luke 17:18 ) because of their intermarriage with Gentiles during and after the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles (2 Kgs 17:24-41 ). Tension was provoked in 128 BC when the Jewish leader John Hyrcanus destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim (Josephus, Antiquities 13.9.1).

10:5 ^a Don’t go to the Gentiles: Jesus’ mission was limited to Jews at this stage (15:24 ^b). Through the Jews, God would reach the Gentiles (Isa 2:2-4 ^c; 42:6-7 ^d; 49:6 ^e; 60:3 ^f).

• Jews regarded Samaritans as impure Jews (Luke 17:18 ^g) because of their intermarriage with Gentiles during and after the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles (2 Kgs 17:24-41 ^h). Tension was provoked in 128 BC when the Jewish leader John Hyrcanus destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim (Josephus, Antiquities 13.9.1).
10:6 ⁱ Being lost is the result of neglect by their shepherds (9:36 ^j; 15:24 ^k).
Summary for Matt 10:7-8: 10:7-8 ^l By doing these things in the name and authority of Jesus, the apostles demonstrated Jesus’ status as Messiah (see 11:2-6 ^m).
10:8 ⁿ Give as freely as you have received! While remuneration is not improper (1 Cor 9:3-19 ^o; Gal 6:6 ^p; 1 Tim 5:17 ^q), Jesus urged the apostles to avoid accusations of greed (see Acts 8:20 ^r; 20:33 ^s).
Summary for Matt 10:9-10: 10:9-10 ^t Jesus’ disciples were to trust in God’s provision (6:11 ^u, 25-34 ^v; 7:7-11 ^w), to avoid greed that would give others the opportunity to defame the Lord’s name, and to encourage the newly formed communities to provide for their leaders’ needs (see 1 Cor 9:3-19 ^x).
10:12 ^y give it your blessing: Greetings were more significant than a simple hello. Often, a greeting would convey a blessing for those who received it (cp. Ruth 2:4 ^z).
10:13 ^aa A worthy home would embrace the message about Jesus and the Kingdom (10:37-38 ^ab; 22:8 ^ac).

• The disciples’ blessing was an offer of salvation; to take back the blessing was a sign of judgment as the offer was withdrawn.
10:14 ^ad shake its dust from your feet: This prophet-like gesture is explained by the Israelite custom of expressing displeasure with ungodliness by shaking off Gentile dust whenever crossing the border into Israel. The gesture signifies the disciples’ rejection of those who oppose God’s work (see Acts 18:6 ^ae). Pronouncing judgment on those who reject the message is part of proclaiming the Good News about the Kingdom (see Matt 11:20-24 ^af; 13:10-15 ^ag; 23:37-39 ^ah; 24:1-36 ^ai).