Bible Study: Matthew chapter 8 thru chapter 10 verse 1

Brethren, I have been covering over the last few months a few sermons about the book of Matthew and the teachings of Jesus Christ. And today we want to continue on that. And particularly, we want to look at a section which starts introducing Christ's second, let's call it sermon, or discourse, or presentation to the disciples. His first one was the sermon on the Mount, and the second one starts in Matthew 10. But today I want to cover a little bit of that section in the middle, which is like bridging or introducing onto his second sermon, let's call it that, to the disciples. And the book of Matthew, Matthew is a book that was basically written to the Jewish community and portrays Jesus Christ as the Anointed One. In other words, it gives a lot of scriptural evidence pointing that Jesus Christ is the Anointed One, that the prophecies were pointed to. And you know what the Anointed One means. Anointed One means Messiah. That's what the Anointed One is, the Messiah. In other words, it's Christ. So when we use the word Christ, it's the same thing as using the word Messiah. It's just a different language. So think about Christ as the Messiah. It's the same thing. It's the Anointed One. And therefore Christ is the King of Kings. The Anointed One, because they anointed the kings to the position of leadership. You remember? Saul was anointed, David was anointed, so they anointed the kings to positions of leadership. And Christ is the Anointed One by the Father to the position of leadership as the King of Kings. And to do that, to bring that point across powerfully, Christ had a specific responsibility to show them that he was that by the healings and the signs that he performed. And so when you look at the section between Matthew 8 and 9, so we're going to go into there, so you could put a little marker in there in Matthew 8 and 9, you see miracles. And we're not going to read, for instance, Matthew 8, but we're just going to highlight how there is a number of miracles there. For instance, from verse 1 to verse 4, it shows that Jesus comes across a leper and is worshiping him. And Jesus says, he puts out his hand, and you know that when there's a leper there, a thing, you don't touch it. So now he goes out in touch, and he says, I'm willing, and he's healed. He was cleansed. He was healed. Then, starting in verse 5 of still Matthew 8, there's another healing, and that is the centurion's servant. And see, so he entered into a city called Capernaum, and then a centurion, you can read that in verse 5, came to him pleading with him, Lord, my servant is lying around paralyzed, dreadful, tormented, and Jesus said to him, I'll come in healing. And the servant says, just give the word, you know, just say, I'm a person in authority, you are in authority, just give the word and you'll be healed. And he says, what great fight! What great fight! Crossed with the impressed with. It's interesting, it's a gentle. It's a right day, it's a gentle. And he was healed.

And then, when he gets to, in verse 14, he says, Jesus had come into Peter's house, and he saw his wife's mother, line 6, so his mother in law with the fever. So he touched her hand, and the people left him straight away. So you can see amazing miracles that really brought the servant. And after the Sabbath, many came to him, he says, he was a university's team, and he cast out spirits with the word, and healed all who were sick. So he was fulfilling the prophecy of the prophet's days. He himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses in verse 17. That's in Isaiah 53, that's servant prophecy. So we can see intervening. Look at verse 23. 23, he goes into a boat, and suddenly there's winds and a tempest, and he says to David, verse 26, why are you afraid? And he rebuked the winds in the sea, and there was a great calm, verse 26. So you can see these are signs to prove that he is the anointed one. These are very special signs to identify him as that being. So they marveled. They marveled, this day, in verse 27. They looked at verse 28. There were two people, there were demons possessed, and he cast the demons away. Then you get to chapter 9, and there's a man, there's a paralytic. Now, Yahr comes a very interesting point in his hillies, because now he says, instead of just killing him, he says, look at it at the end of verse 2, son, be of good cheer, and your sins are forgiven. Now, that's interesting, because now he's taking it to a different place. He says, well, your sins are forgiven. And you can see immediately the scribes did within themselves there in verse 3, this man blasphemes. Blasphemy. Why? Because only God can forgive, right? Only God can forgive.

Because they knew all sin is against God, sin is a violation of God's law, God therefore is the one that is offended by the sin, because God is the Lord Giver, and God is the judge and the executioner, and therefore only God can forgive the sinner. Only God. And so these Pharisees, in this case the scribes, were meditating, were thinking, were considering, and says, hey, this is blasphemy. And you know, this thing grew bigger and bigger, this attitude of Christ blaspheming that led to his death, for him to want you to kill him. And so Christ then said, why are you thinking this evil? What is easier? To say, well, your sins are forgiven, or rise up and walk? Kind of a good question, isn't it? I can say, oh, I forgive you, but can I say to somebody else, get up and you're completely healed. Immediately, I mean, you think about, yeah, somebody, there is penalty. Now, if you have a problem, for instance, with your hand, or whatever it is, and for a certain amount of time, you don't use an, okay, then start healing and you can start healing. But you know that muscle, it's kind of weak. It doesn't kind of just, you've got to now excise it and do like physical therapy and whatever to get the muscle back to work, even though maybe it's working, but you've got to get those muscles. Now, there's a man that wasn't walking and suddenly, hey, pick up, not only he can walk, he can pick up his bed and do, I mean, so it's not just healed, but the muscles, everything is just functioning perfectly. That is a real miracle there. So, you can see that he is showing the people that he is a Messiah, because these were miracles that people can't do. Nobody can do. Only the Messiah could do. And then, as he did this, he started calling these the cycles. You saw Peter had already been called and now look at a little light area in verse 9. As he just passed from there, he saw a man called Matthew. So, this is the writer of this gospel. It was the author of this gospel, Matthew. So, this is the first contact that Matthew has with Christ and he says, he's there at the tax office. So, he's a tax collector, what they call the public, just another word for the tax collector. And he said to him, follow me. And so, he arose and followed him.

Now, these tax collectors, they're not like today with a big IRS and whatever it is, and the restructure, whatever it is. It was a little less structured. And they put a lot of that money into their back pockets. And so, they were really considered people of bad, ill reputation because they were really pocketing it. And therefore, they were charging a lot more than what they should charge. Now, I want you to keep that, the market there. But let's look at Luke chapter 5, where it describes the same instance. Luke chapter 5, where it describes the same instance. And we're going to look in verse 27. And after these things, he went out and he saw a tax collector named Levi. Or Levi, Levi. So, in other words, it's like, you all have two names, like a first name and maybe a middle name. So, it was Matthew Levi. He's the same person. Matthew Levi is the same person. And sitting in the tax office. And he said to him, follow me. And so, he left all rows up and followed him.

Now, you remember there was another Easter, sometimes later, there was a man that said, you know, what is it to be? To have eternal life and all that. And he says, well, keep the commandments. I've done that all the time. And he said, well, follow me. And he didn't want to follow because what Christ was doing to that man, he was offering a position of discipleship. Not any El Chippo position. It was to be one of the twelve disciples. And he rejected it. But here is Matthew. He says, he left all.

In other words, he had a job with a lot of benefits. A lot of benefits. Right? And he said, she lives. Goodbye. And he started without looking back, like the woman that looked back and became a pillar of salt. Without looking back, he went and he said, that is it. I'm going.

So, and then Levi made Christ a great beast in his house. These were very wealthy people. They probably had really nice house, nice conditions and things like that. They had a great number of other people that worked for the local IRS. Whatever it was called. The text labels. There were a lot of people. And others sat with them. See, so we see the same story. So he called a great feast. So let's continue, therefore, now in Matthew chapter 9, where we'll get a moment to go. So, all I wanted to highlight is two things. One is that sometimes it's called Matthew, sometimes it's called Levi. It's the same person. And two, that he left all. In Matthew, he himself, writing about himself, he did not say he left all. He just said he followed. You can see that in... So he arose and followed him. So he wasn't kind of boasting about himself that I left everything. But another writer said he left all. So he really made a strong commitment. Now, we continue reading at verse 10.

A little thing of two or three people. I mean, it was a big party. I mean, it was a big feast. And Christ was there, and the cycles that little reed called, they were there. Now, when the Pharisees saw it, they said, the Pharisees said, eat the cycles. Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? Now, interesting point is, what were they doing there? They saw self-righteous about what they were doing there. I mean, they were also eating there, weren't they? Anyway, just the side of one. And then Jesus heard that, he said, those are our will, and no need a physician. But those are the waspik. You know, those people that have no sin, they don't need a savior. That's really what he's saying. You bunch of people are self-righteous. You say that you are so good. In other words, you don't need a savior, quote unquote. But those people who have sinned need a savior, need a doctor, need a savior. You need an analogy. And so, they need self-righteous. But then, he brings an interesting point here, verse 13. But go and learn what this means. I desire mercy and not sacrifice. I desire mercy and not sacrifice. You see, these people were very sweet about giving their sacrifices, making their sacrifices, and a lot of them was a show. But in the end, God says, I don't care about the sacrifices. What I really care is a living sacrifice. You read that in Romans chapter 12, right? That's what counts. And what is a living sacrifice? It's obedience. He's submitting to God. He's being humble. He's being teachable. He's being meek. That's a living sacrifice. That's what God cares. So, here is a big lesson that Christ is starting to bring to them. And then, a bit later, not going through all the examples, we see a little girl. Verse 18, while he spoke these things to them, the older rumor came, and worshiping, saying, My daughter has just died. But come and lay your hand on her, and she'll live. And so, Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did these disciples. And then, you know about the story about the woman that had this issue of blood for 12 years. And she touched him, and she was healed. You see, the Messiah is showing these signs that no other prophet or human being, or even minister in God's church today, has that capability. It's a sign of the Messiah. Very special sign. And so, it's a sign of the anointed one. And you can see, a little later, we see the two blind men. See, the two blind men. And when the two blind men followed the inside, the Son of David had mercy on us. And then, when he came into the house of life, they said to him, and Jesus said, came to him, and Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I'm able to do this? And they said, Yes, Lord. Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, let it be to you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus, to only warn them, don't tell anybody. But the news spread! The news spread! I mean, there is somebody that was blind, as somebody can see, everybody can see. This thing just plays like wildfire. People knew he had a special position, quote-unquote, in front of God. He was the anointed one. He was a Messiah. Very special. Then you go on. Verse 32, there's a man that's mute. And now you can see. Brethren, let's look at two prophecies about this very quickly. So keep your finger there. Let's go to Isaiah 29.

Isaiah 29, verse 18 and 19.

Isaiah 29, verse 18 and 19.

In that day, the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and cry out of darkness. In that day, the day of Christ's coming. The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. In the Holy One of Israel. Christ, the Holy One of Israel. Look a little bit further in Isaiah 35. Isaiah 35, verse 4 through 6. Say to those who are fearful, hearted, be strong and do not fear. Be all your God will come with vengeance. Now, this is very interesting. Now, understand prophecy. It's very interesting. Prophecy lays out certain events, but it is as if. It does not sometimes give that extra dimension of time. So, there's events about Christ's coming, but some of the components of that prophecy are related to Christ's second coming. And some of the components of that prophecy are also applicable to His first coming. But the prophecy does not always show that time difference. That's why there is the other case when Jesus starts speaking and He says, well, this is being fulfilled at the beginning of His ministry and He closed the book before the full stop. And He says, this is fulfilled because the rest of that prophecy was for the second coming. And they didn't understand. There was a first and a second coming. They didn't see that time dimension. So, the prophecy, what I'm reading from verse 4 to verse 6, it's dual.

Part of it applied to Christ's first coming. And part of it will apply to Christ's second coming. And because now we can see, as we read, we can see, well, the time of the Avengers is actually second coming. But it also applies some of the ins and simes of His first coming because look at it. With recompense of God, He will come and save you. So, the final saving of Israel will be during His second coming. But He says, then the eyes of the blind shall be open. Yes, at Christ's second coming, the world tomorrow, this will be completely fulfilled. But His first coming brought a little bit of this fulfillment. Can you see that? And He says, in the days of the death shall be unstoppable. And we just showed you some scriptures where Christ did just that. And the land shall leap like a deer. You saw examples of the paralytic and the death and the blind. Those examples there. And the time of the dancing. The water shall go to the earth's walls in the wilderness and streams in the desert, the parched ground. So, now it's talking about the world tomorrow. But you can see Christ was being identified as the one that has this power given to Him by God. So, Matthew was bringing this to a realization to those people, showing to the Jews that Christ was a Messiah. And therefore, He was bridging that goal, that old testament into the New Testament. By bringing that connection of Christ was the one. So, Matthew is very organized, because remember he was a tax collector, so he then means he kept records. So, he lays out a very organized description of Christ's teachings for us to be able to teach from Him. Because remember, we have to be kings and priests, and we are to proclaim. And that's why at the end of Matthew, so let's go back to Matthew. And if we look at the last chapter of Matthew, right at the end of Matthew, Matthew 28, Matthew 28, verse 16-20, it says, then 11 the disciples went away into Galilee. Well, 11, because Judas the Carriagot had already died, as you know, but Matthew was one of those, right? To the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them, when they saw Him, they worshiped Him. They worshiped Christ.

Now, you know, you're not allowed to worship anyone but God. This is important for us because Christ is God, He's the Son of God, but He's not, instead of the Father, He's completely submersive to the Father. So, it's a very important point. But some doubt, and Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

The Father gave the Son all power and authority, not just on earth, but in heaven. In other words, then Jesus means, He's got all power, all power.

And then He says, go therefore and make disciples of all nations. Make disciples, so you've got to make people that are followers. This is an important point. I come across, for it is I deal with people in other countries and things like that. Oh, I want to be a minister. Oh, I want to be preaching the gospel. I want to do this. So, I say to them, I don't say to them, that's the first thing I say. You're not even keeping the Sabbath. You're not even keeping the Holy Days. You are the God in preaching. You don't even know what to preach. You know, how can you go out and preach? First, be a disciple. First, be a disciple. So Christ cannot say, go out and make leaders. He said, go out and make disciples. Our biggest job is to be a disciple. And a good disciple learns how to follow orders and instructions. And then we can be leaders. First, then he says, baptizing them, e, and that means into. The word is E-I-S in Greek, which means into. So, we don't baptize people into the Baptist Church or into the Catholic Church. Oh, I've been baptizing to the Catholic Church or I've been baptizing to the Seventh-day Baptist Church. No, we don't baptize people into any of those churches. When you and I were baptized, you may recall the minister said, I'm not baptizing you into any sect or human organization.

Because we are baptized into the spiritual body of Christ, which is held in the name of the family of God, in the name of God. So, we are baptized into that family name, which is the name of the Father, which is God. And we baptize into the name of the Son, which is the Son of God. And we baptize into the name of the Holy Spirit of God. So, we baptize into the God family. Oh, and I go into Brazil and things like that. I find a lot of people say, oh, this scripture should not be in the Bible because this is Trinity. No, it's not Trinity. This is showing that you bring baptized into the name of the family of God. And then he says in verse 18, teaching them to do what? To practice, to observe, to obey all things that I have among you. You see, the job of the apostles and our job as servants of God, and our light and our example, is to show people that we all have to be disciples, observing what we have been taught. That's the craps of the message. So, Matthew emphasizes as a teacher, as a well-organized discipline, and as a Levite, as the real Jew of the Jews, quote-unquote. He then writes these five speeches, or sermons, of Christ as opportunity for us to be taught about Christ. These speeches. That's why he says, observe the things that I have commanded. That's why it's important for us to look at these five sermons of Christ and get lessons from them to really understand what Christ is telling us. And this theory is the word that's what I'm trying to do. We've spent quite a bit of time on the sermon in Mount. Today is just a gap between the two sermons, and then the next one I'll spend quite a bit of time in Matthew 10 to actually give you a little bit more of the... There are three important points covered in Matthew 10, so we'll go into that at the next time. But anyway, Matthew therefore pointed...the first thing he did, pointed to the Jewish people that Christ was a Messiah. And therefore, by doing that, a number of places he says, as it is written, verse is fulfilled. Let's just look at one example at the beginning of Matthew in chapter 1. The beginning of Matthew in chapter 1. And we're going to read from verse 21 to 22.

And this is talking about the angel talking to Joseph, and he said, and she'll bring forth a son, and he shall call his name Jesus.

Jesus means Savior. Christ means Messiah.

Think about Jesus means first coming. Christ means second coming. You thought about that? That's very interesting.

Jesus means Savior. For he will save his people from their sons. First coming. That's one of the main missions of Christ's coming. To pay the price for our sins through his blood.

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled. You see, Matthew was preaching the Old Testament to the New Testament by preaching these scriptures and quoting scripture. And this you'll find about 15 times in the book of Matthew this phrase being used that it might be fulfilled. When it was spoken by the Lord through the prophets saying, Behold, the virgin shall be of child, and be the son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel. And it is translated, God with us. God with us. Who is with us? Jesus. Who is with us? God with us.

So he was preaching that.

And he did that, as I mentioned, through these five speeches of sermons. I just want you to show the division, the marker of these five sermons very quickly. I went through that before, but just in case you don't remember. The first one is Matthew 5, 6 and 7. And so at the end of Matthew 7, it says in verse 28, And so it was when Jesus had ended these things. It was when Jesus ended the sermon, or the speech, or the teaching. So that was the first message, the sermon on the Mount. And then a little later, the next one is in chapter 10. And if you have a red letter Bible, basically chapter 10 is always red letters. And then at the end of that, which in fact is 11 verse 1, Now it's going to pass, when Jesus finished commanding his twelve disciples. So the second speech is about instructions to the disciples.

So that's the second. And the third one, if you look at it, is in Matthew 12 and 13, or rather in Matthew 13. And then at the end of Matthew 13, towards the end, you see in verse 33, Now it came to pass when Jesus had finished these parables. So it's a section of teachings through parables. Chapter 13, all are parables there. So we structured these parables together, and then there is Jesus teaching through the parables about the kingdom. And then the next section is in Matthew 18. And you know Matthew 18 about who is greatest and how to handle your brother that offends you, all that. And then look at the end of that, which actually is 19, verse 1.

Now it came to pass when Jesus had finished these things. So that's kind of the third, I mean, the fourth block of teachings that he did. And the last, the first block of teachings that he did is from Matthew 24. You know that very well, which is like the end times, all the way in Matthew 24 and 25.

And therefore, after he finishes that, that's 26, verse 1, says, And it came to pass when Jesus had finished these things. So you can see these five blocks of teachings. And they all kind of delineated with that concluding statement, says, when Jesus finished these instructions. So that's what Matthew did by structuring it this way. So let's continue with Matthew 9, verse 35, when we took this through. Two were there showing that what Matthew is doing.

Matthew 35, 9.35 says, Then Jesus went about all the cities and the even villages teaching in synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every seed and every disease among the people. Surely the anointed one was drawing attention that he was the anointed one. And when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were wary and scattered like sheep, having no shepherd. And it is today.

Sheath without a shepherd. You know at the time when Moses was about to die, and he knew he was going to die, he asked God to provide a shepherd to the people, and God gave him, gave Joshua. You know that. I'm not going to turn there, but you can make a note if you want to do little Bible studies. Numbers 27, 15 through 17. Moses knew that it was important to have a shepherd.

God holds the shepherd accountable. If you look at Ezekiel 34, Ezekiel 34, turn with me briefly there, Ezekiel 34. We'll start in verse 1, Ezekiel 34. The word of the Eternal came to me saying, Son of Man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy incited him, thus is the Lord God to the shepherds. There's a lot of shepherds there. A lot of shepherds. They all like to have the title shepherds. But then he says, Woe to the shepherd of Israel, who feed themselves! They're worried about their back pocket, or their reputation, or being important.

Should not the shepherds feel the clock instead. That's what he's saying. You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with wool. You slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feel the clock. The weak, you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who are sick, nor bound after broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what you lost, was lost. But it was forced and cruelty! You've ruled over them! Now, some leaders of some organizations are cruel, are hard, are taskmasters. And we're not supposed to be that way. He says, but with force and cruelty, you've ruled them. We're not supposed shepherds to rule that way.

So the people were scattered, because there was no shepherds. And they became food for all the beasts of the field, and they were scattered. Indeed, there's many beasts, many people out there are scattering. Because the brethren in scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains on every high hill. Yes, my flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth. And no one was seeking or searching for them. Therefore, you shepherds hear the word of the Eternal.

My verb says, Lord God, surely, because my flock became a prey, and my flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd. Nor did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds feed, feed themselves, and do not feed my flock. Therefore, shepherds hear the word of the Eternal. Behold, I'm against shepherds, and I'll require my flock at their hand, and I'll cause them to cease feeding the flock of the sheep.

And the shepherds shall feed themselves no more, from the liver my flock, from their mouths, and that they may no longer be food for them. And then it explains how Christ will come back, how David will be resurrected, and David again will be the shepherd, and that. So, God expects the shepherds to do their job. But we know the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. And we go back to Matthew chapter 9, please. And it's said in verse 37, Then it's said to his disciples, The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest, to stand up laborers into his harvest. And indeed, that will happen. But it's not today. It's the harvest time. But we've got to be doing and preaching the gospel, and giving people hope.

We've got to give people hope. See, the Lord of the harvest, it says, yeah, the Lord of the harvest, verse 38. In other words, it's the Lord. It's Christ. He's in charge. He plans it. He decides it when and where and who. And he will even send the angels to read the office at the right time. And so then, it gets into chapter 10. And we can see here in chapter 10, and he says, And where he had called his twelve disciples to him, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cross them out and to heal all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of diseases.

Now, think about this.

Christ gave his apostles power. Similar to what Christ himself had.

And this is an apostolic sign.

Turn with me to Matthew 4, Matthew 4, verse 23. Matthew 4, verse 23.

Matthew 4, verse 23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of diseases amongst the people. Can you see kind of the same wording? Of what he gave to heal? He gave them the power that he had.

And when he finally went through, all sin, they brought to him, verse 24, all sick people were afflicted with various diseases. And he gave them the power that he had.

And when he finally went through, all sick people were afflicted with various diseases and comets, and those were demon-possessed, epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them all. Great multitudes followed him from Galilee and from the Apollos, in Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. These miracles brought everybody's attention.

That is a sign of the Messiah and of the Messiah's apostles.

So, when the apostles went out with this, at that initial training session, and they had this being trained, part of a special training session, he stayed with them to preach, to behave in special authority and special power. God used his apostles in a different way than he's using God's ministers today. Now, what he did with those apostles is something very unique. Turn with me to Acts 5.

Acts 12-16. Look at what the apostles did. Acts 5.12-16. And through the ends of the apostles. Many signs and wonders were done amongst the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. Yet, none of the rest had joined them, but the people had steamed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord. The multitudes of both men and women, because of all the healings and all the miracles these apostles were doing, and they were representatives, delegated representatives of the Messiah, it really brought a lot of attention. Verse 15. And so that they brought the stick up into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also, multitudes gathered from the surrounding citizens, bringing stick people, those who were tormented by a prince, and they were all healed. This was an apostolic power that God gave to the apostles. Look at Chapter 14 of Acts, verse 27. It was not the apostles that did it. It was God that did it. A special apostolic power. Look at it at verse 27. 14, verse 27. Acts 14, verse 27. Now when they had come and gathered the churches together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So when Paul went out as an apostle, God made miracles through him as well. And brought people's attention. Look at Chapter 15, verse 12. Chapter 15, verse 12. And all the multitudes kept silent. And listen to Barnabas and Paul, declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them amongst the Gentiles. This was signs of the apostles. God used them as signs and mighty deeds. Look at 2 Corinthians, Chapter 12. 2 Corinthians, Chapter 12, verse 11 and 12. 2 Corinthians, Chapter 12, verse 11 and 12. This is Paul, not Tolkien. He says, I have become a fool in both you and you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commanded by you, for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. Verse 12. Truly the signs of an apostle will accomplish among you the signs of an apostle, will accomplish among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.

You know, John the Baptist was a great man. Christ said as man, great like John the Baptist. He did zero miracles. Zero! He did no miracles.

Even from the diocese, God used the strong to start the work. And yes, there were a lot of healings, and they are healings today in the church, but these signs are not visible yet. But when Christ will come, or the right people that God decides to draw attention, then it will happen. I'm not saying there are no miracles in church. I'm saying, yes, I've seen many miracles. I've seen many healings, but they're quiet privately. God's people are being healed according to God's word at His time. Yes, but these were signs of the Apostles, very special signs.

And then we're continuing with Matthew chapter 10. Matthew chapter 10. Then it goes on to naming the disciples, and I mean the Apostles, should I call it? Apostles means the same count once, and then gives them three sets of commissions, which we'll go through next time. But remember, the Apostle is one personally chosen by Jesus Christ to represent Him, to be a witness of His resurrection and proclaim His gospel. So they were witnesses, first-hand, of Christ's resurrection. And they did have a very specific responsibility. Brethren, we're going to then, the next time, start looking at Matthew chapter 10. We're going to look at the three-fold division in Matthew chapter 10. There is a direction, a brief direction, for the temporary mission they were having in the first few verses. Then there is a set of directions for the permanent exercise of the gospel ministry. And then the third section is the ministry of the gospel and the service of Jesus Christ. So we're going to look at that in a future session. But the important thing is, I want you to draw a lot from this scripture, which is in Acts chapter 3. Acts chapter 3 verse 23. Acts chapter 3 verse 23. Acts 3 verse 23. Acts 3 verse 23. This is Peter giving a sermon at Solomon's portico, and then he is referring to Moses and is quoting about Moses. And he's talking about a prophet that would come like Moses, which is none other than Jesus Christ. And then he says in verse 23, he says, It shall be that every soul, every person who will not hear Jesus Christ, every person who will not follow the instructions and the teachings of Christ, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. So that's why, brethren, it's pretty important for us to go through these sections and understand deeply the teachings of Christ.