Mark 6:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When you arrive in a village, do not address everyone you encounter directly; instead, seek out those who are worthy. Once you identify such a person, remain at their home and share your message from there. The Lord extends grace and peace to those who welcome them; however, for those who reject these blessings, He warns of a judgment more severe than that experienced by Sodom and Gomorrah. The specific locations where the apostles preached and the duration of their ministry are not specified; however, it is evident that their time apart was brief. The Savior did not send them all to the same locality, but rather in pairs, allowing them to minister in multiple places that He Himself had not yet visited. There were likely not many such locations, not only in Galilee but also in Judea. It is possible that they had an urgent timeframe set for their return, as they came back together. Had no specific time been established, they might have arrived at different intervals.

The message delivered by the apostles is similarly expressed by the evangelists. All affirm that Christ empowered the apostles to heal various ailments and to cast out afflictions. Specifically, He bestowed upon them the authority to heal all manner of sickness and to expel demons, granting them the grace of the Holy Spirit and the gift of healing (1 Cor. 12:9). Additionally, Mark notes that the apostles employed a physical symbolic action—anointing the sick with oil—during their healing ministry. He also adds that Christ sent the apostles out in pairs (v. 7). However, Matthew provides a comprehensive account of the instructions that Christ imparted to the apostles in this context, while Mark and Luke offer a more succinct description. They include only a brief reference to Matthew 9:15. For further understanding, one may refer to the interpretation of Matthew 10:1-42.

After completing his instructions to the twelve disciples, Jesus traveled through the towns of Galilee to proclaim the good news. The disciples, paired together, went into the villages to preach repentance, expel numerous demons, and anoint many who were ill with oil, bringing healing to them. The Gospel writers do not provide extensive details about the preaching endeavors of the disciples among the Jewish community; however, from a question posed by Jesus upon their return, “Did you lack anything when I sent you?” it is clear that the disciples lacked nothing essential, carrying neither money, bread, nor extra garments. The duration of their journey and the exact moment of their return remain unspecified; nevertheless, it is certain that the disciples reunited with Jesus when He received word about the death of John the Baptist.

After traveling extensively throughout Palestine, the Savior recognized that His chosen people were spiritually lacking, without appropriate guides and leaders to illuminate their hearts and equip them to embrace the impending kingdom of heaven. They “were weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd.” Acknowledging this situation, He informed His disciples about the abundant harvest yet the scarcity of workers. As a result, He instructed them to beseech the Lord of the harvest to raise up suitable laborers from among themselves, and subsequently sent them out two by two in every direction across the land to impart His teachings, reinforce His message, and perform miraculous deeds in His name.

The message of repentance was proclaimed: as the Lord commenced His public ministry to humanity, He began announcing the call to repentance (Mk. 1:15; cf. Mt. 4:17). His apostles followed suit, for repentance was essential as a preliminary step to entering the kingdom of the Messiah. Hence, it was necessary to deliver this message before addressing any other matter.