Matthew 10:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After instructing, "Pray to the Lord of the harvest" (Matthew 9:38), He Himself immediately designates them to this role without them needing to ask or pray, reminding them of what John spoke regarding the threshing floor, the shovel, the tares, and the wheat. It becomes clear that He is the Creator, the Lord of the harvest, and the Lord of the prophets. If He dispatched them to gather, it was definitely not with a foreign seed, but rather what He had planted through the prophets. Not only did He motivate them by labeling their task as a harvest, but He also empowered them for this mission. However, the Spirit had not yet been bestowed: the Holy Spirit was not present with them since Jesus had not yet been glorified (John 7:39). How did they cast out spirits?

He selected twelve disciples, corresponding to the twelve tribes, and endowed them with strength. He sent them forth, even though their numbers were small, much like those who strive to walk in close unity. He granted them the ability to perform wonders, hoping that by captivating others with these miraculous deeds, they would draw attention to their teachings.

The Lord and Sovereign is full of grace and compassion; He does not feel threatened by the abilities of His servants and followers. Just as He Himself cured every ailment and affliction, He empowered His apostles to heal all manner of disease among the people. However, it is important to recognize the significant distinction between possessing and distributing, between receiving and giving. The Master operates through the might of God; whereas the disciples, whenever they act, acknowledge their own frailty and the strength of the Lord, proclaiming, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk" (Acts 3:6). It is essential to observe that the miraculous power bestowed upon the apostles represents the twelfth miracle performed by the Savior.

The one who can serve as an Apostle also brings healing to ‘every sickness and every disease and casts out demons’ (Matthew 10:1): to ‘cast out demons’ means to remove the harmful effects of sinful desires; to ‘heal diseases’ signifies restoring a righteous spirit to those who have lost it through hope; he cures ailments by awakening those who have grown complacent and fortifying them with the message of truth. Furthermore, he who has been granted ‘authority to tread on the serpent and the scorpion’ (Luke 10:19) eliminates both the root and the consequences of sin.

If the number of disciples was limited, why did He not increase their ranks by bringing in more? He did amplify their influence, not quantitatively but in strength: He empowered them, referring to them as "little" not due to a deficiency in power, but because of their limited numbers. Initially, He appointed them healers of the body and subsequently entrusted them with the greater task of curing souls. In His name, they expelled evil spirits and cured ailments.

In essence, by dispelling the consequences of desires and healing the suffering, he restores those who lack godliness through hope and proficiency in it, and revives those who are ailing from apathy through the message of faith. For the one instructed to stand upon the heads of serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19) also eradicates the finality of sin.

St. Luke, while narrating the selection of the Apostles, notes that the Savior dedicated the preceding night to prayer to God, His Father. This was significant as He was establishing the foundational pillars of the Holy Church through this selection. Moreover, He aimed to instruct His Apostles on the importance of prayer when choosing individuals to serve the Church, urging them to seek God's guidance in identifying the worthy candidates. Subsequently, they followed this practice.

It had been over a year since Jesus emerged from His retreat in Nazareth to proclaim a new message. During this period, as He preached in Judea and Galilee, He undoubtedly conveyed all that was essential for salvation. He demonstrated His all-knowing nature, supreme power, and divine awareness to the people. He revealed to His adversaries that He was aware of their innermost thoughts; He performed remarkable miracles by His own authority, without seeking assistance from God, miracles that only God could accomplish; ultimately, He asserted His identity as the Son of God, in equality with the Father (John 5:18).

Tired from His preaching, the Savior sought solitude and spent the night on a mountaintop in prayer, preparing for the significant event that awaited Him the following day. When morning arrived, Christ summoned His most devoted disciples and selected twelve individuals from among them. These twelve would no longer be mere followers but would become His apostles, tasked with the responsibility of both receiving and disseminating the new teaching. The choice of twelve was intentional, paralleling the chosen people of the Old Testament, establishing twelve spiritual forefathers for the new covenant.

The commission given to the disciples was not simply an election but rather an appointment to serve as messengers in Judea. The number of the twelve corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel. He bestowed upon them the authority to perform miracles, enabling them to awe the public through these wonders, thereby attracting listeners who would be receptive to their teachings.

Until this point, the Apostles had journeyed with Jesus Christ, absorbing His teachings and witnessing the miracles that authenticated His Divinity. However, after empowering them to drive out unclean spirits and heal various ailments, He sent them out to preach on their own. St. John Chrysostom compares this to “young chicks taking to flight,” indicating that He provided them the broadest platform for action that matched their abilities, enabling them to embark on greater endeavors later. Initially, they were appointed as healers of physical afflictions, preparing them for the more significant charge of ministering to souls. The Apostles were instructed to go forth in pairs, not only for increased courage, as Blessed Theophylact notes, but also to satisfy the legal stipulation requiring at least two witnesses to confirm the truth (Deuteronomy 19:15).