Matthew 10:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Do not assume, He declares, that simply because they mock and accuse me of being possessed, I harbor hatred toward them; rather, I strive to guide them toward correction openly, and I prohibit you from reaching out to other nations. Instead, I commission you as teachers and healers for them. Furthermore, I not only restrict you from preaching to others before the Jews, but I also instruct you to avoid the path that leads to Gentiles and to refrain from entering Samaritan cities. The Samaritans, often adversaries of the Jews, might have been easier to convert due to their greater receptiveness, while the Jews presented a more challenging task.

At first, He directs the apostles to the Jewish people, ensuring they cannot claim, ‘The apostles were only sent to the Gentiles, which is why we Jews did not have faith.’ Thus, He leaves the Jews unresponsive.

When they were not accepted, the apostles declared, ‘From now on we will turn to the Gentiles’ (cf. Acts 13:46).

The arrival of Christ was initially proclaimed to the Jewish people to prevent them from claiming justification for their actions, suggesting that their rejection of the Lord was the reason He directed the apostles to the Gentiles and Samaritans. In a metaphorical sense, we, who identify as Christians, are instructed to avoid the paths of heretics and nonbelievers. Just as we are distinct from them in our faith, it is essential that our lives also reflect this separation.

Initially, He commissions His disciples to go into the towns and villages of the Jews as both teachers and healers, thereby demonstrating His profound love for the Jewish people and His deep concern for their well-being. Even when they offend Him, He chooses to overlook these transgressions, continually striving to guide and restore them. He silences the voices of the ungrateful, despite their dishonor toward Him, whom He has favored above all others. He rightly refers to them as the lost sheep of the house of Israel, echoing the care once provided by God, the Shepherd of Israel, as noted in the Psalms. These sheep are considered lost due to their weary and scattered state, a description applicable to the Israelites. By designating the Jews in this manner, He was working to humble the pride of His disciples and instill in them a genuine concern for the purity of their souls.

When we understand, dear friends, that our Savior entered the world for the salvation of all nations and observe how He continually invited the Samaritans to believe, we must consider the significance of His instruction to His disciples: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, neither enter ye into the city of Samaria; but go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This indicates, as we deduce from the conclusion of the matter, that His intention was initially to share the message solely with the Jews and later extend it to all Gentiles. This order was purposeful so that when the Jews rejected His call to repentance, the faithful messengers would be inspired to turn their efforts towards the Gentiles.

Go to the Gentiles and Samaritans after first addressing these lost sheep of the House of Israel. Do not assume that their insults and accusations of me being possessed indicate that I bear animosity or disdain towards them; rather, I strive to guide them towards correction before reaching out to others, instructing you to focus exclusively on them as your mission. The Lord positions the Samaritans alongside the Gentiles since they resided in Palestine, descended from Babylonians, and only acknowledged the five books of Moses without receiving any prophets.

The discourse of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, can be understood in two distinct sections. In the first part (Matt. 5-15), Christ provides guidance on how the Apostles are to conduct themselves in proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. The second part (Matt. 16-39) reveals the challenges that await them as messengers of Christ and offers words of comfort amidst their forthcoming trials. The concluding verses (Matt. 40-42) serve as a summary.

The Gospel writer Mark, while providing a concise overview of the Apostles' commissioning, enriches it with details found in the account of Matthew. Jesus did not send the Apostles out as a large group or individually; rather, He deployed them in pairs (Mark 6:7). This approach was not for the sake of reaching the maximum number of people or visiting every possible location, but to ensure they could bolster and uplift one another. Moreover, it was designed to enhance the credibility of their message among the Jewish people, as the Mosaic Law required at least two witnesses to affirm the truth of a matter.

Before they set out, the Savior provided them with guidance on how to conduct themselves during their mission. Their ministry was to focus exclusively on the lost sheep of the house of Israel, refraining from outreach to the Samaritans and Gentiles. The essence of their message was to proclaim the imminence of the kingdom of heaven, supported by acts of miracles and kindness. They were instructed to take no provisions for their journey—not a bag for food, nor money in their belts, nor an extra set of clothes, nor different footwear aside from the typical sandals made of palm bark; they were even to forgo a walking stick unless they already possessed one.

Sheep that are lost refer to those lacking true shepherds, individuals who guide them in their faith, resulting in a failure to attain genuine belief and leading them into error. The term "the house of Israel" signifies the people of Israel or the Jewish community as a whole. Specifically, the focus is on the Jewish people as they were the chosen ones of God, who were promised the Messiah and had eagerly awaited His arrival. Consequently, they held the privilege of being the first to receive the proclamation of the Messiah before it was extended to the Gentiles and Samaritans.

The moment for preaching to the Gentiles had not yet arrived. Thus, to avoid raising suspicions among the Jews, the Lord instructed, "Do not travel the path of the Gentiles or even set foot in their territory; do not enter the city of Samaria. Instead, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." The privileges of Israel included the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the law, the service of God, and the promises (Rom. 9:4), granting them the first opportunity to enter the kingdom of Christ.