Mark 6:7-13 (NKJV) Sending Out the Twelve
(Matt. 10:1, 5–15; Luke 9:1–6)
7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
V7 “And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.” The 12 Apostles are now being singled out for special training and mission work. This is to prepare them for their lives of service after Jesus ascends to heaven. Note, 1) Jesus is the one who calls to ministry, 2) they are to go out 2 by 2, and 3) gave them power. Any human call to be a pastor at a local church or whatever must have already been called by God. Two by two can be husband and wife, a group, or working with a group of people. The Greek word for power is (G1849) ἐξουσία exousía, which means ability, rights, liberty, capability, and strength, which imply that what the Apostles need for their ministry, they have from Him. Because God has given them all necessary tools and gifts, they can do the job they are called to. Compare Judges 14:6, 1 Samuel 16:13, and Exodus 31:3. Jesus had all the gifts in their full measure (without measure) as in Isaiah 11:2 and John 3:34 (speaking of the Lord Jesus). Jesus is Lord of the church (New Testament believers) and has the authority to do so. The Holy Spirit is the source.
Other comments:
(Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “The NT concept rests on three foundations. First, the power indicated is the power to decide. Second, this decision takes place in ordered relationships, all of which reflect God’s lordship. Third, as a divinely given authority to act, exousía implies freedom for the community.”
Vine: “Exousia (G1849) denotes “freedom of action, right to act”; used of God, it is absolute, unrestricted, e.g., Luke 12:5 (RV marg., “authority”); in Act 1:7 “right of disposal” is what is indicated; used of men, authority is delegated. Angelic beings are called “powers” in Ephesians 3:10 (cf. Ephesians 1:21); Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:16; Colossians 2:15 (cf. Colossians 2:10).
How does a person know God’s call to service?
Answer: 1) desire for a particular service (1 Timothy 3:10), 2) prayer (Matthew 7:7 and James 1:5), 3) guidance (Proverbs 19:20), 4) apprenticeship (1 Timothy 3:10), and 5) ability. Here’s an extreme example of not having ability: If a person feels called to be a missionary pilot but is blind. They do not have ability.
V8 “He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts.” This is not a principle but a command to the 12. People with a call need prudence for extravagance is not recommended or necessary. A missionary does not need $100K to live in a country where the yearly income is $1,000/year or whatever.
V9 “But to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.” This is a continuance of Jesus’s command to the 12. Minimalism is taught here. There is nothing sinful for today’s missionaries to have more clothes than this. This command was to these missionaries at this time in history.
V10 “Also, He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.” Again, this is only for those sent on this mission at that time in history.
V11 “And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” This is mainly for the 12, but by application, we understand that if one starts a ministry but there is no interest, no listeners, no one responds, then it is good to move on to another location.
V12 “So they went out and preached that people should repent.” They obeyed. Repentance is a change. A nonbeliever must repent, too, from 1) thinking they are good enough that God will accept them into heaven, and 2) having a humble attitude. For the people these preached to, repentance was from following man-made commandments to follow God’s commands as recorded by Moses.
J. C. Ryle: “The necessity of repentance may seem at first sight a very simple and elementary truth. And yet volumes might be written to show the fullness of the doctrine, and the suitability of it to every age and time, and to every rank and class of mankind. It is inseparably connected with right views of God, of human nature, of sin, of Christ, of holiness, and of heaven. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All need to be brought to a sense of their sins—to a sorrow for them—to a willingness to give them up—and to a hunger and thirst after pardon. All, in a word, need to be born again and to flee to Christ. This is repentance unto life. Nothing less than this is required for the salvation of any man. Nothing less than this ought to be pressed on men, by every one who professes to teach Bible religion. We must bid men repent, if we would walk in the steps of the apostles, and when they have repented, we must bid them repent more and more to their last day.”
V13 “And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” The results prove their call. Jesus called them, sent them, and gave them success. Why heal with oil? Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (1 Samuel 16:13). Applying the oil shows our appeal to God for healing and, if healed, that it was God who healed. Kings of Israel were anointed with oil to show they are under the anointing grace of God.
We learn:
- About God’s call.
- About God’s style of leadership—delegation.
Questions:
- What is your call?
- How do you know?
- Are you doing God’s call?