Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
Text: Luke 6:12-16
The LORD Jesus Christ commissions the apostles. Matthew records the Lord saying the work was too much and there needed to be more help in God’s harvest. And Matthew then records this commission as the thing Jesus does in response to this.
This commission is preceded by a night of prayer (vs 12)
- Jesus spent the whole night in prayer. This doesn’t happen all the time like it’s a standard that you need to keep up with. But Jesus does pray all night here.
- Now I’m convicted right off the bat.
- First b/c I could not do this. And neither could you.
- Second b/c I wouldn’t want to do this. And this tells me how carnal I am compared to the LORD Jesus Christ.
- Third, b/c I wouldn’t know what to say to pray all night. I just wouldn’t have that much to say to the Father.
Out of the many disciples following Jesus, twelve were chosen (vs 13)
- I’m sure he had a good idea of who the twelve would be, but those who weren’t chosen were probably prayed for. And Jesus probably prayed for each apostle individually. And he knew one of them would betray Him.
- There is a difference between a disciple and an apostle.
- A disciple is a disciplined one. Someone who has become a student of a certain discipline.
- An apostle is someone who is sent as an agent or authorized representative. So these men will be given special privileges and giftings that God would build on. Paul said, Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
- So Apostle is a specific title given to the twelve men here.
- Apostleship is not like service in that no one can choose to be an apostle, it’s bestowed on certain men.
Jesus laid a foundation with the Apostles (vs 14)
- Peter would be the leader and serve as the main spokesman among the twelve.
- When the LORD Jesus Christ says to Peter, upon this rock I will build my church, this rock has been interpreted as the statement Jesus makes. The reason for this is that Baptists are afraid of Roman Catholic theology which makes Peter the pope. Peter is not a pope. He’s an apostle.
- But Peter, as the other apostles who profess that Jesus is the Christ, will be used by God to build a foundation for Christianity. Simon is renamed by Jesus Christ to be called a rock, Peter. You don’t need to reject that truth because some people took it too far.
- Paul will say in Ephesians ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
- John described the new Jerusalem as having twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
- The apostles form a foundation of ministers as God’s harvesters.
Opposition to these twelve men who hold this office (vs 16)
- This is important because people claimed to be apostles to establish credibility early on.
- If you notice, your new testament is written by apostles and a couple of men like Luke and Mark who were with an apostle named Paul.
- So liars would try to pass off their teachings or letters as apostolic very early on.
- Decades after this John would say there are people going around claiming to be apostles who aren’t. John wrote to the church of Ephesus commending them because they proved these liars claiming apostleship.
- Paul would point out liars calling themselves apostles. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
- One of these twelve will be a traitor
- Judas Iscariot is given the signs of an apostle. He’s deputized to speak for God. He’s authorized as a representative. Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. Judas Iscariot is included in this here.
- He’s no traitor when he’s chosen. Psalm 55:12-15 (also Psalm 109)
- Judas becomes a traitor because he loves money.
- His love of money made him a devil according to Jesus. Sin has a way of turning people into devils. Malicious, calculating, unempathetic, personalities with a drive to only satisfy the sin.
- He cloaked his greed in spiritual exercises when he said money could’ve been given to the poor. Mary Magdalene broke a vessel of very expensive ointment to anoint the body of Jesus Christ before his crucifixion. Judas complained that the expensive ointment could’ve been sold and the money given to the poor. But that’s not why he complained. This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
- When sin has taken one life, the life of Jesus Christ through the betrayal of Judas Iscariot. It continues its work and will take another life.
- Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
- Paul will be God’s replacement for Judas Iscariot as a member of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Paul would introduce himself in every letter as an apostle.
