Mathew 10

So I was correct, Mathew, the tax collector was one of the 12 disciples Jesus chose to carry out his word and to follow him. I did not know that Jesus sent the disciples to carry out his word and heal the sick and raise the dead. According to Mathew 10, he gave the disciples authority to do these things through him. I couldn't help but wonder, if Jesus was speaking in the literal sense. Were the disciples really given the ability to drive out evil spirits and heal every disease? Or was Jesus referring to the souls of the lost people.

Jesus indicated that he did not want them (the disciples) to go among the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but he wanted them to go to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus wanted the disciples to reach out to the people that were lost. This in interesting to note, because that is suppose to be the role of the church today. The church today is suppose t reach out to those souls that are lost. Unfortunately what happens in many churches, though, is that they only help those that belong to their church. Sometimes churches are afraid to go beyond their doors to reach out to the lost people. And as I read Mathew 10, I see that's exactly what Jesus wanted us to do: reach out to lost people and bring them to God.