The Commissioning of the Twelve

Driving home: But in this particular instance, because it was a special mission upon which these special twelve were being sent, our Lord gives some special directions about this matter of their basic material and physical necessities…

Martin describes the typical foresight and planning involved in preparing for a journey (clothing, food, shelter) to contrast it with Jesus' specific, urgent instructions for the disciples' mission.

And basically, what our Lord is saying in verses 8 and 9 is simply this. As you go forth, do not take the time to get together the amount of materials that you would normally accumulate for any kind of a journey, whether of a week or two weeks. The normal thing for anyone going on a journey is to figure out how long I'm going to be away, what clothing will I need, what provisions will I need to purchase food, what will I do for shelter, shall I call ahead and rent a boarding house or shall I rent a motel or hotel or call a friend or write a friend. And that kind of foresight and planning in mo...

19:07 - 20:33 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But in this particular instance, because it was a special mission upon which these special twelve were being sent, our Lord gives some special directions about this matter of their basic material and physical necessities…

He clarifies the ancient 'wallet' as a contemporary 'tote bag or knapsack' to help the audience understand the type of item the disciples were forbidden to carry.

He charged them, that they should take nothing for their journey except a staff, an ordinary walking stick, no bread, no wallet, perhaps the best description for that would be no tote bag or knapsack. That's probably the closest thing we have in contemporary items. And no money, literally no brass in their sash around the middle. That's the place where they would stick their coins, much like people may use a money belt in our day.

20:33 - 21:03 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But in this particular instance, because it was a special mission upon which these special twelve were being sent, our Lord gives some special directions about this matter of their basic material and physical necessities…

He explains 'money in their purse' (literally 'brass in their sash') by comparing it to modern money belts, making the ancient custom relatable.

He charged them, that they should take nothing for their journey except a staff, an ordinary walking stick, no bread, no wallet, perhaps the best description for that would be no tote bag or knapsack. That's probably the closest thing we have in contemporary items. And no money, literally no brass in their sash around the middle. That's the place where they would stick their coins, much like people may use a money belt in our day.

20:33 - 21:03 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But in this particular instance, because it was a special mission upon which these special twelve were being sent, our Lord gives some special directions about this matter of their basic material and physical necessities…

Martin imagines the disciples with bleeding feet, causing people to question the character of a master who sends servants out on such harsh terms, illustrating why Jesus allowed sandals and a staff.

Fine. And, by the way, you may take your sandals. I don't want you to go out and walk over territory that has rocks and briars and thorns and have your feet bleeding. And then people ask you, what are you doing?

21:22 - 21:35 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But in any case, it was a solemn act which was only to be used when people had committed this highest and most solemn of sins rejecting the authorized messengers of the king and refusing to receive his message.

He explains the probable meaning of shaking off dust by referencing the Jewish custom of shaking off Gentile dust when returning to Palestine, symbolizing leaving behind uncleanness.

because it says when you do this it will be a not an enigma unto them but a testimony unto them it will be it was a custom with which people of that day were familiar since we are distanced by two thousand years from the custom we cannot say for certain probably the best guess is that we are told that the Jews did have a custom that when they had to travel through a Gentile land and finally came to the borders of Palestine realizing they would have picked up some Gentile dust and thereby have been defiled and then defiled in passing through Gentile lands they would go through a ritual of shaki...

26:56 - 28:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Mark succinctly records the disciples' immediate obedience in preaching repentance, casting out demons, and healing the sick. Martin discusses the mysterious anointing with oil…

Martin uses the Roman Catholic practice of extreme unction as an example of misinterpreting the anointing with oil, highlighting its futility and lack of scriptural justification.

of urgency this mission was a unique mission it demanded unique and immediate obedience and so Mark tells us they went out and they preached that men should repent and they cast out many demons and they healed them ah but you say Pastor Martin you left out that business about anointed with oil many that were sick what's all that mean well all I can say is it's the only place recorded in all of the gospels where anyone healed in conjunction with anointing with oil and the only other reference in the new testament to a practice and that was not by apostles but by elders is found in James what's ...

30:07 - 31:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Mark succinctly records the disciples' immediate obedience in preaching repentance, casting out demons, and healing the sick. Martin discusses the mysterious anointing with oil…

He vividly imagines the disciples' trepidation and trembling as they first attempted to heal or cast out demons without Jesus physically present, underscoring the magnitude of the authority conferred upon them.

and that's my only purpose for showing the discrepancy between this and what Rome claims to be one of her sacraments given by Jesus Christ so Mark just gives us this wonderful simple summary of the obedience rendered by the twelve and as they went forth no doubt their minds were full of questions can you imagine what it be like you've been with your Lord and you've seen him touch a leper and say to the leper be clean and he's clean you've seen your Lord heal all forms of sickness and disease you've been with him you've witnessed it you've seen him speak to angry waves and say be still and ther...

31:58 - 33:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not intrude upon the rights of Jesus to define what His servants are to do and who are to be His servants, especially regarding roles like eldership and preaching.

Martin uses the contemporary debate about women in church leadership as an example of churches usurping Christ's authority to define who His servants are, arguing against societal pressures influencing biblical roles.

he did not send them to the priest he did not send them to look inward to themselves he conferred upon them all of the necessary graces and dynamics of the spirit in order to accomplish their task you see Basti you've made the point now why labor it for the simple reason that large segments of the church of Jesus Christ obviously don't understand this principle they feel that they are free to determine the mission of the servants of God that they are free to determine the nature of the responsibilities of a preacher of the word the nature of the responsibilities of an elder a shepherd a bishop...

39:25 - 40:55 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that if Christ does not give a man the peculiar measure of the unction of the Spirit essential to the task of oversight and preaching, all human training is fruitless.

He uses the metaphors of a 'barren stick and a fruitless tree' to describe a man who, despite extensive training, lacks the spiritual unction from Christ essential for oversight and preaching.

of equality with man the church must do it at every level or the church will not have a hearing what do we say to that we say rubbish one intrudes upon the rights of Jesus to define what his servants are to do and who are to be his servants and alas only he has power to equip them for that work yes he may use various means he may use an academy a seminary he may use other circumstances of concentrated theological and practical training but ultimately if Christ does not give a man that peculiar measure of the unction of the spirit essential to the task of oversight and preaching and teaching he...

40:55 - 42:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Discern that ministries whose central message is not preaching with its emphasis on sin and grace, but rather on miracles, are 'miles away from biblical Christianity'.

Martin critiques modern 'miracle workers' whose central message is not preaching repentance and grace, arguing their ministry is 'miles away from biblical Christianity' because miracles are prioritized over the gospel message.

but even then preaching the central now do you see the point that what do we say of those in our day who claim to have the Holy Spirit upon them with power and whose central message is not preaching with its emphasis upon the twin themes of sin and grace notice they went out and preached that men should repent that's what Jesus preached that's what he told the apostles to preach Luke 24 45 to 47 but these so-called messengers who say they do miracles in the name of Christ and in the power of Christ and they gather the crowds to see their miracle and to have their miracle happen and if there is...

46:52 - 48:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize the principle that in most situations, it is far better that two men should labor side by side in Christ's work, and pray for grace to implement this.

Martin quotes Bishop Ryle's commentary on Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 to underscore the advantages of Christian companionship in ministry, such as mutual help, encouragement, and effectiveness.

I mean that's risky business but not a one of them lacked oh may we have faith to trust him that in the way of obedience to his word we have the pledge of his provision and then finally note how Christ is so wise in the manner in which he appoints his messengers to their service he sent them out two by two and I haven't read a commentator on this on the passage who doesn't underscore the fact that here our Lord is showing his own sensitivity to the principle of Ecclesiastes 4 that two are better than one when one falls the other is able to pick him up and Bishop Ryle in his own perceptive and ...

57:41 - 59:10 Read in full sermon