NOTES for Mat 10:1-23

The distinguishing mark of Christ's disciples is that they are open to God and to the world. They bear the message of God's Kingdom, yet they go to people; they rely on God alone, yet receive help from people; they address rulers and kings, yet speak the words of the Spirit. Neither is easy: being open to God can be difficult and frightening; being open to people is always difficult and sometimes dangerous. The disciples will have to combine qualities that are hard to reconcile: to be lambs, wise as serpents, and innocent as doves. Nevertheless, this is the disciple's task, for every disciple is in some sense an apostle—that is, Christ's representative and ambassador in the world. An envoy must in some way resemble his master. Thus the disciples imitate the mission of Christ the God-man: belonging to God, they are turned toward the world and toward people without losing their bond with either heaven or earth.