Jesus Sending Out the Apostles to Evangelize and Key Verses on Evangelism
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
I would like to know what scripture mentions Jesus sending out the apostle to evangelize. I think this is located in Luke, but I am not sure where in Luke. I believe he also urges the apostles to dust them from their feet if they do not listen to his words. I would also like additional key verses on evangelism.
The passages that the questioner has under consideration are found in Matthew 10 (the whole chapter), Mark 6:7-13, and Luke 9:1-6. Matthew’s account is the most extensive, and so let’s turn there. This is sometimes referred to as the limited commission because Jesus had the twelve apostles go and preach the gospel to the lost sheep of the house of Israel specifically (Matthew 10:6). The great commission, found in Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, and Luke 24:26-47. This was where Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the gospel to the whole world.
I believe that the limited commission (Matthew 10, Mark 6:7-13, Luke 9:1-6) serve as an example for us today in some things relative to evangelism, but not in everything. The disciples were to go two by two (Mark 6:7), which is a good practice today. They were to enter and stay at houses where people were receptive to the gospel (Matthew 10:10-11). They were to preach repentance (Mark 6:12) and the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 10:7). They would be persecuted for doing this (Matthew 10:23). These are all things that we expect to happen today when we practice personal evangelism.
However, there were some things that the disciples did that we do not, and cannot do. For example, Jesus gave them authority to heal diseases, cast out demons, and do miracles of one kind or another (Matthew 10:1). He also limited their preaching and teaching to the lost tribes of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6). He told them not to take any money for their journey (Matthew 10:9-10).
Jesus did tell them to shake the dust off their feet from houses that were not receptive to the gospel (Matthew 10:14). This was a symbolic way to testify that they had rejected the message of the gospel (Mark 6:11). Most likely, if they were received into a house, their feet would have been washed so that they wouldn’t have any dust to shake off when they left. This metaphor doesn’t really translate to us today since we don’t have a lot of dust on our feet, but the principle remains that those who reject the gospel will be judged by Jesus for it.
The questioner also asks for some key verses on evangelism. The word “evangelize” is a transliteration of a Greek word which simply means, “preach the good message.” Sometimes that one word is used; sometimes several words are used to say the same thing. Many times it is translated “preach the gospel” in the New Testament. In Matthew 11:5, Jesus says, “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” This is an allusion to Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” As far as some scriptures related to evangelism, I would begin with Matthew 28:18-20 where Jesus gave the great commission to the apostles. Mark 16:15-16 and Luke 24:46-47 are also very good passages. In addition to that Acts 8:4 says, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” They were evangelizing; they were preaching the gospel.