Matthew 10:5

Berber Morocco and Algeria - Tachelheit Bible (RBD) (aåaras n-tudrt - injil l-lmasiæ - løhd l-ljdid lli-iskr rbbi å-gras d-bnadm)

ġakudan a-yuzn yasuɛ irqqasn-ns s-sin d-mraw yuṣṣa-tn: «a-ur-tddum s-tmizar yaḍni ula tkšmm s-tmdinin n-samira.

What Does This Mean?

In this verse from Matthew's Gospel, Jesus tells the twelve disciples not to go into Gentile (non-Jewish) areas or Samaritan cities. He wants them to focus on preaching only to Jewish people at that time.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a big box of crayons and your teacher says, 'Use only these colors for this drawing.' Jesus is like the teacher here, telling his friends to share their message with certain groups, just as you'd use specific crayons for your picture.

Historical Background

Matthew wrote this Gospel around AD 80-90. He addresses a primarily Jewish-Christian audience and emphasizes how Jesus' teachings fulfill Old Testament prophecies in the context of first-century Jewish life.

Living It Out Today

Today, we can think about focusing our efforts on areas where they are most needed or will have the greatest impact. For instance, if you want to help students learn, maybe start with your own class before moving onto other grades.

Topics

• mission
• discipleship
• evangelism
• Judaism
• Samaritans
• ethnicity

Related Verses

• Acts 1:8
• John 4:7-9
• Luke 24:46-47
• Isaiah 56:3-8
• Mark 7:24-30

Recommended Reading

Commentary Matthew Commentaries → Get This Bible RBD Study Bible →

Frequently Asked Questions

What were Gentiles at the time?

Gentiles referred to non-Jewish people. Jesus' initial focus was on reaching Jewish communities before expanding his message to other ethnic groups.

Why did Jesus instruct them not to enter Samaritan cities?

Samaritans were a mixed race of Jews and Gentiles, often viewed with suspicion by pure-blooded Jews. Jesus' instruction aimed at focusing the disciples on their own people first.

How does Matthew 10:5 fit into the broader Gospel?

This verse highlights Jesus' strategic approach to spreading his message, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing certain areas and audiences in ministry efforts.

What was the historical relationship between Jews and Samaritans?

Jews and Samaritans had a tense relationship due to religious differences and historical conflicts. This tension influenced Jesus' instructions about focusing on Jewish communities first.