Matthew 10:5
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus isn't just telling them where not to go, but rather how to approach their mission. This initial command to avoid Gentiles and Samaritans highlights the critical need to first reach the "lost sheep of Israel," emphasizing the strategic, prioritized rollout of God's redemptive plan. It underscores that even a divine mission unfolds with careful sequencing, building on existing covenants before expanding outwards.
Jesus is sending out his twelve disciples for the first time on a special mission to minister to the people of Israel. This immediate commission is restricted to the Jewish people, with specific instructions to avoid the Gentiles and Samaritans. This limited scope is a strategic move, prioritizing the "lost sheep of Israel" before the gospel would later be extended to all nations.
Why did Jesus tell his disciples to avoid certain groups at this specific moment? It wasn't about exclusion, but about divine timing and building a strong foundation.
The 'Now' of God's Plan
Jesus’ command in Matthew 10:5 – "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans" – wasn't a permanent ban. It was a strategic directive for this initial mission.
The tension between Jews and Samaritans was intense. Understanding why sheds light on why Jesus warned his disciples away from them during this phase.
More Than Just a Disagreement
The exclusion of Samaritans wasn't a minor oversight; it stemmed from centuries of deep-seated animosity.
Understand the original words
ethnos · Greek Noun
All non-Jewish people; biblically, it refers to the nations of the world who were outside the covenant promises given to Israel prior to the gospel's expansion.
Samareitēs · Greek Noun
A people group living in the region between Galilee and Judea who were viewed with hostility by many Jews due to their mixed ethnic heritage and divergent religious practices.
This initial mission restriction highlights the strategic priority of reaching the Jewish people first, preparing the ground before the gospel's universal proclamation.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Tribes
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel and deported many of its inhabitants, repopulating the region with foreigners. This event marked the beginning of the deep animosity between Jews and Samaritans.
c. 129 BC
Destruction of Samaritan Temple
John Hyrcanus, a Jewish leader, destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim. This act intensified the bitter hatred and division between Jews and Samaritans.
c. 20-30 AD
Jesus' Ministry in Samaria
Jesus Himself traveled through Samaria and ministered in a Samaritan city, showing a willingness to engage with them directly, which contrasted with the disciples' initial commission.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Commission of the Twelve Apostles
Jesus commissioned His twelve apostles for a specific mission, instructing them to focus their initial efforts solely on the 'lost sheep' of Israel.
This passage describes Jesus sending out the seventy disciples with similar instructions, but notably includes Samaritans and Gentiles in their mission, highlighting the progression of the Gospel's reach.
Acts 8:5-14This passage shows Philip ministering in Samaria, demonstrating that the restriction in Matthew 10 was temporary and that the Samaritans would later receive the Gospel.
John 4:4-42This encounter with the Samaritan woman and the subsequent ministry in a Samaritan village illustrates Jesus' own willingness to engage with Samaritans, showing a broader scope than the disciples' initial mission.
Matthew 28:18-20This Great Commission is given after Jesus' resurrection and explicitly instructs the disciples to go to ALL nations, contrasting with the limited scope of the commission in Matthew 10.
Romans 1:16Paul declares his eagerness to preach the Gospel to everyone, both Jew and Greek, underscoring the eventual universal scope of the Gospel message that supersedes the initial limited commission.
barnesMatthew 10:5: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:"
Into the way of the Gentiles - That is, among the Gentiles, or nowhere but among the Jews. The full time for preaching the gospel to the Gentiles was not come. It was proper that it should be first preached to the Jews, the ancient covenant people of God, and the people among whom the Messiah was born. Afterward he gave them a charge t…
vincentMatthew 10:5: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:"
Judas Iscariot (ὁ Ἰσκαριώτης)The article distinguishes him from others of the name of Judas (compare John 14:22). Iscariot is usually explained as a compound, meaning the man of Kerioth, with reference to his native town, which is given in Joshua (Joshua 15:25) as one of the uttermost cities of Judah toward the coast of Edom southwa…
Jesus isn't just telling them where not to go, but rather how to approach their mission. This initial command to avoid Gentiles and Samaritans highlights the critical need to first reach the "lost sheep of Israel," emphasizing the strategic, prioritized rollout of God's redemptive plan. It underscores that even a divine mission unfolds with careful sequencing, building on existing covenants before expanding outwards.
Jesus is sending out his twelve disciples for the first time on a special mission to minister to the people of Israel. This immediate commission is restricted to the Jewish people, with specific instructions to avoid the Gentiles and Samaritans. This limited scope is a strategic move, prioritizing the "lost sheep of Israel" before the gospel would later be extended to all nations.
Jesus is sending out his twelve disciples for the first time on a special mission to minister to the people of Israel. This immediate commission is restricted to the Jewish people, with specific instructions to avoid the Gentiles and Samaritans. This limited scope is a strategic move, prioritizing the "lost sheep of Israel" before the gospel would later be extended to all nations.
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c. 33 AD
Post-Resurrection Commission
After Jesus' resurrection, His commission to the apostles expanded dramatically, commanding them to go and make disciples of all nations.
"These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans," — Jesus isn't just telling them where not to go, but rather how to approach their mission. This initial command to avoid Gentiles and Samaritans highlights the critical need to first reach the "los…
