Matthew 11:1
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus didn't just finish giving instructions to his disciples; the Greek word implies he was distributing specific charges to each of them, ensuring they each had their own distinct mission before he moved on. This highlights that Jesus meticulously equipped his followers for their individual roles, not just as a group.
Just after giving his disciples their marching orders and instructions, Jesus sets out on his own journey. He doesn't stop working but moves on to continue teaching and proclaiming the kingdom in various towns. This transition highlights that Jesus's ministry is ongoing and multifaceted, even as his disciples embark on their own mission.
Jesus just sent out His disciples with specific instructions. But He didn't stop working! What does this tell us about His heart and His mission?
Matthew 11:1 shows Jesus continuing His active ministry right after commissioning the Twelve. The word "commanding" (often translated as "giving instructions" or "charging") implies a detailed and authoritative charge to His disciples about their mission.
Immediately after this, Jesus "departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities." This wasn't a break or a pause; it was a seamless transition into the next phase of His work.
His Work Continues
John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing his own potential doubts, sends messengers to Jesus. Why is this critical moment placed immediately after Jesus commissions His disciples?
The placement of Matthew 11:1 is crucial. Right after Jesus equips and sends out His disciples, John the Baptist, from prison, questions if Jesus is the Messiah. This sequence isn't accidental.
Connecting the Commission and the Question
Understand the original words
mathētēs · Greek Noun
Those who have left everything to follow Jesus, becoming His students and representatives; the term implies both learning from the Master and imitating His life and message.
This passage marks a transition in Jesus' ministry. He's not only sending out his disciples on their own mission but also continuing his own, while simultaneously addressing the foundational question of his identity through John the Baptist's query.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus commissions the Twelve
Jesus gives specific instructions and authority to his twelve hand-picked apostles for their mission to preach the coming kingdom of God. This event marks a key moment in their training and Jesus' public ministry.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' public ministry expands
Following the commissioning of the Twelve, Jesus himself continues his own teaching and preaching tour throughout the towns and villages of Galilee.
Early 1st century AD
John the Baptist imprisoned
John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin and forerunner, is imprisoned by Herod Antipas, likely in the fortress of Machaerus. This event creates a backdrop of uncertainty and pressure for John and his followers.
Early 1st century AD
John questions Jesus
From his prison cell, John hears about Jesus' powerful works and sends messengers to ask if Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah or if they should expect another.
This passage details the specific instructions Jesus gave the disciples before sending them out, making it a direct precursor to the action described in Matthew 11:1.
Luke 10:1-16Luke records a similar sending out of disciples (the seventy), showing Jesus' consistent pattern of commissioning followers and then continuing His own ministry, mirroring the scene in Matthew.
Isaiah 61:1-2Jesus later quotes these verses in Matthew 11:5 to John's disciples, directly linking the 'teaching and preaching' ministry of Jesus and His disciples to prophetic fulfillment.
Mark 6:7-13Mark's account of the disciples' mission provides another perspective on Jesus' command and their subsequent ministry, reinforcing the significance of this period of instruction and action.
John 4:31-38Jesus uses the analogy of sowing and reaping to explain the interconnectedness of His ministry and the disciples' work, highlighting how their missions prepared the way for broader impact.
calvinMatthew 11:1-6: "And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities."
- And it happened that when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, [4] he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3. And said to him, Art thou he who was to come, or do we look for another? 4. And Jesus answeri…
clarkeMatthew 11:1: "And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities."
This verse properly belongs to the preceding chapter, from which it should on no account be separated; as with that it has the strictest connection, but with this it has none. To teach and to preach - To teach, to give private instructions to as many as came unto him; and to preach, to proclaim publicly, that the kingdom of God is at hand…
Jesus didn't just finish giving instructions to his disciples; the Greek word implies he was distributing specific charges to each of them, ensuring they each had their own distinct mission before he moved on. This highlights that Jesus meticulously equipped his followers for their individual roles, not just as a group.
Just after giving his disciples their marching orders and instructions, Jesus sets out on his own journey. He doesn't stop working but moves on to continue teaching and proclaiming the kingdom in various towns. This transition highlights that Jesus's ministry is ongoing and multifaceted, even as his disciples embark on their own mission.
Just after giving his disciples their marching orders and instructions, Jesus sets out on his own journey. He doesn't stop working but moves on to continue teaching and proclaiming the kingdom in various towns. This transition highlights that Jesus's ministry is ongoing and multifaceted, even as his disciples embark on their own mission.
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This immediate context reveals that Jesus' ongoing ministry wasn't just about expanding His reach, but also about solidifying the faith of those around Him, including His own team and those of His forerunner.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus sends messengers to John
Jesus responds to John's messengers not with a direct 'yes,' but by pointing to the signs of his messianic work: healing the blind, cleansing lepers, and preaching the Gospel to the poor, fulfilling prophecy.
"When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities." — Jesus didn't just finish giving instructions to his disciples; the Greek word implies he was distributing specific charges to each of them, ensuring they each had their own distinct mission befor…
