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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
his representatives, that the believers might look to them as divinely
appointed teachers, so that in the approaching time of darkness and
discouragement they would not be left without counselors. Calling
the twelve about him, he said to them; “The harvest truly is great, but
the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he
would send forth laborers into his harvest.” As yet the disciples had
little experience in preaching the practical truths received from their
Lord; but they had been his companions for several months, and he had
occasionally sent them forth to labor by themselves for a short time,
to prepare them for their future mission when he should no longer be
with them. But he now separated them in pairs, and sent them away
from him in different directions. He delegated to them the power of
working miracles, but they were in no case to employ this power for
their own exaltation or advantage. They were to be gone but a few
days, and they were not sent among strangers on this first tour, but
among their brethren who were to prepare their way that they might
have access to the people, many of whom earnestly desired to know
more of the doctrines of Christ.
In sending out his disciples, Jesus instructed them, upon entering a
town or city, to seek those who were of good ree and abide with them
during the time in which they labored in that locality; for the influence
of such persons would be beneficial to the cause. But if the disciples
were not received by those to whom they went, they were to shake
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off even the dust from their feet against the house that was closed
against them, or the city that refused to hear their message. This act
was calculated to impress the people with the importance of the gospel
message, and with the fact that it could not be slighted or rejected with
impunity. The great Teacher declared to his disciples, with startling
emphasis, that it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in
the day of Judgment than for the city that refused to hear them.
Jesus enjoins his disciples to make known to others those truths
which he had spoken to their ears alone, saying, “What I tell you in
darkness, that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach
ye upon the house-tops.” Knowing the rebuffs and persecution they
are to meet in the ministry upon which they are now about to enter,
he strengthens them for their work by assuring them that in all their
coming toils and dangers, God will watch over them. They are to go
on unmindful of the opposition of men, seeking only to please God in