Sunday 14 June 2026

Psalm 100

Background
In the way Matthew gives us the story of Jesus, this moment is a critical hinge point. The disciples have been following Jesus: listening to his teaching and watching from the sidelines as he healed many people.

Now they are now being sent out on a short mission trip to the towns of Galilee, to the communities Jesus calls "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (v. 6), to live out what they have been taught.

The disciples – a strange mix including fishermen, a civil servant, terrorists and a traitor – are all trusted to take out the message that "the kingdom of heaven is near". What did it mean?

Well, both John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2), and Jesus himself (Matthew 4:17) had said similar. They gave a command to repent – urging people to turn back in their thinking and acting to the God who loved them and who had acted decisively in sending Jesus to earth.

That was the crucial point of this message. The kingdom of heaven was near because Jesus was among them. The urgency of the message the disciples were to carry was: "Repent now because the kingdom of heaven is in your neighbourhood in the person of Jesus."

Why was the disciples' mission only to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (v. 6) at this moment? It appears that the renewal of faith on earth had to start with reaching those who had been let down by their religious leaders and had stopped living the generous life God intended.

The disciples' mission is later expanded to ‘all nations’ (ie everyone else in the world) in what is called the 'Great Commission', recorded as the last command Jesus gives the disciples (Matthew 28:19).

Jesus was offering a richer, more vibrant expression of God’s hopes for the world and showing it in his teaching, healing and invitation. He was the message and challenged these lost sheep to grab it as he walked among them.

To Ponder:

• Who are the 'lost sheep' in today’s society and how do we take a message of hope to them?
• What’s your story of being invited to join in God’s mission on earth?

Prayer
God of new beginnings, thank you that your call to mission includes all sorts of people, even us. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Gareth Hill
Gareth is a supernumerary minister in the Gwent Hills and Vales Circuit in South Wales. He is a former national Head of Mission & Advocacy in the Connexional Team and was previously a newspaper editor and lecturer in journalism. Gareth preaches regularly and publishes a weekly sermon online. He is a published hymnwriter and retains a strong interest in pioneer ministry after founding the Tubestation Surf Church in Polzeath, Cornwall.