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1. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.Matthew 10:1. Here, Matthew proves Christ is God; the twelve disciples are given a portion of the power Christ has in his possession. The power of all manner of healing and power over evil spirits, and understanding of the message of the Gospel. Christ is saying, "Go preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." This is an announcement that Jesus has arrived and is accessible now. It is a call to action, inviting individuals to participate in the new lifestyle offered, which has a promised reward of life everlasting. Jesus restricted this teaching to those of Israel; salvation was to the promised people first. Jesus commissioned the disciples for service, giving instructions for ministry, giving warning of persecution, but also giving divine assurance that He would be with them, and their commitment would not be without a reward. The text highlights authority given to believers, the challenges they will face, and the unwavering commitment to the message of Christ. The duties of a disciple are to learn from Jesus, imitate Jesus, and serve others, and spread the gospel. Amen.