Whom did Jesus first send the Twelve to reach?
Jesus first sent the Twelve only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He commanded them not to go into the way of the Gentiles or into any city of the Samaritans. Their initial mission was restricted to Israel, because He was presenting Himself as their King in fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.
Les explains that Jesus began His earthly ministry preaching repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand. This was in fulfillment of promises made to Israel through the Abrahamic covenant. Jesus went about all the cities and villages of Israel, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. In Matthew 10, after choosing the Twelve, He sent them out with a narrow command: not to go into the way of the Gentiles or into any city of the Samaritans, but rather to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Les notes that Jesus qualified their mission in such a narrow frame of reference because He had come to present Himself as Israel's King.