What did Jesus tell the Twelve to do about Gentiles and Samaritans in Matthew 10:5?
Jesus commanded the Twelve not to go into the way of the Gentiles and not to enter any city of the Samaritans. Instead, He directed them to go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, confining their mission at that point to the nation of Israel alone.
Les explains that in Matthew chapter 10, verse 5, after Jesus chose the Twelve up around Galilee, He sent them out and commanded them not to go into the way of the Gentiles or enter any city of the Samaritans, but rather to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Les says this shows they were directed only to the nation of Israel. He also points out that throughout Jesus' three years of earthly ministry, He confined His ministry only to Israel, with two exceptions: the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman. Les then contrasts this with Romans, where God has set Israel aside and is going to the Gentiles, so Paul can write of obedience to the faith among all nations. This is not a contradiction but a change of the program.
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
More Questions
Why are people shocked by the instructions Jesus gives the Twelve in Matthew 10?
In Matthew 10, when Jesus began His earthly ministry and called the Twelve, He gives instructions that shock people because they do not know they are in their Bible.