Matthew 10:4

Chapter XXX.—Of the Section Where It is Recorded, that Being Moved with Compassion for the Multitudes, He Sent His Disciples, Giving Them Power to Work Cures, and Charged Them with Many Instructions, Directing Them…

“Therefore to distinguish him from this man, it saith, “Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.”” — editor's note: Matt. x. 4.

From the healing of Peter’s wife’s mother to this place there has been a continued succession of miracles; and they were done before the Sermon upon the Mount, as we know for certain from Matthew’s call, which is…

The Evangelist had related above that the Lord exhorted His disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into His vineyard; and He now seems to be fulfilling what He had exhorted them to. For the…

And this doubling seems to have some reference to the two precepts of charity, or to the two Testaments.

For the number twelve, which is made up of three into four, denotes that through the four quarters of the world they were to preach the faith of the holy Trinity.

This number is typified by many things in the Old Testament; by the twelve sons of Jacob, by the twelve princes of the children of Israel, by the twelve running springs in Helim, by the twelve stones in Aaron’s…

He makes them confident not only by calling their ministry a sending forth to the harvest, but by giving them strength for the ministry; whence it follows, “He gave them power over all unclean spirits to cast them…

Wherein is openly shewed that the multitude were troubled not with one single kind of affliction, but with many, and this was His pity for the multitude, to give His disciples power to heal and cleanse them.

A kind and merciful Lord and Master does not envy His servants and disciples a share in His powers. As Himself had cured every sickness and disease, He imparted the same power to His Apostles. But there is a wide…

The Greek or Latin ‘Petrus’ is the same as the Syriac Cephas, in both tongues the word is derived from a rock; undoubtedly that of which Paul speaks, “And that rock was Christ.” [1 Cor 10:4]

There have been some who in this name Peter, which is Greek and Latin, have sought a Hebrew interpretation, and would have it to signify, ‘Taking off the shoe,’, ‘or unloosing,’ or ‘acknowledging.’ But those that say…

This is no small honour (done to Peter), He places Peter from his merit, Andrew from the nobility he had in being the brother of Peter. Mark names Andrew next after the two heads, namely, Peter and John; but this one…

Andrew is interpreted ‘manly;’ for as in Latin ‘virilis’ is derived from, ‘vir,’ so in Greek, Andrew is derived from ἀνήρ. Rightly is he called manly, who left all and followed Christ, and manfully persevered in His…

The Evangelist couples the names throughout in pairs. So he puts together Peter and Andrew, brothers not so much according to the flesh as in spirit; James and John who left their father after the flesh to follow…

Observe that he does not place them according to their dignity; for to me John would seem to be greater not than others only, but even than his brother.

James is interpreted ‘The supplanter,’ or ‘that supplanteth;’ for he not only supplanted the vices of the flesh, but even contemned the same flesh when Herod put him to death. John in interpreted ‘The grace of God,’…

The other Evangelists in this pair of names put Matthew before Thomas; and do not add, “the Publican,” that they should not seem to throw scorn upon the Evangelist by bringing to mind his former life. But writing of…

Thomas is interpreted ‘an abyss,’ or ‘a twin,’ which in Greek is Didymus. Rightly is Didymus interpreted an abyss, for the longer he doubted the more deeply did he believe the effect of the Lord’s passion, and the…

This James is he who in the Gospels, and also in the Epistle to the Galatians, is called the Lord’s brother. For Mary the wife of Alphaeus was the sister of Mary the mother of the Lord; John the Evangelist calls her…

It is well said, “the son of Alphaeus,” that is, ‘of the just,’ or ‘the learned;’ for he not only overthrew the vices of the flesh, but also despised all care of the same. And of what he was worthy the Apostles are…

Some copies have Lebbaeus; but whoever prevented the same man from having two, or even three different names?

Jude is interpreted ‘having confessed,’ because he confessed the Son of God.

Thaddeus or Lebbaeus is interpreted ‘a little heart,’ that is, a heart-worshipper. “Simon Chananaeus, and Judas Scarioth, who also betrayed him.”

Simon Chananaeus is the same who in the other Evangelist is called Zelotes. Chana signifies ‘Zeal.’ Judas is named Scarioth, either from the town in which he was born, or from the tribe of Issachar, a prophetic omen…

Scarioth is interpreted ‘The memory of the Lord,’ because he followed the Lord; or ‘The memorial of death,’ because he plotted in his heart how he might betray the Lord to death; or ‘strangling,’ because he went and…

They are named two and two to express their union as yoke-fellows.

These therefore He chose for His disciples, whom also He named Apostles, humbly born without honour, without learning, that whatever they should do that was great, it was He that should be in them and should do it.…

He was not chosen among the Apostles unwittingly; for that truth is great, which cannot be harmed even by having an adversary in one of its own ministers.

Also He willed to be betrayed by a disciple, that you when betrayed by your intimate might bear patiently that your judgment has erred, that your favours have been thrown away.

Matthew 10:4 and Mark 3:19 share the same wording (7 words).

Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 10:1–4 (3) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 10:1–4 (6) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 10:1–4 (3) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 10:1–4 (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 10:1–4 (3) (Catena Aurea).

Cited together in Rabanus Maurus on Matthew 10:1–4 (2) (Catena Aurea).