Chapter 10 marks a major shift in Matthews gospel. Up to this point Jesus has been on His own teaching the people. He has gathered followers who have become disciples (Hebrew = Talmid “wise student”, Greek = Mathetes “one learning under the instruction of a master”). To this point Matthew indicates that Jesus disciples have taken the role of student as they have watched, listened, and learned in the school of Beth Midrash. In verse 1-2 something very important happens. Jesus summons His disciples (students) and He gave them authority (this is of vital importance). Matthew describes it as authority to over the demonic world, over disease and sickness. But this authority goes deeper and would have been better understood in the context in which it is written. The word authority is the Greek word Exousia and it means “the power to act”. In the Rabbinic tradition there is a concept that is very important for disciples and it is known as S’mikhah. It is the laying on of hands. The New Testament is full of examples of the idea of s’mikhah. It’s important here because it is likely what Jesus does to convey this authority to His disciples. A Rabbi would lay hands on a disciple at his commissioning and the laying on of hands is seen as the Rabbi actually giving a part of himself to his disciple. It follows the sacrificial model – the Rabbi’s believed that when you offered your guilt offering by laying hands on the lamb you were actually giving part of yourself to be offered on the altar of sacrifice thus sin is forgiven. In this act of giving authority Jesus is actually placing a part of Himself into each of these disciples so as to empower them to go out and teach themselves. They are still under the oversight of the Rabbi but this is in part a graduation. We will see a full idea of s’mikhah in chapter 28 as He commissions them to be Rabbis themselves. But in this moment we see Jesus conveying the authority to act as they go out to teach about the Kingdom of God. They are no longer just disciples they are now apostles – sent ones.