The Meaning of Matthew 10:7 Explained

Matthew 10:7

KJV: And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

YLT: 'And, going on, proclaim saying that, the reign of the heavens hath come nigh;

Darby: And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh.

ASV: And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  as ye go,  preach,  saying,  The kingdom  of heaven  is at hand. 

What does Matthew 10:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 10:5-15 - Missionaries Sent Out
For the present, the Twelve were to confine themselves to Jews, because the Lord's ministry was the climax of the Jewish probation and it was desirable that every opportunity should be given to the lost sheep of the house of Israel to repent. God can never be unmindful of any covenant into which He has entered with the soul. If we believe not, He remaineth faithful.
May we not say that our Lord was the first medical missionary? He has taught us that the healing of disease is often the best way of approaching the soul. The kingdom of God deals not only with our eternal welfare, but with the conditions of human life. On Christ's head are many crowns; social, family and civic life are departments of His beneficent reign. His servants must be without worldly entanglements and live in absolute dependence upon God to whom they have consecrated their lives. The peace of God goes forth and returns. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 10

1  Jesus sends out his apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles;
5  giving them their charge, teaches them;
16  comforts them against persecutions;
40  and promises a blessing to those who receive them

Greek Commentary for Matthew 10:7

As ye go, preach [πορευομενοι κηρυσσετε]
Present participle and present imperative. They were itinerant preachers on a “preaching tour,” heralds That same amazing message is needed today. But “the apprentice apostles” (Bruce) could tell not a little about the King of the Kingdom who was with them. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 10:7

Matthew 10:1 His twelve disciples [τους δωδεκα ματητας αυτου]
First mention of the group of “learners” by Matthew and assumed as already in existence (note the article) as they were (Mark 3:14). They were chosen before the Sermon on the Mount was delivered, but Matthew did not mention it in connection with that sermon.Gave them authority (εδωκεν αυτοις εχουσιαν — edōken autois exousian). “Power” (Moffatt, Goodspeed). One may be surprised that here only the healing work is mentioned, though Luke (Luke 9:2) has it “to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.” And Matthew says (Matthew 10:7), “And as ye go, preach.” Hence it is not fair to say that Matthew knows only the charge to heal the sick, important as that is. The physical distress was great, but the spiritual even greater. Power is more likely the idea of εχουσια — exousia here. This healing ministry attracted attention and did a vast deal of good. Today we have hospitals and skilled physicians and nurses, but we should not deny the power of God to bless all these agencies and to cure disease as he wills. Jesus is still the master of soul and body. But intelligent faith does not justify us in abstaining from the help of the physician who must not be confounded with the quack and the charlatan. [source]
Matthew 10:1 Gave them authority [εδωκεν αυτοις εχουσιαν]
“Power” (Moffatt, Goodspeed). One may be surprised that here only the healing work is mentioned, though Luke (Luke 9:2) has it “to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.” And Matthew says (Matthew 10:7), “And as ye go, preach.” Hence it is not fair to say that Matthew knows only the charge to heal the sick, important as that is. The physical distress was great, but the spiritual even greater. Power is more likely the idea of εχουσια — exousia here. This healing ministry attracted attention and did a vast deal of good. Today we have hospitals and skilled physicians and nurses, but we should not deny the power of God to bless all these agencies and to cure disease as he wills. Jesus is still the master of soul and body. But intelligent faith does not justify us in abstaining from the help of the physician who must not be confounded with the quack and the charlatan. [source]
Luke 9:2 He sent them forth [απεστειλεν αυτους]
First aorist active indicative of αποστελλω — apostellō preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick Present indicative for the continuous functions during this campaign. This double office of herald (κηρυσσειν — kērussein) and healer (ιασται — iāsthai) is stated directly in Matthew 10:7-8. Note the verb ιαομαι — iaomai for healing here, though τεραπευειν — therapeuein in Luke 9:1, apparently used interchangeably. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 10:7 mean?

Going on also proclaim saying - Has drawn near The kingdom of the heavens
πορευόμενοι δὲ κηρύσσετε λέγοντες ὅτι Ἤγγικεν βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν

πορευόμενοι  Going  on 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πορεύομαι  
Sense: to lead over, carry over, transfer.
δὲ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
κηρύσσετε  proclaim 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: κηρύσσω  
Sense: to be a herald, to officiate as a herald.
λέγοντες  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ὅτι  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
Ἤγγικεν  Has  drawn  near 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐγγίζω  
Sense: to bring near, to join one thing to another.
βασιλεία  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: βασιλεία  
Sense: royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οὐρανῶν  heavens 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.