Matthew 10:7-8

[7] And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. [8] Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

What is the context of Matthew 10:7-8?

Sending Out the Twelve (Matthew 10:5-15 true)
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples (Matthew 10:5-15 true)
The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service (Matthew 10:1-15 true)
Commissioning the Twelve (Matthew 10:1-15 true)
The Twelve Commissioned and Sent Out (Matthew 10:1-15 true)
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles (Matthew 10:1-42 true)
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve .( A .) .( B .) .( C .) .( D .) .( E .) (Matthew 10:1-42 true)

What does Matthew 10:7-8 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The apostles were to herald the same message that John ( Matthew 3:2) and Jesus proclaimed ( Matthew 4:17; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35). They were to be itinerant preachers, as these men had been. ^[1] The absence of "repent" here should not be a problem since, as we have pointed out, repentance was not a separate step in preparation but a way of describing adequate preparation.

"If the Jewish nation could be brought to repentance, the new age would dawn; see Ac. iii19f, Jo. iv22." ^[2]

The kingdom was at hand, namely, imminent. It had not yet begun. The powers the apostles had would impress their Jewish hearers with God"s authentication of their message (cf. Matthew 12:28). That was the purpose of signs throughout the Old and New Testaments. ^[3]

Matthew had not mentioned raising the dead and cleansing lepers previously ( Matthew 10:1). The disciples were to offer their services free of charge because the good news they had received had not cost them anything.