Back in Capernaum Jesus heals the paralysed man of Mark 2: 1-12, Matthew following Mark's account even to the reproduction of the parenthesis of 9: 6. Matthew = Levi is recruited into the apostleship and the question of fasting is dealt with. Jairus' daughter and the woman with the haemorrhage are healed, as are two blind men and one who is dumb (9:1-36).

The series of narratives, which are obviously taken by Matthew to be the prelude and justification for what follows, ends with a call from Jesus for "labourers" for the "harvest" (9: 37-38). Men are everywhere in need of healing in mind and body, ripe for ingathering into the Kingdom, and so our Lord commissions the Twelve (10:1-4), and through them the Church that they represent, to continue his work of preaching the Gospel and curing the sick. They are to begin with Israel (10: 5) and proclaim God's word to his ancient people. Those who spurn God's messengers will feel God's judgment (10:5-15).

But the mission of the Church must extend beyond Israel, and it will bring persecution upon the apostles of God. Our Lord foresees too that the preaching of the Gospel will not always mean peace, but that many a home will be disrupted when one of the family becomes a follower of Christ and another rejects him. Yet the servant of the Gospel will be sustained by the power of God, and in giving himself for Christ's sake will find the only kind of life that is worth having. Whoever welcomes such a servant of Christ welcomes Christ himself, and even a tiny kindness to the humblest of Christ's people is not forgotten in the sight of God (10: 16-42).