MARK 06:07-13
THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE
BRIEF INTERPRETATION
Text – Mark 6:7–13
7 He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
8 He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
9 They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.
10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.
11 Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.”
12 So they went off and preached repentance.
13 They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Historical and Jewish Context
Jesus’ sending of the Twelve marks a pivotal moment in His ministry—the sharing of His mission and authority. In Jewish tradition, the number twelve symbolized the twelve tribes of Israel, representing the restoration of God’s people. By sending them “two by two,” Jesus followed Jewish custom, where testimony required two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). Traveling light—with no food, money, or extra clothing—demonstrated absolute trust in God’s providence and dependence on the hospitality of others. Shaking the dust from their feet was a symbolic gesture performed by devout Jews when leaving Gentile territory, expressing separation from unbelief and moral defilement. Here it served as a prophetic warning to those who rejected the Gospel. Their anointing with oil connected to ancient Jewish healing practices (cf. Isaiah 1:6) and anticipated the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
Catholic Theological Perspective
In Catholic theology, this passage prefigures the apostolic mission of the Church and the sacramental ministry of priests and bishops. Jesus entrusts His divine authority to the Twelve, empowering them to proclaim the Gospel, heal the sick, and drive out evil. Their poverty and simplicity are essential signs that the mission’s power comes from God, not from human strength or wealth. The anointing with oil foreshadows the Church’s use of sacred chrism and oils in the sacraments of healing, confirmation, and ordination.
This passage also underscores that Christian discipleship involves both proclamation and service. The apostles’ authority over unclean spirits and their ministry of healing express the Church’s continuing mission to liberate souls from sin and to bring spiritual and physical restoration through grace. The rejection they face echoes Christ’s own experience, yet the command to move on peacefully reflects the freedom and dignity of Gospel ministry.
Parallels in Scripture
Deuteronomy 19:15 – Two witnesses confirm testimony.
Luke 9:1–6 – Parallel account of the mission of the Twelve.
Matthew 10:5–15 – Extended version including Jesus’ missionary instructions.
James 5:14 – “Anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord.”
Acts 13:51 – Paul and Barnabas shake the dust from their feet after rejection in Antioch.
Key Terms
Apostles: “Sent ones,” commissioned by Christ to continue His mission.
Authority over unclean spirits: Participation in Jesus’ divine power to liberate from evil.
Oil: Symbol of healing, consecration, and the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Repentance: The heart of the Gospel—turning from sin toward God’s kingdom.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This Gospel is often read in liturgies commissioning missionaries, catechists, or ministers. It reflects the Church’s universal call to evangelization and service. The simplicity Jesus commanded challenges modern disciples to live with detachment and trust in God’s providence. The Church continues the apostles’ mission through preaching, healing, and sacramental ministry, particularly through the Anointing of the Sick and the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Conclusion
The sending of the Twelve reveals the missionary nature of the Church. Jesus shares His authority and power with those He calls, entrusting them with His mission of healing, deliverance, and conversion. True discipleship requires trust in divine providence and the courage to proclaim the Gospel even amid rejection. The apostolic mission continues through every baptized Christian who lives and bears witness to Christ in the world.
Reflection
Do I rely on my own strength or on God’s grace when serving others? The Lord calls me to proclaim His message not with material assurance but with faith, humility, and compassion.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You sent Your apostles to preach repentance and bring healing to all. Strengthen me with Your Spirit to live as Your witness today. Teach me to trust in Your providence, to speak the truth in love, and to bring Your healing presence wherever I go. Amen.
DETAILED INTERPRETATION
INTRODUCTION
Following the rejection in His hometown, Jesus expands His ministry by commissioning the Twelve, sending them out in pairs to participate in His mission. This “minor commission” in Mark 6:7-13 serves as a crucial training ground for the apostles, shifting them from passive observers to active participants in the proclamation of the Kingdom. By sending them two by two, Jesus establishes a model of communal witness and mutual support, reflecting the biblical principle that a testimony is confirmed by the mouth of two witnesses and providing a safeguard against the isolation of ministry.
The instructions Jesus gives are marked by a radical call to poverty and dependence on divine providence. He commands them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, and no money in their belts. This stripped-down approach forces the disciples to rely entirely on the hospitality of others and the sustaining power of God. By appearing as vulnerable travelers rather than powerful elites, the apostles embody the very message they preach: that the Kingdom of God is not found in material security but in the transformative power of the Word.
Mark 6:7 “And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.”
This verse marks a major transition from Jesus’ solitary ministry to shared mission. Having taught, healed, and faced rejection, Jesus now calls the Twelve and entrusts them with His own work. Discipleship matures into apostleship. They are sent, not merely to observe but to act. The mission is communal—two by two—showing that the Gospel is never carried alone. Companionship provides mutual support, accountability, and credible witness.
Most striking is the gift of authority over unclean spirits. Jesus shares His own authority, empowering the disciples to confront evil and restore freedom. This is not human power, but delegated divine authority. The mission of the Church is thus revealed at its core: proclamation of the Kingdom accompanied by liberation and healing. What Jesus has done, His disciples are now called to continue.
Historical and Jewish Context
Sending messengers in pairs was common in Jewish practice, especially for legal testimony and religious mission. Two witnesses established credibility (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15). Traveling teachers also relied on companionship for safety and support.
Unclean spirits were understood as forces that bound and dehumanized people. Authority over them signified God’s reign breaking into human life. For Jewish listeners, this confirmed that Jesus was acting with divine mandate.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse reveals the missionary nature of the Church. The Church teaches that Christ shares His authority with those He calls, not replacing Him, but acting in His name. This is the foundation of apostolic ministry.
The sending of the Twelve also prefigures ordained ministry and the universal mission of all baptized believers. Authority in the Church is always given for service, liberation, and the building up of God’s people.
Key Terms
Called — divine initiative
The Twelve — foundation of apostolic mission
Send them out — transition from learning to mission
Two by two — communal witness
Authority — shared divine power
Unclean spirits — forces of bondage
Conclusion
Mark 6:7 reveals that Jesus’ mission is meant to continue through others. He calls, sends, and empowers. The Kingdom of God advances through shared authority, companionship, and faithful obedience.
Reflection
Do I recognize that I am also sent by Christ in my own context? How do I exercise the authority and responsibility He entrusts to me?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You call and send Your disciples. Give me the courage to go where You send me, the humility to rely on others, and the faith to trust in the authority You provide for Your mission. Amen.
Mark 6:8 “He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts.”
This verse reveals the radical trust that Jesus asks of those He sends. The instructions are stark: the disciples are to go without provisions, security, or financial backup. Their dependence is to be total—on God’s providence and on the hospitality of those who receive the Gospel. The staff suggests readiness and movement, but the absence of bread, bag, and money strips away self-reliance. Mission is not sustained by resources, but by faith.
By traveling light, the disciples become a living sign of the Kingdom they proclaim. Their poverty witnesses to freedom from attachment and invites listeners to recognize that the power of their message does not come from wealth or preparation, but from God. This way of going also creates relationship: the disciples must rely on the generosity of others, forming bonds of communion rather than distance.
Historical and Jewish Context
Itinerant preachers in the Jewish world often depended on hospitality. However, Jesus’ restrictions go further than custom, emphasizing urgency and trust. Carrying no provisions meant the mission could not be delayed or complicated.
The staff was a common traveler’s aid, echoing Israel’s exodus readiness (Exodus 12:11). The imagery suggests a new exodus—God sending His people out in trust.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse teaches evangelical poverty and reliance on divine providence. The Church teaches that authentic mission is grounded in trust, not accumulation. Ministry flows from dependence on God, not from control.
This verse also challenges the Church and believers to examine attachments. While prudence is necessary, the heart of mission remains faith, simplicity, and openness to God’s care through others.
Key Terms
Instructed — authoritative commissioning
Nothing for the journey — radical trust
Staff — readiness and pilgrimage
No bread / no bag / no money — detachment from security
Conclusion
Mark 6:8 shows that the mission of the Kingdom is carried by trust, not possessions. Jesus sends His disciples unburdened, so that God’s power—not human preparation—may be clearly seen.
Reflection
Where do I rely more on security than on trust in God? What attachments might Jesus be asking me to loosen for the sake of faithfulness?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach me to trust in Your providence. Free my heart from fear and attachment, and help me to walk lightly and faithfully wherever You send me. Amen.
Mark 6:9 “But to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.”
This verse completes Jesus’ instructions for mission by emphasizing simplicity and trust, not deprivation for its own sake. The disciples are permitted sandals, practical footwear for travel, showing that Jesus does not demand unnecessary hardship. Yet they are forbidden two tunics, a common form of extra security. The balance is clear: what is necessary is allowed; what fosters self-reliance and excess is not.
By prohibiting an extra tunic, Jesus teaches the disciples to depend daily on God’s providence and the hospitality of others. The mission is to be carried out with openness, vulnerability, and trust. Their manner of living becomes part of their proclamation. The disciples are not to appear as self-sufficient wanderers, but as servants relying on God and the generosity awakened by the Gospel.
Historical and Jewish Context
In the ancient world, a tunic was an essential garment; carrying a second one provided warmth and security. Forbidding it heightened dependence on hosts. Sandals, however, were necessary for long journeys and recall Israel’s readiness during the Exodus (cf. Exodus 12:11).
These instructions echo prophetic simplicity, where God’s messengers lived visibly dependent on divine provision rather than wealth or preparation.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse reflects evangelical poverty rightly understood—not rejection of necessities, but freedom from excess. The Church teaches that mission requires simplicity of life so that Christ, not comfort, is made visible.
This verse also teaches discernment: Christian freedom is not recklessness, but trust shaped by wisdom. God provides through ordinary means—through people, hospitality, and daily grace.
Key Terms
Sandals — practical readiness
Not two tunics — freedom from excess security
Wear — lived witness
Mission — trust-filled obedience
Conclusion
Mark 6:9 shows that the Gospel is carried best by lives marked with simplicity and trust. Jesus sends His disciples equipped for the road, but unburdened by excess, so that God’s care may be clearly revealed.
Reflection
Do I confuse security with trust? Where might Christ be inviting me to live more simply so that my faith speaks more clearly?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach me the freedom of simplicity. Help me to trust You daily, to rely on Your providence, and to walk lightly as a witness to Your Kingdom. Amen.
Mark 6:10 “And he said to them, ‘Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.’”
This verse teaches the disciples stability, humility, and integrity in mission. Jesus instructs them not to move from house to house in search of better comfort or greater advantage. By staying in one house, they are to accept hospitality with gratitude and avoid giving the impression of self-interest. The Gospel is proclaimed best through consistency and respect for those who receive it.
This instruction also deepens relationships. Remaining in one place allows trust to grow and the message to take root within a household and community. The disciples are not to be restless or calculating, but content and faithful where they are welcomed. Mission is not about personal gain, but about presence.
Historical and Jewish Context
Hospitality was a sacred duty in Jewish culture. Moving frequently between hosts could be seen as dishonorable or exploitative. Jesus’ instruction protects both the dignity of the hosts and the credibility of the disciples.
Staying put also ensured that the focus remained on teaching and healing, not on comfort or status.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse emphasizes pastoral faithfulness. The Church teaches that authentic ministry is rooted in stability, gratitude, and respect for community. The Gospel grows through presence, not opportunism.
This verse also challenges ministers and believers alike to avoid consumer attitudes toward faith and service. Contentment where God places us is a sign of trust.
Key Terms
Enter a house — acceptance of hospitality
Stay there — faithfulness and contentment
Until you leave — integrity in mission
House — place of relationship and witness
Conclusion
Mark 6:10 reminds us that the Gospel is carried not only by words, but by the way disciples live among others. Stability, gratitude, and faithfulness give credibility to proclamation.
Reflection
Am I faithful where God has placed me, or do I constantly seek something better? Do my actions reflect gratitude and integrity in relationships?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, teach me to be content and faithful where You place me. Help me to live with gratitude and integrity, so that my life may give witness to Your Gospel. Amen.
Mark 6:11 “And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.”
This verse addresses the painful reality of rejection in mission. Jesus prepares His disciples not only for welcome, but also for refusal. The Gospel will not always be accepted. When people refuse to hear, the disciples are not to argue, retaliate, or despair. Instead, they are to leave peacefully, performing a symbolic act that acknowledges human freedom and responsibility. The mission continues elsewhere.
Shaking the dust off the feet is not an act of condemnation driven by anger, but a solemn testimony. It signifies that the disciples have faithfully fulfilled their task. The responsibility now rests with those who have rejected the message. The act also frees the disciples from bitterness and attachment, allowing them to move forward without carrying resentment or failure.
Historical and Jewish Context
In Jewish practice, shaking dust from one’s feet was a symbolic gesture performed when leaving Gentile territory, indicating separation from unbelief or impurity. Jesus repurposes this action, applying it even within Israel, showing that rejection of God’s word—not ethnicity—creates separation.
The gesture served as a visible warning: God’s offer was real, and rejecting it has consequences. Yet it also marked a clean break, allowing the messenger to depart in peace.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse highlights both divine respect for human freedom and the seriousness of rejecting grace. The Church teaches that the Gospel is an invitation, not coercion. God does not force belief, but rejection carries spiritual consequences.
This verse also offers comfort to missionaries and believers. Faithfulness is measured by obedience, not by results. When the Gospel is rejected, the disciple entrusts the outcome to God and continues the mission.
Key Terms
Will not receive — rejection of the Gospel
Refuse to hear — closed hearts
Shake off the dust — symbolic testimony
Testimony against them — witness to truth and responsibility
Leave — peaceful detachment
Conclusion
Mark 6:11 teaches disciples how to respond to rejection with dignity, freedom, and faithfulness. The Gospel is offered sincerely; when it is refused, the disciple moves on, trusting God with the outcome.
Reflection
How do I respond when my faith or witness is rejected? Can I let go peacefully and continue to trust God’s work beyond my efforts?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, give me a faithful and peaceful heart. Help me to witness to Your truth with love, to accept rejection without bitterness, and to trust You with the fruits of my obedience. Amen.
Mark 6:12 “So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.”
This verse shows the disciples putting Jesus’ commission into action. Having been called, instructed, and sent, they went out—obedience expressed in movement. Their message is clear and focused: repentance. They do not preach themselves, offer opinions, or seek approval. They proclaim a call to conversion, inviting people to turn away from sin and toward God. The mission of the disciples mirrors the heart of Jesus’ own preaching.
Repentance here is not merely moral correction but a transformation of heart and direction. It is an invitation to reorient life toward God’s Kingdom. The simplicity of the message reveals its urgency. Before healing, before liberation, before renewal—there must be a turning of the heart. This verse shows that proclamation precedes transformation.
Historical and Jewish Context
Repentance (teshuvah) was central to Jewish religious life, meaning a return to God with the whole heart. Prophets consistently called Israel to repent as preparation for God’s saving action.
John the Baptist and Jesus Himself began their ministries with this same call. The disciples now stand firmly in that prophetic tradition, announcing that God’s Kingdom demands response.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse affirms repentance as foundational to the Christian life. The Church teaches that conversion is not a one-time event but an ongoing turning toward God, expressed through faith, confession, and renewed life.
This verse also underscores the missionary nature of repentance. The call to conversion is an act of love, not judgment. It opens the door to healing, forgiveness, and new life in Christ.
Key Terms
Went out — obedient mission
Proclaimed — authoritative announcement
Repent — conversion of heart and life
People — universal call
Conclusion
Mark 6:12 reveals the heart of apostolic preaching. The disciples go forth with a clear and urgent message: turn back to God. Where repentance is embraced, grace can transform lives.
Reflection
Am I open to ongoing conversion in my own life? Do I understand repentance as an invitation to freedom rather than fear?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, call my heart again to repentance. Help me to turn away from whatever draws me from You and to live each day renewed in faith, obedience, and love. Amen.
Mark 6:13 “And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”
This verse reveals the powerful fruit of obedience to Jesus’ mission. The disciples do not merely speak; their proclamation is accompanied by action. Demons are cast out, showing liberation from spiritual bondage, and the sick are anointed and healed, revealing God’s compassion for the whole person. Word and deed work together—repentance opens the heart, and healing restores life.
The use of oil is especially significant. Healing is not performed through spectacle, but through a tangible, humble sign. The disciples act as instruments of God’s mercy, not as sources of power themselves. Their authority comes from Christ, and their actions manifest the Kingdom breaking into human suffering.
Historical and Jewish Context
Oil was commonly used in Jewish culture for healing and care, symbolizing strength, blessing, and God’s presence. Anointing the sick was associated with prayer and divine intervention, not magic.
Casting out demons was understood as liberation from forces that dehumanized and oppressed. For Jewish listeners, these acts confirmed that God’s reign was actively restoring order and dignity.
Catholic Theological Perspective
From a Catholic perspective, this verse is foundational for the Church’s ministry of healing. The Church sees here a foreshadowing of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, where oil and prayer are joined for healing and strength.
This verse also affirms that the Church’s mission includes care for both body and soul. Salvation is holistic—spiritual freedom, physical healing, and restored dignity all flow from Christ.
Key Terms
Cast out — liberation from evil
Demons — forces of bondage
Anointed with oil — sign of God’s healing presence
Sick — human vulnerability
Healed — restoration and wholeness
Conclusion
Mark 6:13 shows the Kingdom of God at work through obedient disciples. Liberation, healing, and mercy flow wherever Christ’s mission is faithfully carried out.
Reflection
Do I trust that God still works through ordinary signs and faithful service? How do I participate in Christ’s healing mission today?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for sharing Your healing mission with Your disciples. Make me an instrument of Your compassion, that through my words and actions others may experience Your mercy and restoring power. Amen.
CONCLUSION
The success of the mission is measured not only by the reception of the message but also by the authority the disciples exercise over unclean spirits and illnesses. Mark notes that they went out and preached that men should repent, confirming their words with the symbolic act of anointing the sick with oil. This practice is particularly significant for the Catholic tradition, as it points to the scriptural roots of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, where physical oil becomes a vehicle for spiritual and physical restoration through the authority of the Church.
The conclusion of this passage emphasizes that the Gospel requires a decisive response. The instruction to “shake off the dust” from their feet against those who refuse to listen serves as a testimony to the gravity of rejecting God’s invitation. It reminds us that while the sower sows generously, the responsibility for receiving the Word lies with the hearer. For the disciples, this first mission was a realization that they were now conduits of Christ’s own authority, prepared to carry the light of the Gospel into a world that is often resistant but deeply in need of repentance and healing.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You called Your disciples to share in Your mission with hearts of radical trust and apostolic zeal. We ask for the grace to be true witnesses of Your Kingdom in our own lives, relying not on our own resources or security, but on the power of Your Spirit. Grant us the courage to go where You send us, the humility to depend on Your providence, and the compassion to bring Your healing touch to those who are suffering. May our lives be a clear proclamation of Your truth, inviting all to turn back to You and find life in Your Name. Amen.