Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 10:7

"And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." — Matthew 10:7 (ASV)

Preach—that is, “proclaim—act as heralds,” as elsewhere. The repetition of the very same words that had described the teaching of first John the Baptist and then our Lord seems to suggest that this was an actual formula for proclamation. The King’s two envoys were to enter a town or village, stand in the gate to announce that His kingdom had come near, and then, once this had drawn a crowd to listen, call people to the repentance without which they could not enter it.