Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 11:1

"And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities." — Matthew 11:1 (ASV)

He arranged their missionary tour and then followed in their wake. It was His plan to send them two and two through the cities of Israel and then to follow them in person and sustain their testimony by His own instruction, for He came to teach and to preach. We are to do our best for people and then to hope that our Lord will be pleased to certify and confirm our teaching by His own coming to people’s hearts.

The term, “their cities,” sounds rather peculiar. Had our Lord given those cities to the twelve? It would seem so. In a spiritual sense, we go first and take possession of the souls entrusted to us, and then the King Himself comes in and takes His own at our hands.

Lord, give me many souls which may be Yours in the day of Your appearing. To this end, I would gladly go at Your bidding and preach Your Word, trusting that I may hear the sound of my Master’s feet behind me.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

Whatever he commanded, he himself did. He was always the example as well as the legislator of his people. How well it will be for us who are called upon to teach others, if we can teach them as much by what we do as by what we say! When Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.