The Watchman

When Yahshua sent out the twelve to announce the gospel to Israel he gave them the following instruction:

“… go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:6)

And again when confronted by the Canaanite woman, concerning her demon-possessed daughter, He said to her:

“Have I not been sent except to the sheep which went astray from the house of Israel?” (Matthew 15:24)

It is evident that he was in Jerusalem or in the vicinity when he spoke to the twelve and in the Lebanon area when he spoke to the Canaanite woman. So why identify the peoples he was sent to as the “lost sheep of the House of Israel”? If he was talking about being sent to the Jews why not just say “go to the Jews” or “I was sent to the House of Judah”?

To resolve this conundrum we can examine the locations where the twelve went after the crucifixion of Yahshua and the day of Pentecost. Peter went to Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Thomas went to Egypt, others went to Mesopotamia and Anatolia. In Acts we find Philip in Samaria, then on to Azotus and traveling to Caesarea. In summary, they left Judah and, as instructed, went to the lost sheep (tribes) of the House of Israel.

Since Yahshua specifically instructed the twelve to go to the lost tribes of Israel we can conclude that they obeyed the Master and knew where the tribes were. Acts 2:9-11 specifically names countries from which those keeping Pentecost hailed from and were undoubtable from other Israelite tribes.

What’s more those twelve tribes are in existance, today. Yahshua said, “ … for truly, I say to you, You will not have gone through the towns (of the lost sheep) of Israel before the Son of man comes.” (Mat 10:23)