Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
The first and most essential form of authority Jesus bestowed on his disciples was not hierarchical or ecclesial. It wasn't a matter of position or bureaucracy. It was like the authority of Jesus himself, which made him stand out from the crowd of religious leaders, because no one else had authority like he did. His words were not like those of others because they were filled with authority. in a way that those of others were not. Other people had legitimate claim to obedience because of their position on the seat of Moses. But the authority of Jesus was something else again. There was something about his words, something that made it inexorably accomplish the purpose for which it was sent.
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it (see Isaiah 55:11).
Others might have had human authority. But Jesus had divine authority. It was this authority that he bestowed on his disciples. He wanted the disciples to learn to function at a different level than the authorities of the world who were bound by their own wants and desires and limited by their own preferences. Worldly leadership is always tainted to some extend by the tangled web of the flesh. But the authority exercised by the disciples of Jesus was too important to be subjugated to individual egos. It was not to be made a means to any end other than that for which Jesus sent the disciples, that of proclaiming the Kingdom of God and healing the sick.
He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
If they had too much abundance on their journey they might have the issue described by Solomon in the proverb who was concerned not to receive too much food, "Lest, being full, I deny you, saying, "Who is the LORD?". The disciples would not be in want or steal because they could trust the Lord to provide for the essentials they required. Jesus crafted this first mission of theirs apart from him as something that would both serve to build the kingdom and train the disciples in dynamic dependence on God as they went.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
The disciples were not to seek an earthly reward by finding the house with the best hospitality, the softest beds, or the best meals. The places that welcomed them only needed to serve a functional purpose so that they, together with the people of the town, could focus on the pursuit of heavenly treasure. It may actually be difficult to imagine so much concern for the kingdom and so little concern for one's preferences. Proceeding with so little planning and provisioning is not likely something many of us would readily do. But by taking Jesus at his word the disciples discovered the truth of what Solomon said:
Every word of God is tested;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
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