Matthew 10:6

“But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.] To whom he himself was sent, (<401524>Matthew 15:24). By “the house of Israel” is meant the whole Jewish nation; for though this phrase, when distinguished from the house of Judah, designs only the ten tribes; yet here it intends all the Jews, then living in the land of Judea, among whom there were some of all the tribes: and by “the lost sheep” of this house, are meant either all the people of the Jews in general, who were wandering, and were lost in error and sin, and to whom the external ministry of the Gospel came; or rather the elect of God among them, for whose sake particularly the apostles were sent unto them. These are called…”

“But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel--Until Christ's death, which broke down the middle wall of Partition (Eph 2:14), the Gospel commission was to the Jews only, who, though the visible people of God, were "lost sheep," not merely in the sense which all sinners are (Isa 53:6; Pe1 2:25; compare with Luk 19:10), but as abandoned and left to wander from the right way by faithless shepherds (Jer 50:6, Jer 50:17; Eze 34:2-6, &c.).”

“But go rather to the lost sheep ... - That is, to the Jews. He regarded them as wandering and lost, like sheep straying without a shepherd. They had been the chosen people of God; they had long looked for the Messiah; and it was proper that the gospel should be first offered to them. return to 'Top of Page'”

“10:6 Being lost is the result of neglect by their shepherds (9:36; 15:24).”

“go: Mat 15:24-26; Luk 24:47; Act 3:26, Act 13:46, Act 18:6, Act 26:20, Act 28:25-28; Rom 11:11-15 lost: Mat 18:11; Psa 119:176; Isa 53:6; Jer 50:6, Jer 50:17; Eze 34:6, Eze 34:8, Eze 34:16; Luk 15:3-10; Pe1 2:25 Matthew 10:7”