Sermons

Matthew 10:5-15 Commissioning the Twelve

We are in Jesus’ war room; the commissioning of his twelve.

• Jesus battle plan; “Go or No Go!”
  • Specific for what, 12 are supposed to do and not do.
  • Essential for mission success and these men knew it.

 

• “These twelve” means mission is particularly prescribed.
  • Not replicated by other disciples.
  • Similar yet still distinct from 72’s commission.

Every believer is commissioned to “fight the good fight of faith.”

• Not NT sloganized language but reality.
  • For daily temperament in the context of warfare.
    • Believers join at the recruiting station to join a war.
    • Whether you have acknowledged this or not.

 

• These “twelve” were “sent out” which is the word “Apostellein” – where get “Apostle.”
  • We too are commissioned.
    • “Church” ekklnsia means “called out.”
      • Called to shine in a dark world, to be separate, yes, but not to hide.
      • We let our light shine before men!
      • Called to go and tell the world they should follow Jesus.

This is a commission to be dependent on Christ. The Christian life:  

Commissioned to Dependence.

• One of the great lessons for the Christian is learning to depend on God.
  • Based on trials it is obvious we need to depend on God but our flesh fights this.
    • Our new nature is made dependent.
    • We walked and independently and God changed our status.

God adopted you; marks his W-2 with you as His dependent. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 summarizes of our life: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

 “Why is this so difficult to keep this mindset?” 

Culture? Americans/Alaskans? “Survival of the fittest” mentality.

Independence is a chief reason people relocate here. Being independent or a pioneer with an adventurous spirit can be healthy but taken to the extreme is unhealthy and can be harmful. 

Christians are called to reliance and interdependence. To live in community with God and people. Ironically, Alaskans understand this too. The extreme environment here makes for a very interdependent culture.

Matthew 10 summarizes Jesus’ call to His twelve Apostles to minister in Galilee and it is important to bridge this to your life understand Jesus’ lesson of dependence.  

I want to open this up with broad brush strokes

[READ Matthew 10:5-15] and [READ Mark 6:7-13] and then [READ Luke 9:1-6]

[READ 22:35-36]. 

³⁵ And he said to them, ^a“When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”³⁶ He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.

 

At the point in Luke 22 Jesus was preparing these followers to endure the trial of the Cross. 

• Satan had asked Jesus to sift Peter like wheat.

 

• Here Jesus harks back to when he sent them out in stripped down fashion and asks a question. “When I sent you out…did you lack anything? 
  • They said, Nothing” (cf. Lk. 22:35).
    • Not teaching “Poverty Spirituality” but “Dependence.”
    • Jesus would leave mission in their hands so taught all they need was Him, to complete it!

 

[Appl] Like older parents who suddenly find themselves in unexpected financial straits. They who have persevered say to their children, “We’ve been here before, and the Lord has always proved faithful.” 

Knowing the big picture, ask yourself how you can grow in your posture of dependence.

Lessons for the twelve on dependence

1. Rest in God’s sovereign plan (vv. 5-6)

Jesus literally “summoned” and “sent” [apostellein] “the twelve.” 

• Already called two different ways.
  • First to follow Him as fishers of me (Mark 1:16-20) and then designated Apostles (10:1-4; cf. Mark 3:13-19) and now “commissioned” for this mission.
    • Jesus’ 3rd tour reaching out to Galilee.
    • Jesus is moving his Apostles into a new arena, from “learners to doers.”

 

• Followed, observed, and learned and now being launched.
  • Not untried ministers but trained.
  • Sent as Christ’s proxy.
    • Why we train lay and train for fulltime ministry.

Few things mark this mission as unique. 

• Symbolic of transition from Old Covenant to the New.

 

• Jesus choosing “the twelve” is symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel.
  • Continuity in number but transition.

^ESV  Revelation 21:12-14 It had a great, high wall, ^awith twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed—¹³ on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.¹⁴ And the wall of the city had twelve ^afoundations, and ^bon them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

 

• Israel, apostate, following a false religious system of works.
• 400 silent years.
  • Pharisees hated Christ as Messiah.
  • Jews on a trajectory to reject Him.
    • Sacrificial system foreshadowed Christ as true Lamb.
    • New “twelve” declaring Old Covenant fulfilled and Kingdom had come.

Small band was the means to multiply Christ and His message. 

Christ sends giving to them “authority” over demons. 

• The wording here specifies Jesus gave them “authority.”
  • This “authority” to validate Christ and His message.
    • Demons manifesting themselves and being cast out was a dynamic foretaste of the Kingdom that had come and is to come.
    • Their authority was proof that Jesus was the conqueror of sin, Satan, and death and this victory certain.

 

• Ultimately the victory comes through the Cross.

So, how does this apply to an ordinary believer? 

A book titled “ordinary.” Michael Horton A young mom’s blog testimony might bring some clarity (ordinary, p. 15).

“Why was Israel not permitted to reach the Gentiles?”

• We know Christ had a heart for all.
  • The woman at the well (Jn. 4); the hero Samaritan (Lk 10:30); the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman (Mt. 15:28).
    • Practically:
      • The 12 could not go north to Syria; not east to the cities of Decapolis; not go south to Samaria.
      • This limited them to Galilee – staying right there.

They were sent to them for good reason.

• First offered to the Jews because all redemptive history points to this.

 

• Second the Jews were not equipped to preach to Gentiles.

 

• Third, they did not have background nor technique to reach them.

 

• Fourth, their limited objectives help to focus mission.

 

• Need Paul as Apostle to the Gentiles to teach them what to do.

 

^ESV  Romans 1:16 For ^aI am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is ^bthe power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew ^cfirst and also to ^dthe Greek.

 

Carson said even after Pentecost the disciples went carefully into Samaria.

Christ stood at the nexus to all of Salvation History. Christ is the fulfillment of the people’s history.

God’s heart for his chosen people is clear throughout Scripture.

Martin Luther at points said very hostile things toward unbelieving Jews; yet he cites early in his writings that Romans 11:17-24 clearly states the church is grafted in as a wild olive branch into the vine; Israel.

“These twelve” were sent with a specific caveat that they were to “Go nowhere among the Gentiles” (v. 5).

• Not only that but “…and enter no town of the Samaritans” (v. 5).
  • Do not go to pagan people or regions and do not also go to any “town” of half-Jewish?

 

• Why?
  • The Bible does not explicitly say, but I wonder if the disciples desired to go and reach those who were not of their own people.
    • People closest to you are most difficult.
      • Jews perhaps thought their own to be spoiled and disinterested in Christ, certainly they would prove to be.
      • Maybe Jesus protected his “twelve Apostles” from early defection where he knew they would not be able to handle temptations particular to pagan regions.
      • “But what about the Samaritans?”

I have heard that how a Jew might feel toward a Samaritan would be like how a believer might feel about a Mormon.

Mormon’s are those who believe much of what a Christian believes while at the same time being 180 out from being a Christian for what they do not believe.

A Mormon is involved in syncretism, meshing what is true with what is false and in the same way a Samaritan would mix Jewish beliefs with Gentile beliefs.

Whatever the motive, Jesus sent his twelve to their own and I think for their own protection.

• They knew the Jewish mindset and belief system and Jesus believed this was the way to have his Jewish believers be faithful to introduce their Messiah to their own.
  • Reaching the Jews first is only appropriate as the whole of Old Testament prophecy predicted that the Messiah would come from them to save them!
  • Yes, Messiah came to the whole world, but the world would be grafted into the nation, the set apart nation, namely Israel.

Verse 6 reveals something of Christ’s heart for Israel.

• Easy to believe God gives up on us when we forsake him and loses his compassion towards us when we fall spiritually.
  • I love the faithful heart of Christ we see inside of this commission.
    • Do not go here “but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
      • Rather than “lost sheep” being derogatory, this is a softhearted way to send these Apostles to their kinsmen who have gone astray.
      • Think of Paul who said “would that he could be accursed for the sake of his kinsmen” (Rom 9:1).
        • Those who are lost need grace to be turned around to be brought back to the fold.
        • The shepherd leaves the 99 for the 1 and when brought back, all of heaven rejoices at this new moment.

One final thought is the warning of rejecting this kind offer of grace.

• Israel had every opportunity to respond to a pursuant Shepherd.
  • By rejecting the twelve Apostles, they can with a clean conscience go now to the Gentiles with the message of the Messiah.
  • The curse of stupor on Israel is vindicated and righteous, though heart breaking.

^ESV  Romans 11:8 as it is written, ^a“God gave them a spirit of stupor, ^beyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

 

2. Reveal dangerous convictions (vv. 7-8)

Verse 7 brings us to Jesus’ mode for carrying out the mission.

• Their philosophy of ministry was not so different than ours, when everything begins with preaching.
  • Preaching is the only acceptable mode in terms of the message.
    • “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” must mean that Jesus is here!
      • Jesus is King and so his physical appearance means, Messiah has come.
        • And his miracles prove this is truly him.
        • In a real sense heaven has come.

 

• This is not the time for instruction but a decision.
• As much as an announcement where a decision must be made.

Verse 8 amounts to the manifestations of the kingdom.

• They announce the kingdom and then they reveal what is in the kingdom.
  • “You received without paying; give without pay” (v. 8).
    • Given access to this kingdom by grace and so now serve by grace.
      • The kingdom work is not the world’s work where you exchange money for services rendered.
      • Grace comes freely so give this gracious ministry freely.

Verses 7-8 prioritizes preaching and then the miracles are the application to the message. The message is that with Jesus you have the Kingdom that has come. 

• We preach and teach the Bible but what about the miracles?
  • If you understand miracles as God’s power on display.
    • Then you understand where God’s power is most on display in one place.
    • Where? The church! “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!”

 

• Show people God’s power by “Inviting them to church!”

^ESV  1 Corinthians 14:25 ^athe secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, ^bfalling on his face, he will worship God and ^cdeclare that God is really among you.

 

3. Rely on God’s provision (vv. 9-10)

Verse 9 The motives of mission must be pure.

• Jesus warns that temptations would come where people will want to pay you for your services.
  • The ministry must be total dependence upon the Lord.
    • In life when you minister to others you must do so by faith.
    • People will always sense when your ministry has a mixed motivation for money or fame.

There are bizarre examples of those who pray over things to manipulate senior saints or people more vulnerable to give, this because of false hope being given.

• Verse 9 forbids this kind of merchant ministry.
  • Miracle ministry would draw people to give everything that had; gold and silver and copper but all must be rejected.

Verse 10 brings the balance of ministry.

• You are not to carry a “bag” to stuff people’s offerings nor are you to live in opulence having designer things to make your life easier.
  • But at the same time “the laborer deserves his food” (v. 10).

“Why do you pay ministers of the gospel?”

• To keep the mission going.
  • This is the ultimate motivation to give toward any mission and that is to sustain it and to keep it moving out!
    • If you give so people will slow down and take their ease, then this is the wrong reason.
      • I am not saying a minister should not be able to stop and rest because he should but at the same time when ministers or ministries are funded in a way to be laxed this is the opposite of what it is trying to achieve.
        • Why wealth can breed all kinds of temptations toward laziness.
        • At the same time, a minister must “eat.”

 

• The bible explicitly commands that you not muzzle an ox while he is threshing, meaning while they work you have to feed or you will end up stopping the process altogether.
  • The ox works hard but suddenly drops dead.

^ESV  1 Corinthians 9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, ^a“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

^ESV  1 Timothy 5:18 For the Scripture says, ^ab“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, ^b“The laborer deserves his wages.”

• Of course, a minister can tent-make like Paul and this is a strategic decision to be made by ministers and by church bodies but a minister can also make his living by the gospel – with a clean conscience.
  • The issue comes down to motive and laziness.
  • “If you do not work you should not eat” but if you do work, your labor warrants food.

^ESV  2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: ^aIf anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

^ESV  1 Timothy 5:18 For the Scripture says, ^ab“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, ^b“The laborer deserves his wages.”

Mark’s account is a “grab and go” ministry. 

• This was in no way a “pleasure tour.”
  • Matthew’s account says not to take a “staff” and Mark says to take one.
  • If you were using one keep it, if not don’t get one now.
    • Just go!

There is debate as to whether the mission to the 12 was different than the 72 because of the difference between Mark’s account saying to take things and Matthew forbidding things – when probably this is Matthew saying, “Do not take any more than necessary.”

You are not taking a money sack neither to bring money or collecting it. 

• This is dynamic dependence.
  • This divestment was picked up on the Rabbinic tradition when priests entered the temple.
  • They would divest themselves of these same items.

 

• When the Apostles entered these homes, this hospitality, they viewed them sanctuaries.
  • Still, a test in dependence.
    • Jesus wanted these men to experience God’s promise to provide.

This unique journey undoubtedly ties back to the journey the children of Israel underwent leaving Egypt. 

• Pharaoh’s grip loosened by a barrage of plagues sent by Yahweh.
  • The final stroke was the LORD with Passover.
    • Exodus 12 contains the instructions for Jews.
    • There were to slaughter a lamb and splashed blood on their doorpost as the sign for the death angel to pass over and spare the life the first born son.

^ESV  Exodus 12:11 In this manner you shall eat it: with ^ayour belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. ^bIt is the LORD’s Passover.

 

Jews being hurried out “in haste.” 

• Likewise for Christ’s Apostles.
  • Christians face dangerous times for sure.

God typically places us in circumstances where we have to trust Him. 

• It has been said that God will make your life just hard enough so that you cannot be in control of it.
• That one child, work situation, health issue.

 

4. Reserve final judgement for God (vv. 11-15)

Christ’s ministry brings ultimate results.

Verses 11-15 testify to the real lack of reverence today for God and his Word.

• Not only society but the church.
  • The church feeds on relevance.
    • Life applications working back to Scripture.
    • Rather than Scripture brought to bear on life.
      • Pragmatic answers for motivation.
      • Not spiritual Providence for submission.

 

Verse 11 says, “And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart” (v. 11).

• This mission was unique to Jews.
  • Assumed you would receive a greeting from Jews dreaming about the Messiah coming.
    • Arrival – the 12 came as his proxy – Jews themselves – would have food provided for them – essentials.
    • Rabbi’s regularly provided for in this way.
    • So, of course Messiah’s missionaries would be too.

 

• The basic needs of a minister should be provided, 1 Cor. 9:14; 1 Tim. 5:17-19.

“…who is worthy?”

• People are open to hear the truth or not.
  • The religious nature of Israel points to the fact that these men would either be wide open to the truth or utter rejection.
    • Either way, the 12 Apostles must respond accordingly.
      • Pleading with rejectors makes things worse for both sides.
        • The Gospel either softens or hardens hearers and so to stay and try to nail truth down inside someone’s soul is of no use.
        • So doing, mocks the very Word you are trying to esteem.

On the other hand, when you find someone who is “worthy” in the town you should stay “until you depart” meaning you stay until you have exhausted the ministry there.

• Slow and steady work of ministry is building the word into people’s hearts so they will grow.
  • You stay and “you enter the house, [and] greet it” (v. 12).
  • You offer love and support upon friends in the gospel.

 

• Then “if the house is worthy, [you] let your peace come upon it” (v. 13).
  • Your “peace” meaning you can allow your guard to be down as you enjoin yourself in fellowship with others who are fellow believers.
    • Important to discern how and when you will enjoin yourself with others in the work.
    • When you countenance the work of God in a place or in a person, this esteems the message and its power in the life of others and gives glory to God.

Verse 13 takes a sudden shift to say, “…but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you” (v. 13).

• You keep your “peace” and do not fake nor force your peace as if everything is ok between the two of you when it is not.
  • You know when you are in fellowship with another based on someone’s testimony and personal convictions.
  • It is important to see that when people comingle their message with others who they know are compromisers then it is itself compromise.

 

• Compromising will always neutralize the message of the Gospel.
  • Opportunism will make allowances for themselves and share the platform with unbelievers (claiming to be believers) as long as they can control the message.
    • There is a line that should not be crossed.
      • “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33).
      • And you will become like those you keep company with, eventually.

I remember talking in a group where a preacher was posing the thought of possibly being asked to preach on the same stage and arena as Joel Osteen. Should he do it, if he can control the message? My response to him privately was only if he was coming in such a way that he would never be asked to return. His message is one of judgment, akin to Paul at Areopagus. 

RC Sproul makes the distinction between inviting someone to Christ and commanding someone to Christ! (cf. Acts 17).

Christ was not calling his Apostles to be rude or belligerent.  

• The point here is clarity.
  • The key to evangelism is being clear on your convictions.
    • Evangelism is not about entering into long drawn-out discussions.
      • I think there is a lot of false guilt in evangelism.
      • We become ensnared, believing what we should have had in debtes or discussions.

 

• People know you are a believer and are having an underlying conversation with you.

Customary for people to extend hospitality to travelers. 

• Jesus’ point was when extended they were not supposed to shop for better digs (STAY).

 

• Verse 14 offers the balance to discern when it’s time to leave.
  • Time when you are supposed to stop sharing, to break a relationship.
  • This is the principle of doing more harm than good.

One of the most difficult things to do is to break relationships that harmful to you or others.  Discerning when a relationship is toxic is tough.  There are times when for the sake of the Gospel and your own heart, to separate.   

 

• Jews as a symbol of national separation would shake the dust from other pagan nations off their clothes.
  • These were Jews shaking the dust off their feet from other Jews.
    • Would be shocking treatment from another Jew.
    • No more shocking than rejecting the Messiah.

 

• Shaking the dust off saying the Jews are now no better than a Pagan land – shaking the dust off that you would have gotten on your feet from walking through pagan towns.

 

• The sin of “unbelief.”
  • Understanding level of sin warrants a dramatic departure like this.
  • Meant to cause those rejecting to think and reconsider their hearts.

Verses 14-15 give the severe action and warning to not being accepted by others.

• The 12 Apostles had the right message and method so when Apostles or message was not received, then immediate and severe action was warranted.
  • Not to cast pearls before swine we are to instead separate ourselves.
  • Separation is as key to the mission as giving the message.
    • We can easily believe we are failing by our message not being received that we can be tempted to compromise it.
    • When all the while the point is to give the message and then to keep the message or guard the message from being watered down or disrespected and counting this work as equally righteous.

Verse 14 says the action to be taken is to “shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town” (v. 14).

• This action is to completely disassociate yourself from these people as if you never came in the first place.

Verse 15 gives the ultimate judgment saying, “Truly, I say to you, if will be more bearable on that day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town” (v. 15).

“How bad will it be for Sodom and Gomorrah?”

• They had the witness of Lot and of angels and they turned and did defiling acts which brought down physical destruction on this city.
  • When you think of a physical expression where “fire and brimstone” (cf. Gen. 19:24) was raining down on a city, you think of Sodom and Gomorrah.
  • A town hearing from the message of the kingdom directly from the 12 Apostles is of such a privilege that rejection means a worse judgement than for them.

 

• Exactly what this means for someone in this position, sounds dreadful but I do not know what that day of judgment would be like.
  • Still, this points to the high privilege of hearing the word of God and believing it.
  • The stakes are severe, high, and eternal.

Ending up like Sodom and Gomorrah is catastrophic.

• An unbridled judgment of God.
• “God does not invite people to come to Christ, he commands people to come to Christ” (Acts 17:30).

This points to degrees of punishment in Hell (cf. Lk 12:47-48).

Fast-forward to Paul and Barnabas’ 1^st missionary journey.

Acts 13:42-49:

⁴² As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.

⁴³ And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and ^adevout ^bconverts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them ^cto continue in ^dthe grace of God.⁴⁴ The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.^{45 a}But ^bwhen the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with ^cjealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, ^dreviling him.⁴⁶ And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God ^abe spoken first to you. ^bSince you thrust it aside and judge yourselves ^cunworthy of eternal life, behold, we ^dare turning to the Gentiles.^{47 a}For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ^bc“‘I have made you ^ca light for the Gentiles, that you may ^dbring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and ^aglorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.

 

Ministry is personal dependence and when we come in weakness, then we are strongest. This is the profound balance of the Christian’s experience.  

Several years ago, I watched a news video that was a spot on the a nuclear submarine from the Cold War that was being memorialized. 

The reason it caught my attention was I grew up best friends with the Commander’s son. 

The Navy sheared off the top of USS Cincinnati and transported it to Cincinnati Ohio to become an exhibit. 

From the video I learned that it was one way we were kept safe during the Cold War in the 1980’s.

When I was 13 years old the sub was still in use, and I was given a tour inside.  It being in docked in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. 

It was fascinating to look through its high-powered periscope and going down in the hull to see and touch the nuclear warheads. 

Commander Robert Hawthorne was later reassigned to Washington State to command a Trident sub fit then with the latest in ballistic missiles. 

What always amazed me was how this small statured, unassuming person carried this kind of leadership. 

I knew him as my neighbor who tinkered with his VW Rabbit on Saturday afternoons. 

My Dad always said you really would want someone like that at the helm of that kind of power. 

Commander Hawthorne pictures Christ’s Commission.

We walk through life in assuming fashion, in weakness, and yet we carry with us the message equivalent to a Ballistic Missile in terms of its strength and power. 

This message we carry is determinative. 

Go back to Jesus’ debrief on the Apostle’s mission from Luke 22:35ff.  

³⁵ And he said to them, ^a“When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”³⁶ He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.³⁷ For I tell you that ^athis Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ^bc‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For ^cwhat is written about me has its fulfillment.”³⁸ And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two ^aswords.” And he said to them, ^b“It is enough.”

 

Jesus debriefed their mission and to make His point found in verse 37. 

• Their mission was all meant to point to Christ’s humiliation at the Cross.
• Isaiah’s prediction would be fulfilled (Is. 53:12 “….And he was numbered with the transgressors”). 

Verse 38 indicates they still didn’t understand. 

• “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough” (v. 38). 
• Remember Exodus 12.
  • The rescue of the Jews depended upon the slaughter of a lamb; this lamb symbolized another.

 

• Isaiah predicted this lamb – Isaiah 53:7, “a lamb that is led to the slaughter” – “…numbered with the transgressors” (v. 12).

 

• Jesus came as this lamb living out the ultimate act of dependence.
  • He was stripped naked, with no bread, no money, and His garments being gambled for by the guards.
  • He was not received by his own and not listened to.
  • Rejected but in this case instead of shaking our dust of sin off his hands and feet, they were pierced through with Roman spikes.
  • Instead of rejecting you He faced the rejection of His Father.
  • This is weakness.
  • This is dependence.
  • But Christ rose in power and defeated our sins forever!