The Nugget:
Exo 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
Exo 18:22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
My Comment:
Read carefully, Exodus 18:21 furnishes insight into how to effectively “make disciples” (Matthew 28:20). A major principle illustrated here is the need to work in smaller groups, ideally groups of ten or twelve or less. These groups need to be continuing groups that continue to meet for spiritual growth, instruction, discipleship, and fellowship. They need to meet often, not just once a month. Weekly and more often as possible is best. Unfortunately, many if not most churches are not structured for fellowship. But they could be, and if they are to be effective in the mission of reaching others with the Gospel, they must be.
The notes and cross references I have placed at Exodus 18:21 will provide further guidance about disciple making:
Bible Study Notes from the NTSK and UCRT:
Exodus 18:21
Moreover. Deut 1:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, Act 6:3.
provide. or, see. i.e. look out for. Exo 24:11, Gen 22:8, Job 19:26, 27, Psa 11:4; Psa 11:7; Psa 17:2, Pro 24:32, Song 6:13, Isa 30:10 (prophesy). Lam 2:14, (S# H2372).
able men. T312, Exo 18:25, Deut 1:13; Deut 1:15; Deut 16:18, 1Ki 3:9, 10, 11, 12, 1Ch 26:8, Pro 28:2, *2Ti 2:2, Tit 1:5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
such as fear God. Exo 9:20; Exo 23:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Gen 22:12; *Gen 42:18, *2Sa 23:3, 1Ki 18:3; 1Ki 18:12, *2Ch 19:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Neh 5:9; *Neh 5:15; Neh 7:2, Job 1:1; Job 1:8; Job 2:3, +*Psa 119:38, Pro 1:7, Ecc 12:13, *Mat 10:28, Luk 18:2; Luk 18:4.
men of truth. Job 29:16; Job 31:13, Isa 16:5; Isa 59:4; Isa 59:14, 15, Jer 5:1, Eze 18:8, Zec 7:9; Zec 8:16, +*Act 6:3.
hating covetousness. Exo 23:8, *Deut 16:18; *Deut 16:19, 1Sa 8:3; 1Sa 12:3, 4, +*2Ki 12:15, Psa 26:9, 10; +*Psa 119:36, *Pro 28:16, *Isa 33:15, Eze 22:12; *Eze 33:31, Mat 13:22, *Mar 7:21; *Mar 7:22, *Luk 12:15, +*Act 6:3; Act 20:33, +*1Co 4:2, +*2Co 7:2; **2Co 8:20, 1Ti 3:3; 1Ti 6:5; 1Ti 6:9, 10, 11, 2Pe 2:14, 15.
rulers of thousands. Note: Whatever matter the decarch, or ruler over ten, could not decide, went to the pentecontarch, or ruler over fifty, and thence by degrees to the hecatontarch, or ruler over a hundred, to the chiliarch, or ruler over a thousand, to Moses, and at length to God himself. Each magistrate had the care or inspection of only ten men; the decarch superintended ten private individuals; the hecatontarch, ten decarchs; and the chiliarch, ten hecatontarchs. An exactly similar system obtained in the kingdom of Peru (See Heriot’s Canada, p. 565). Num 10:4, Deut 1:15, Jos 22:14, 1Sa 8:12. But contrast Young’s comment here (Concise Critical Comments), “This advice, though excellent as a whole, was carrying the divisions too far; for 600,000 men there must have been, according to this plan, 60,000 heads of tens, 6000 heads of hundreds, 600 heads of thousands, in all 78,600 judges! It was apparently found unworkable, for at a later period seventy elders were chosen, and fitted to assist him.” Yet reference to thousands throughout the rest of the Old Testament may suggest some form of this organization remained in place (+*Mic 5:2). Exo 24:1; Exo 24:9, +*Jos 22:21, Jdg 6:15, *Psa 84:10 note. +*Mic 5:2, Luk 10:1; Luk 10:17, Act 4:32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37.
rulers of hundreds. Jdg 7:16, 1Sa 25:13, Act 1:15.
rulers of fifties. Gen 18:24; Gen 18:26, Mar 6:40, %Luk 10:1; %Luk 10:17.
rulers of tens. As noted, by this system each magistrate, ruler, or leader would have the care of only ten men. Studies of small-group dynamics suggest that 10 or 12 is the maximum size for a group where effective listening to one another (+Rom 12:5, 1Co 14:26, Eph 5:19, 20, 21, Jas 5:16) can occur, essential for effective nurturing (Eph 6:4), comfort (2Co 1:4), caring (+*1Ti 3:5), exhortation (+*Heb 3:13), and fellowship (Mal 3:16) for spiritual growth and the discipling of new leadership (1Ti 4:16, 2Ti 2:2). It was prescribed in Jewish practice that ten men as heads of families were required to establish a local synagogue, or to conduct a service. Where a building for the purpose was not available, Edersheim notes “they might meet for worship in a private dwelling, a sort of ’Synagogue in the house’ (Phm 1:2)” (The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, vol. 1, p. 433). *Gen 18:32, Rth 4:2, 1Sa 25:5, Mat 10:1, Act 19:7.