Jesus does not simply delegate the work of the kingdom to his disciples, nor does he use them as a shield from the suffering that his preaching of the gospel will bring him. He resumes his teaching and preaching (Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35), in what are called their
cities, not his cities, as the people begin to reject him.
The fact that, even after commissioning the apostles in Matthew 10:1–42, Jesus himself continues preaching in Matthew 11:1 shows that he did not impart the authority of the Spirit to the twelve in order to delegate his work in Israel to others. Nor does he seek refuge now that the way of the gospel is clearly revealing itself as a way of suffering. Instead, he resumes his work of teaching and preaching (Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35). In doing so, Jesus sets before his disciples the example of steadfast readiness in the gospel, despite the growing distance between him and their
cities. These cities refer to the towns of Israel, and the neutral reference suggests not a withdrawal on the part of the Master, but rather a distancing on the part of the people of Israel.1
1 Lorsque Jésus eut achevé de donner ses instructions à ses douze disciples, il partit de là, pour enseigner et prêcher dans les villes du pays.