Matthew 10
Jesus Ordains and Commissions the Twelve (10:1–15)
1 And after Jesus called his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over impure spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, the one who would betray him. 5 Jesus sent out these twelve and instructed them, saying, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 But rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘For the kingdom of the heavens has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leapers, cast out demons: Receive a gift, give a gift. 9 Do not take with you any gold or silver or copper for your belts; 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals; or a staff, for the worker is worth his food. 11 Whatever town or city you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 And when you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace come upon it; if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not welcome you or listen to your words, when you leave that home or town, shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
Beware Cunning Opposition (10:16–25)
16 “Behold, I send you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be wise as snakes and as pure as doves. 17 But beware of the people, for they will hand you over to councils and they will flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake to bear testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you will say; for at that time, you will be given what you will say. 20 You are not the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking by you. 21 Brother will betray brother unto death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and will cause them to be put to death. 22 You will be hated by all because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in this town, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If they called the master of house Beelzebul, how much more will they call the members of his household!”
Fear Satan Who Can Destroy Both Soul and Body in Hell
(10:26–33)
26 “Therefore, do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, preach in the light; what you hear in the ear, preach upon the rooftops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowing. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Therefore do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. 32 Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father who is in the heavens; 33 but whoever will deny me before the people, I will deny before my Father who is in the heavens.”
The Road Will Not Be Easy (10:34–42)
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to divide a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Even a person’s enemies will be the members of his own household. 37 Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. 40 Anyone who accepts you accepts me, and anyone who accepts me accepts the one who sent me. 41 Whoever accepts a prophet in the name of a prophet will accept a prophet’s reward, and whoever accepts a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will accept a righteous person’s reward. 42 Whoever gives a cup of cold water to drink to one of these little ones only in name of a disciple, truly I tell you, that person will not lose their reward.”
