Matthew 10
The Twelve Apostles
And awhen He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, awho is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 aSimon the Cananite, and Judas bIscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Sending Out the Twelve
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: a“Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of bthe Samaritans. 6 aBut go rather to the blost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 aAnd as you go, preach, saying, b‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. aFreely you have received, freely give. 9 aProvide neither gold nor silver nor bcopper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; afor a worker is worthy of his food.
11 a“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 aIf the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. bBut if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 aAnd whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, bshake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, ait will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
Persecutions Are Coming
16 a“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. bTherefore be wise as serpents and charmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for athey will deliver you up to councils and bscourge you in their synagogues. 18 aYou will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 aBut when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For bit will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 afor it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 a“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ayou will be hated by all for My name’s sake. bBut he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 aWhen they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have bgone through the cities of Israel cbefore the Son of Man comes.
24 a“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If athey have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26 Therefore do not fear them. aFor there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
Jesus Teaches the Fear of God
27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, aspeak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 aAnd do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather bfear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two asparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 aBut the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Confess Christ Before Men
32 a“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, bhim I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 aBut whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Christ Brings Division
34 a“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to a‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and a‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 aHe who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 aAnd he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 aHe who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
A Cup of Cold Water
40 a“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 aHe who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 aAnd whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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