Matthew 10

The Twelve Commissioned and Sent Out

1 And summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could expel them and could heal everyt disease and everyt sickness.2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, Jamest the son of Zebedee, and John his brother,3 Philip, and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus,

4 Simon the Zealot,t and Judas Iscariot—the one who also betrayed him.
5 Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them saying, “Do not go on the road to the Gentiles, and do not enter into a city of the Samaritans,6 but go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7 And as you are going, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near!’8 Heal those who are sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, expel demons. Freely you have received; freely give.9 Do not procure gold or silver or copper for your belts.10 Do not take a traveler’s bag for the road, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff, for the worker is deserving of his provisions.11 And into whatever town or village you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there until you depart.12 And when you enter into the house, greet it.13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.14 And whoever does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you are going out of that house or thatt town.

15 Truly I say to you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!

Persecution of Disciples Predicted

16 “Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.17 But beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils, and they will flog you in their synagogues.18 And you will be brought before both governors and kings because of me, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles.19 But whenever they hand you over, do not be anxious how to speak or what you should say, for what you should say will be given to you at that hour.

20 For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father who is speaking through you.
21 “And brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his children, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death,22 and you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end—this one will be saved.

23 And whenever they persecute you in this town, flee to another, for truly I say to you, you will never finish going through the towns of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor a slave superior to his master.

25 It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household?

Fear God Rather Than People

26 “Therefore do not be afraid of them, because nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not become known.27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear in your ear, proclaim on the housetops.28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but instead be afraid of the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?t And one of them will not fall to the ground without the knowledge and consentt of your Father.30 And even the hairs of your head are all numbered!

31 Therefore do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 “Therefore everyone who acknowledges me before people, I also will acknowledge him before my Father who is in heaven.

33 But whoever denies me before people, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

Not Peace, But a Sword of Divisiveness

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth! I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.35 For I have come to turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.36 And the enemies of a man will be the members of his household.t37 The one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and the one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38 And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

39 The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life because of me will find it.

On Rewards

40 “The one who receives you receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.41 The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.

42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he will never lose his reward.”

Matthew 10

1 And he called unto him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;4 Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and charged them, saying, Go not into any way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans:6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give.9 Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses;10 no wallet for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.11 And into whatsoever city or village ye shall enter, search out who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go forth.12 And as ye enter into the house, salute it.13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in theirs synagogues they will scourge you;18 yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.19 But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak.20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.21 And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household!26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.27 What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops.28 And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father:30 but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.31 Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.32 Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven.33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

34 Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.35 For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law:36 and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38 And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.39 He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward: and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward.