Matthew 10

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples

1 Jesus called for his 12 disciples to come to him. He gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every illness and sickness.
2 Here are the names of the 12 apostles. First are Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. Then come James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John.3 Next are Philip and Bartholomew, and also Thomas and Matthew the tax collector. Two more are James, son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus.4 The last are Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot. Judas is the one who was later going to hand Jesus over to his enemies.
5 Jesus sent these 12 out with the following orders. "Do not go among those who aren't Jews," he said. "Do not enter any town of the Samaritans.6 Instead, go to the people of Israel. They are like sheep that have become lost.7 As you go, preach this message, 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'8 Heal those who are sick. Bring those who are dead back to life. Make those who have skin diseases 'clean' again. Drive out demons. You have received freely, so give freely.
9 "Do not take along any gold, silver or copper in your belts.10 Do not take a bag for the journey. Do not take extra clothes or sandals or walking sticks. A worker should be given what he needs.
11 "When you enter a town or village, look for someone who is willing to welcome you. Stay at that person's house until you leave.12 As you enter the home, greet those who live there.13 If that home welcomes you, give it your blessing of peace. If it does not, don't bless it.
14 "Some people may not welcome you or listen to your words. If they don't, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.15 What I'm about to tell you is true. On judgment day it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
16 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as harmless as doves.
17 "Watch out! Men will hand you over to the local courts. They will whip you in their synagogues.18 You will be brought to governors and kings because of me. You will be witnesses to them and to those who aren't Jews.
19 "But when they arrest you, don't worry about what you will say or how you will say it. At that time you will be given the right words to say.20 It will not be you speaking. The Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you.
21 "Brothers will hand over brothers to be killed. Fathers will hand over their children. Children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death.22 Everyone will hate you because of me. But anyone who stands firm to the end will be saved.
23 "When people attack you in one place, escape to another. What I'm about to tell you is true. You will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 "A student is not better than his teacher. A servant is not better than his master.25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher. And it is enough for the servant to be like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, what can the others who live there expect?
26 "So don't be afraid of your enemies. Everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. Everything that is hidden will be uncovered.27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight. What is whispered in your ear, shout from the rooftops.28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 "Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing it.30 He even counts every hair on your head!31 So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
32 "What about someone who says in front of others that he knows me? I will also say in front of my Father who is in heaven that I know him.33 But what about someone who says in front of others that he doesn't know me? I will say in front of my Father who is in heaven that I don't know him.
34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace to the earth. I didn't come to bring peace. I came to bring a sword.

35 I have come to turn
" 'sons against their fathers.
Daughters will refuse to obey their mothers.
Daughters-in-law will be against their mothers-in-law.

36 A man's enemies will be the members of his own family.' (Micah 7:6)
37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38 And anyone who does not pick up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39 If anyone finds his life, he will lose it. If anyone loses his life because of me, he will find it.
40 "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me.41 Suppose someone welcomes a prophet as a prophet. That one will receive a prophet's reward. And suppose someone welcomes a godly person as a godly person. That one will receive a godly person's reward.42 Suppose someone gives even a cup of cold water to a little one who follows me. What I'm about to tell you is true. That one will certainly be rewarded."

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.