Matthew 10

The Twelve Apostles are Sent

1 And when 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, 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 tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

The Twelve Apostles are Instructed

5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7 And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.9 Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.11 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 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!16 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.21 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 you will be hated by all for My names sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.23 When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.24 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 they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.27 Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot 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 copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Fathers will.30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.34 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 set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;36 and a mans enemies will be those of his own household.37 He 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 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophets reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous mans reward.42 And 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.

MATTHEW 10

Jesus Chooses His //Twelve Apostles

(Mark 3.13-19; Luke 6.12-16)

1 Jesus called together his twelve disciples. He gave them the power to force out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and sickness. 2 The first of the twelve apostles was Simon, better known as Peter. His brother Andrew was an apostle, and so were James and John, the two sons of Zebedee. 3 Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, t James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were also apostles.

4 The others were Simon, known as the Eager One, t and Judas Iscariot, t who later betrayed Jesus.

Instructions for //the Twelve Apostles

(Mark 6.7-13; Luke 9.1-6)

5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions:
Stay away from the Gentiles and don't go to any Samaritan town. 6 Go only to the people of Israel, because they are like a flock of lost sheep. 7 t As you go, announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here.t 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, t and force out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid. 9 Don't take along any gold, silver, or copper coins.

10 t And don't carryt a traveling bag or an extra shirt or sandals or a walking stick.
Workers deserve their food. 11 So when you go to a town or a village, find someone able and willing to have you as their guest and stay with them until you leave. 12 When you go to a home, give it your blessing of peace. 13 If the home is deserving, let your blessing remain with them. But if the home doesn't accept you, take back your blessing of peace. 14 t If someone won't welcome you or listen to your message, leave their home or town. And shake the dust from your feet at them.t

15 t I promise you the day of judgment will be easier for the towns of Sodom and Gomorraht than for that town.

Warning about Trouble

(Mark 13.9-13; Luke 21.12-17)

20 But you will not really be the one speaking. The Spirit from your Father will tell you what to say.
21  t Brothers and sisters will betray one another and have each other put to death. Parents will betray their own children, and children will turn against their parents and have them killed. 22 t Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you remain faithful until the end, you will be saved.

23 When people mistreat you in one town, hurry to another one. I promise you before you have gone to all the towns of Israel, the Son of Man will come.
24  t Students are not better than their teacher, and slaves are not better than their master.

25 t It is enough for students to be like their teacher and for slaves to be like their master. If people call the head of the family Satan, what will they say about the rest of the family?

The One To Fear

(Luke 12.2-7)

31 So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.

Telling Others about Christ

(Luke 12.8,9)

33 t But if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven you don't belong to me.

Not Peace, but Trouble

(Luke 12.51-53; 14.26,27)

36 Your worst enemies will be in your own family.
37  t If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples. 38 t And unless you are willing to take up your cross and follow me, you are not fit to be my disciples.

39 t If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it.

Rewards

(Mark 9.41)