Matthew 10:16-31

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁶ “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.^{(A) 17} Because people will hand you over to sanhedrins^[a] and flog you in their synagogues,^(B) beware of them. ¹⁸ You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations.^{(C) 19} But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you should speak.^(D) For you will be given what to say at that hour, ²⁰ because you are not speaking, but the Spirit^(E) of your Father is speaking through you.^(F)

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will even rise up against their parents and have them put to death.^{(G) 22} You will be hated by everyone because of My name.^(H) But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.^{[b](I) 23} When they persecute you in one town, escape to another.^(J) For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ²⁴ A disciple^[c] is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.^{(K) 25} It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!^(L)

Fear God

²⁶ “Therefore,^(M) don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known.^{(N) 27} What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper,^[d] proclaim on the housetops.^{(O) 28} Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul;^(P) rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.^{(Q) 29} Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?^[e] Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s^(R) consent.^{[f] 30} But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.^{(S) 31} So don’t be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows.^(T)