Persecutions Are Coming^(A)

^16 (B)“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. ^(C)Therefore be wise as serpents and ^(D)harmless^[a] as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for ^(E)they will deliver you up to councils and ^(F)scourge you in their synagogues. ^18 (G)You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ^19 (H)But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For ^(I)it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ^20 (J)for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

^21 (K)“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 ^(L)you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. ^(M)But he who endures to the end will be saved. ^23 (N)When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have ^(O)gone through the cities of Israel ^(P)before the Son of Man comes.

Christ Brings Division^(A)

^34 (B)“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 ^(C)‘set^[a] a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ^(D)‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ ^37 (E)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 (F)And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ^39 (G)He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.