A Hard Road Ahead of Them

16 (A)Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as (B)wary as serpents, and as (C)innocent as doves. 17 But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the (D)courts and flog you (E)in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 (F)But when they hand you over, (G)do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. 20 For (H)it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking [a]in you.

21 “Now (I)brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and (J)children will rise up against parents and [b]cause them to be put to death. 22 And (K)you will be hated by all because of My name, but (L)it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

23 “But whenever they (M)persecute you in [c]one city, flee to the [d]next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel (N)until the Son of Man comes.

The Meaning of Discipleship

24 (O)A [e]disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. (P)If they have called the head of the house [f](Q)Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!

26 “So do not (R)fear them, (S)for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 (T)What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim (U)on the housetops. 28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather (V)fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in [g](W)hell. 29 (X)Are two sparrows not sold for an [h]assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But (Y)even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not fear; (Z)you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.

32 “Therefore, (AA)everyone who [i]confesses Me before people, I will also confess [j]him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But (AB)whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

34 (AC)Do not think that I came to [k]bring peace on the earth; I did not come to [l]bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to (AD)turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and (AE)a persons enemies will be the members of his household.

37 (AF)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 (AG)the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 (AH)The one who has found his [m]life will lose it, and the one who has lost his [n]life on My account will find it.

The Reward for Service

40 (AI)The one who [o]receives you [p]receives Me, and (AJ)the one who [q]receives Me [r]receives Him who sent Me. 41 (AK)The one who [s]receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who [t]receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And (AL)whoever gives one of these [u]little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:20 Or by you
  2. Matthew 10:21 Lit put them to death
  3. Matthew 10:23 Lit this
  4. Matthew 10:23 Lit other
  5. Matthew 10:24 Or student
  6. Matthew 10:25 Two early mss Beezebul; meaning uncertain, perhaps lord prince, referring to Satan
  7. Matthew 10:28 Gr Gehenna
  8. Matthew 10:29 A Roman copper coin, worth about 1/16 of a laborer’s daily wage
  9. Matthew 10:32 Lit will confess in Me
  10. Matthew 10:32 Lit in him
  11. Matthew 10:34 Lit cast
  12. Matthew 10:34 Lit cast
  13. Matthew 10:39 Or soul
  14. Matthew 10:39 Or soul
  15. Matthew 10:40 Or welcomes
  16. Matthew 10:40 Or welcomes
  17. Matthew 10:40 Or welcomes
  18. Matthew 10:40 Or welcomes
  19. Matthew 10:41 Or welcomes
  20. Matthew 10:41 Or welcomes
  21. Matthew 10:42 Possibly someone of low social standing

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