Matthew 10:26-11:11

New International Version

²⁶ “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.^{(A) 27} What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. ²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One^(B) who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.^{[a] 30} And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.^{(C) 31} So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.^(D)

³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others,^(E) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.^(F)

³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn

³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.^{(I) 38} Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.^{(J) 39} Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.^(K)

⁴⁰ “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,^(L) and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.^{(M) 41} Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”^(N)

Jesus and John the Baptist^(O)

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples,^(P) he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.^[c]

² When John,^(Q) who was in prison,^(R) heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come,^(S) or should we expect someone else?”

⁴ Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[d] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.^{(T) 6} Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”^(U)

⁷ As John’s^(V) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness^(W) to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet?^(X) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.