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Jesus Appoints the Twelve

10 (A)And summoning His twelve disciples, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to (B)heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

(C)Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, (D)Simon, who is called Peter, and (E)Andrew his brother; and (F)James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; (G)Philip and [a]Bartholomew; (H)Thomas and (I)Matthew the tax collector; (J)James the son of Alphaeus, and (K)Thaddaeus; Simon the [b]Zealot, and (L)Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

The Twelve Disciples Sent Out

(M)These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not [c]go [d]in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the (N)Samaritans; but rather go to (O)the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, [e]preach, saying, ‘(P)The kingdom of heaven [f]is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. (Q)Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10 or a [g]bag for your journey, or even two [h]tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for (R)the worker is worthy of his [i]support. 11 And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay there until you leave. 12 Now as you enter the [j]house, (S)give it your [k]greeting. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you leave that house or that city, (T)shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I say to you, (U)it will be more tolerable for the land of (V)Sodom and Gomorrah in (W)the day of judgment than for that city.

The Promise of Persecution

16 (X)Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so [l]be (Y)shrewd as serpents and (Z)innocent as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you over to the (AA)courts and flog you (AB)in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 (AC)But when they deliver you over, (AD)do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to say. 20 For (AE)it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21 (AF)And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and (AG)children will rise up against parents and [m]cause them to be put to death. 22 (AH)And you will be hated by all because of My name, but (AI)it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

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

The Meaning of Discipleship

24 (AL)A [o]disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. (AM)If they have called the head of the house [p](AN)Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

26 “Therefore do not (AO)fear them, (AP)for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 27 (AQ)What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim (AR)upon the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather (AS)fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in [q](AT)hell. 29 (AU)Are not two sparrows sold for an [r]assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But (AV)the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So do not fear; (AW)you are more valuable than many sparrows.

32 “Therefore (AX)everyone who [s]confesses Me before men, I will also confess [t]him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But (AY)whoever [u]denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

34 (AZ)Do not think that I came to [v]bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to (BA)set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and (BB)a mans enemies will be the members of his household.

37 (BC)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 (BD)he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 (BE)He who has found his [w]life will lose it, and he who has lost his [x]life for My sake will find it.

The Reward of Service

40 (BF)He who receives you receives Me, and (BG)he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 41 (BH)He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And (BI)whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these [y]little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:3 Son of Talmai (Aram)
  2. Matthew 10:4 Or Cananaean
  3. Matthew 10:5 Or go off
  4. Matthew 10:5 Or on the road of
  5. Matthew 10:7 Or proclaim
  6. Matthew 10:7 Lit has come near
  7. Matthew 10:10 Or knapsack, beggar’s bag
  8. Matthew 10:10 Gr khiton, the garment worn next to the skin
  9. Matthew 10:10 Lit nourishment
  10. Matthew 10:12 Or household
  11. Matthew 10:12 The familiar Heb blessing, “Peace be to this house!”
  12. Matthew 10:16 Or show yourselves to be
  13. Matthew 10:21 Lit put them to death
  14. Matthew 10:23 Lit the other
  15. Matthew 10:24 Or student
  16. Matthew 10:25 Ruler of demons; or Beezebul
  17. Matthew 10:28 Gr Gehenna
  18. Matthew 10:29 A Roman copper coin, approx. 1/16 of a laborer’s daily wage
  19. Matthew 10:32 Lit will confess in Me
  20. Matthew 10:32 Lit in him
  21. Matthew 10:33 Lit will deny
  22. Matthew 10:34 Lit cast
  23. Matthew 10:39 Or soul
  24. Matthew 10:39 Or soul
  25. Matthew 10:42 Possibly someone of low social standing

Jesus Appoints Twelve Apostles(A)

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority to force evil spirits out of people and to cure every disease and sickness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first and foremost, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James (son of Alphaeus), and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve(B)

Jesus sent these twelve out with the following instructions: “Don’t go among people who are not Jewish or into any Samaritan city. Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel. As you go, spread this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Cure the sick, bring the dead back to life, cleanse those with skin diseases, and force demons out of people. Give these things without charging, since you received them without paying.

“Don’t take any gold, silver, or even copper coins in your pockets. 10 Don’t take a traveling bag for the trip, a change of clothes, sandals, or a walking stick. After all, the worker deserves to have his needs met.

11 “When you go into a city or village, look for people who will listen to you there. Stay with them until you leave ⌞that place⌟. 12 When you go into a house, greet the family. 13 If it is a family that listens to you, allow your greeting to stand. But if it is not receptive, take back your greeting. 14 If anyone doesn’t welcome you or listen to what you say, leave that house or city, and shake its dust off your feet. 15 I can guarantee this truth: Judgment day will be better for Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city.

16 “I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves. 17 Watch out for people who will hand you over to the Jewish courts and whip you in their synagogues. 18 Because of me you will even be brought in front of governors and kings to testify to them and to everyone in the world. 19 When they hand you over ⌞to the authorities⌟, don’t worry about what to say or how to say it. When the time comes, you will be given what to say. 20 Indeed, you’re not the ones who will be speaking. The Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you.

21 “Brother will hand over brother to death; a father will hand over his child. Children will rebel against their parents and kill them. 22 Everyone will hate you because you are committed to me. But the person who patiently endures to the end will be saved. 23 So when they persecute you in one city, flee to another. I can guarantee this truth: Before you have gone through every city in Israel, the Son of Man will come.

24 “A student is not better than his teacher. Nor is a slave better than his owner. 25 It is enough for a student to become like his teacher and a slave like his owner. If they have called the owner of the house Beelzebul,[a] they will certainly call the family members the same name. 26 So don’t be afraid of them. Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known. 27 Tell in the daylight what I say to you in the dark. Shout from the housetops what you hear whispered. 28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

29 “Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission. 30 Every hair on your head has been counted. 31 Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows.

32 “So I will acknowledge in front of my Father in heaven that person who acknowledges me in front of others. 33 But I will tell my Father in heaven that I don’t know the person who tells others that he doesn’t know me.

34 “Don’t think that I came to bring peace to earth. I didn’t come to bring peace but conflict. 35 I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A person’s enemies will be the members of his own family.

37 “The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me does not deserve to be my disciple. 38 Whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me doesn’t deserve to be my disciple. 39 The person who tries to preserve his life will lose it, but the person who loses his life for me will preserve it.

40 “The person who welcomes you welcomes me, and the person who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 The person who welcomes a prophet as such will receive a prophet’s reward. The person who welcomes a godly person as such will receive a godly person’s reward. 42 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever gives any of my humble followers a cup of cold water because that person is my disciple will certainly never lose his reward.”

Footnotes

  1. 10:25 Beelzebul is another name for the devil. See Matthew 12:24.