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Matthew 9:35-10:20
New International Version
Matthew 9:35-10:20
New International Version
The Workers Are Few
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.(A) 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,(B) because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.(C) 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest(D) is plentiful but the workers are few.(E) 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve(F)(G)(H)(I)(J)
10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits(K) and to heal every disease and sickness.(L)
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.(M)
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.(N) 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.(O) 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven(P) has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts(Q)— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.(R) 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting.(S) 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.(T) 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah(U) on the day of judgment(V) than for that town.(W)
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.(X) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.(Y) 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils(Z) and be flogged in the synagogues.(AA) 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings(AB) as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.(AC) At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father(AD) speaking through you.
Footnotes
- Matthew 10:8 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
Matthew 9:35-10:20
New King James Version
Matthew 9:35-10:20
New King James Version
The Compassion of Jesus(A)
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, (B)teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease [a]among the people. 36 (C)But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were [b]weary and scattered, (D)like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, (E)“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 (F)Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
The Twelve Apostles(G)
10 And (H)when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, (I)who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and [c]Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 (J)Simon the [d]Cananite, and Judas (K)Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Sending Out the Twelve(L)
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: (M)“Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of (N)the Samaritans. 6 (O)But go rather to the (P)lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 (Q)And as you go, preach, saying, (R)‘The kingdom of heaven [e]is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, [f]cleanse the lepers, [g]raise the dead, cast out demons. (S)Freely you have received, freely give. 9 (T)Provide neither gold nor silver nor (U)copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; (V)for a worker is worthy of his food.
11 (W)“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 (X)If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. (Y)But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 (Z)And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, (AA)shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, (AB)it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
Persecutions Are Coming(AC)
16 (AD)“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. (AE)Therefore be wise as serpents and (AF)harmless[h] as doves. 17 But beware of men, for (AG)they will deliver you up to councils and (AH)scourge you in their synagogues. 18 (AI)You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 (AJ)But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For (AK)it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 (AL)for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Footnotes
- Matthew 9:35 NU omits among the people
- Matthew 9:36 NU, M harassed
- Matthew 10:3 NU omits Lebbaeus, whose surname was
- Matthew 10:4 NU Cananaean
- Matthew 10:7 has drawn near
- Matthew 10:8 NU raise the dead, cleanse the lepers
- Matthew 10:8 M omits raise the dead
- Matthew 10:16 innocent
Matthew 9:35-10:20
English Standard Version
Matthew 9:35-10:20
English Standard Version
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
35 (A)And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 (B)When he saw the crowds, (C)he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, (D)like sheep without a shepherd. 37 (E)Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore (F)pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to (G)send out laborers into his harvest.”
The Twelve Apostles
10 (H)And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 (I)The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, (J)who is called Peter, and (K)Andrew his brother; (L)James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and (M)Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[a] 4 Simon the Zealot,[b] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
5 (N)These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of (O)the Samaritans, 6 (P)but go rather to (Q)the lost sheep of (R)the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, (S)‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’[c] 8 (T)Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,[d] cast out demons. (U)You received without paying; give without pay. 9 (V)Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics[e] or sandals or a staff, for (W)the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, (X)greet it. 13 And if the house is (Y)worthy, let (Z)your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let (AA)your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, (AB)shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, (AC)it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for (AD)the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Persecution Will Come
16 (AE)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be (AF)wise as serpents and (AG)innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for (AH)they will deliver you over to courts and flog you (AI)in their synagogues, 18 (AJ)and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, (AK)to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 (AL)When (AM)they deliver you over, (AN)do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for (AO)what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 (AP)For it is not you who speak, but (AQ)the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Footnotes
- Matthew 10:3 Some manuscripts Lebbaeus, or Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus
- Matthew 10:4 Greek kananaios, meaning zealot
- Matthew 10:7 Or The kingdom of heaven has come near
- Matthew 10:8 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
- Matthew 10:10 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.