馬太福音 10
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
差遣使徒
10 耶穌叫了十二位門徒來,將權柄賜給他們,使他們能夠趕出污鬼、醫治各樣的疾病。 2 以下是這十二位使徒的名字:
首先是西門,又名彼得,還有彼得的兄弟安得烈、西庇太的兒子雅各、雅各的兄弟約翰、 3 腓力、巴多羅買、多馬、稅吏馬太、亞勒腓的兒子雅各、達太、 4 激進黨人[a]西門和出賣耶穌的加略人猶大。
5 耶穌差遣這十二個人出去,囑咐他們:「外族人的地方不要去,撒瑪利亞人的城鎮也不要進, 6 要到以色列人當中尋找迷失的羊。
7 「你們要邊走邊傳,『天國臨近了!』 8 要醫好病人,叫死人復活,使痲瘋病人痊癒,趕走邪靈。你們白白地得來,也應當白白地給人。 9 出門時錢袋裡不要帶金、銀、銅幣, 10 不要帶行李、備用的衣服、鞋子或手杖,因為做工的理應得到供應。 11 你們無論到哪座城、哪個村,要在那裡尋找願意接待你們的人,然後住在他家,一直住到離開。 12 你們進他家的時候,要為他們祝福。 13 如果那家配得福氣,你們的祝福必臨到他們;如果那家不配蒙福,祝福仍歸給你們。 14 如果有人不接待你們,不聽你們傳的信息,你們離開那家或那城時,就把腳上的塵土跺掉作為對他們的警告。 15 我實在告訴你們,在審判之日,他們所受的痛苦比所多瑪和蛾摩拉所受的還大!
將臨的迫害
16 「聽著,我差你們出去,就好像使羊走進狼群一般。所以,你們要像蛇一樣機靈,像鴿子一樣馴良。
17 「你們要小心謹慎,因為人們要把你們送上法庭,也要在會堂裡鞭打你們。 18 你們要因我的緣故被帶到官長和君王面前,在他們和外族人面前為我做見證。 19 當你們被押送公堂時,不用顧慮如何應對,或說什麼話,那時必會賜給你們當說的話。 20 因為那時候說話的不是你們自己,乃是你們父的靈藉著你們說話。
21 「那時,人必把自己的弟兄置於死地,父親必把兒子置於死地,兒女必反叛父母,置他們於死地。 22 你們將為我的名而被眾人憎恨,但堅忍到底的必定得救。 23 如果你們在一個地方遭迫害,就避到另一個地方。我實在告訴你們,沒等你們走遍以色列的城鎮,人子就來了。
24 「學生不能高過老師,奴僕也不能大過主人。 25 學生頂多和老師一樣,奴僕頂多和主人一樣。連一家之主都被罵成是別西卜[b],更何況祂的家人呢?
26 「不要害怕那些迫害你們的人。因為掩蓋的事終會暴露出來,隱藏的秘密終會被人知道。 27 你們要把我私下告訴你們的當眾講出來,你們要在屋頂上把聽到的悄悄話宣告出來。 28 那些只能殺害身體,不能毀滅靈魂的人,不用怕他們。但要畏懼那位有權將身體和靈魂一同毀滅在地獄裡的上帝。 29 兩隻麻雀不是只賣一個銅錢嗎?然而沒有天父的許可,一隻也不會掉在地上。 30 就連你們的頭髮都被數過了。 31 所以不要害怕,你們比許多麻雀更貴重!
32 「凡公開承認我的,我在天父面前也必承認他; 33 凡公開不承認我的,我在天父面前也必不承認他。
跟從主的代價
34 「不要以為我來了會讓天下太平,我並非帶來和平,乃是帶來刀劍。 35 因為我來是要叫兒子與父親作對,女兒與母親作對,媳婦與婆婆作對, 36 家人之間反目成仇。
37 「愛父母過於愛我的人不配作我的門徒;愛兒女過於愛我的人不配作我的門徒; 38 不肯背起他的十字架跟從我的人不配作我的門徒。 39 試圖保全自己生命的反而會失去生命,但為我捨棄生命的反而會得到生命。
得賞賜
40 「人接待你們就是接待我,接待我就是接待差我來的那位。 41 因為某人是先知而接待他的,必得到和先知一樣的賞賜;因為某人是義人而接待他的,必得到和義人一樣的賞賜。 42 人若接待我門徒中最卑微的人,並因為他是我的門徒而給他一杯涼水喝,我實在告訴你們,那人必得到賞賜。」
馬 太 福 音 10
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
耶稣派遣使徒传道
10 耶稣召集起他的十二名门徒,赐给他们制服驱赶邪灵和医治各种疾病的力量。 2 十二使徒的名字是:西门(也叫彼得)和他的兄弟安得烈,西庇太的儿子雅各和约翰, 3 腓力和巴多罗买,多马和税吏马太,亚勒腓的儿子雅各和达太, 4 激进派 [a]的西门,还有后来出卖耶稣的加略人犹大。
5 耶稣派遣十二使徒出去传道,吩咐他们说∶“不要去非犹太民族的地区,也不要到撒玛利亚人 [b]的城里去。 6 要到以色列人那里去,他们就像是迷途的羔羊。 7 去传道吧,告诉他们∶‘天国即将来临。’ 8 你们要让死人复活,为人治疗麻风病,为人们驱鬼。你们无偿地获得的,也要无偿地给予。 9 你们不要随身携带金银铜钱, 10 不要带背包,不要带多余的衣服、鞋,也不要带手杖,因为工作的人应该得到他所需要的东西。
11 “无论你们到哪个村镇,找到你们可以信赖的人,住在他家,直到你们离开那地方。 12 你们走进那户人家时,要说‘平安与你们同在。’ 13 如果那家人欢迎你们,他们就配得上你们的祝福,愿他们享有你们为他们祝福的平安。但是,如果他们不欢迎你们,他们就配不上你们的祝福,你们就收回你们的祝福。 14 如果有人或城镇不欢迎你们,或者不听你们所说的,就离开那个房子或城镇,并抖掉脚上的尘土 [c]。 15 我实话告诉你们,在审判日,那个城镇受的惩罚要比所多玛和蛾摩拉人遭受到的还要惨。
耶稣预见困难
16 “听着,我派你们出去,就像把羊放到狼群中。你们要像蛇一样精明,像鸽子一样纯洁。 17 要做好遇难的准备,有人会逮捕你们,送你们去受审,他们会在会堂里鞭打你们。 18 因为你们跟随我,所以他们将会使你们在统治者和国王面前为自己辩护。此事会发生,以便你们能向那些国王、统治者以及非犹太人讲述有关我的事情。 19 当你们被捕时,不必担心该说什么或该怎么说,到那时,该说的话会赐给你们的。 20 因为那时不是你们在说话,而是你们父亲的圣灵通过你们在说话。
21 兄弟会彼此出卖,置对方于死地;父亲会出卖儿女,置他们于死地;儿女也会与父母做对,置他们于死地。。 22 你们会因为跟随我而遭到每个人的憎恨,但是,坚持信仰到底的人必会得救。 23 如果你们在一个城市里受迫害,就到另一个城市去。我实话告诉你们,你们还没有走遍以色列的城镇之前,人子将重返。
24 “学生不会高于老师,仆人不会高于主人。 25 学生若能像他的老师一样,仆人若能像他的主人一样,就可以满足了。如果那些人叫我‘魔王别西卜,’即然我是一家之主,那么更加肯定,我的家人—你们会受到侮辱。
敬畏上帝
26 “你们不要害怕他们。所有隐藏的事情都会暴露,所有的秘密都会被人知道。 27 我私下告诉你们的话,你们要公开地告诉人们,我在你们耳边悄悄说的话,你们要在房顶上公之于众。
28 不要害怕那些能杀害你们的肉体、却不能消灭你们灵魂的人。你们只应该敬畏上帝,只有上帝能够把你们的灵魂和肉体全都毁灭在地狱里。 29 两只麻雀不是只值一分钱 [d]吗?可是如果没有天父的认可,没有一只麻雀会从天上掉下来。 30 上帝甚至知道你们的头发有多少根。 31 所以不要害怕,你们要比许多麻雀贵重的多。
不要为你们的信仰感到耻辱
32 “谁在众人面前承认我,我也会在我天堂里的父亲面前承认他; 33 谁在众人面前否认我,我也会在我天堂里的父亲面前否认他。
跟随耶稣会遭麻烦
34 “不要以为我来是要把和平带到人间的,我带来的不是和平,而是利剑。 35 我来是为了:
‘让儿子和父亲做对,
让女儿和母亲做对,
让媳妇与婆婆不和。
36 甚至你的家人都是你的仇敌。’ (A)
37 “爱父母胜过爱我的人不配做我的门徒;爱子女胜过爱我的人也不配做我的门徒; 38 不肯背起自己苦难的十字架跟随我的人也不配跟随我。 39 那些想保住自己生命的人都将会失去生命;而为我牺牲生命的人却将获得真正的生命。
上帝保佑欢迎你们的人
40 “接受你们的人,就是在接受我;接受我的人,也就是在接受派遣我来的人。 41 任何遇到先知并接受他的人,也会得到先知所得到的报偿;因为某人是正直的人而接受他的人,也会得到正直人所得到的报偿。 42 因为他们是我的门徒而帮助他们的人,甚至是给他们中间最微小的人一杯水解渴,此人也绝对会得到报偿。”
Footnotes
- 馬 太 福 音 10:4 激进派: 犹太人的一个政治团体。
- 馬 太 福 音 10:5 撒玛利亚人: 有一部分犹太人的血统,但犹太人却不把他们当做纯犹太人来接受。
- 馬 太 福 音 10:14 脚上的尘土: 警告。表示结束了对这些人的讲话。
- 馬 太 福 音 10:29 一分钱: 等于一个罗马银币的1/16。
Mateo 10
Reina-Valera 1960
Elección de los doce apóstoles
(Mr. 3.13-19; Lc. 6.12-16)
10 Entonces llamando a sus doce discípulos, les dio autoridad sobre los espíritus inmundos, para que los echasen fuera, y para sanar toda enfermedad y toda dolencia. 2 Los nombres de los doce apóstoles son estos: primero Simón, llamado Pedro, y Andrés su hermano; Jacobo hijo de Zebedeo, y Juan su hermano; 3 Felipe, Bartolomé, Tomás, Mateo el publicano, Jacobo hijo de Alfeo, Lebeo, por sobrenombre Tadeo, 4 Simón el cananista, y Judas Iscariote, el que también le entregó.
Misión de los doce
(Mr. 6.7-13; Lc. 9.1-6)
5 A estos doce envió Jesús, y les dio instrucciones, diciendo: Por camino de gentiles no vayáis, y en ciudad de samaritanos no entréis, 6 sino id antes a las ovejas perdidas de la casa de Israel. 7 Y yendo, predicad, diciendo: El reino de los cielos se ha acercado. 8 Sanad enfermos, limpiad leprosos, resucitad muertos, echad fuera demonios; de gracia recibisteis, dad de gracia. 9 No os proveáis de oro, ni plata, ni cobre en vuestros cintos;(A) 10 ni de alforja para el camino, ni de dos túnicas, ni de calzado, ni de bordón; porque el obrero es digno de su alimento.(B) 11 Mas en cualquier ciudad o aldea donde entréis, informaos quién en ella sea digno, y posad allí hasta que salgáis. 12 Y al entrar en la casa, saludadla. 13 Y si la casa fuere digna, vuestra paz vendrá sobre ella; mas si no fuere digna, vuestra paz se volverá a vosotros. 14 Y si alguno no os recibiere, ni oyere vuestras palabras, salid de aquella casa o ciudad, y sacudid el polvo de vuestros pies.(C) 15 De cierto os digo que en el día del juicio, será más tolerable el castigo para la tierra de Sodoma y de Gomorra,(D) que para aquella ciudad.(E)
Persecuciones venideras
16 He aquí, yo os envío como a ovejas en medio de lobos;(F) sed, pues, prudentes como serpientes, y sencillos como palomas. 17 Y guardaos de los hombres, porque os entregarán a los concilios, y en sus sinagogas os azotarán; 18 y aun ante gobernadores y reyes seréis llevados por causa de mí, para testimonio a ellos y a los gentiles. 19 Mas cuando os entreguen, no os preocupéis por cómo o qué hablaréis; porque en aquella hora os será dado lo que habéis de hablar. 20 Porque no sois vosotros los que habláis, sino el Espíritu de vuestro Padre que habla en vosotros. 21 El hermano entregará a la muerte al hermano, y el padre al hijo; y los hijos se levantarán contra los padres, y los harán morir.(G) 22 Y seréis aborrecidos de todos por causa de mi nombre;(H) mas el que persevere hasta el fin, este será salvo.(I) 23 Cuando os persigan en esta ciudad, huid a la otra; porque de cierto os digo, que no acabaréis de recorrer todas las ciudades de Israel, antes que venga el Hijo del Hombre.
24 El discípulo no es más que su maestro,(J) ni el siervo más que su señor.(K) 25 Bástale al discípulo ser como su maestro, y al siervo como su señor. Si al padre de familia llamaron Beelzebú,(L) ¿cuánto más a los de su casa?
A quién se debe temer
(Lc. 12.2-9)
26 Así que, no los temáis; porque nada hay encubierto, que no haya de ser manifestado; ni oculto, que no haya de saberse.(M) 27 Lo que os digo en tinieblas, decidlo en la luz; y lo que oís al oído, proclamadlo desde las azoteas. 28 Y no temáis a los que matan el cuerpo, mas el alma no pueden matar; temed más bien a aquel que puede destruir el alma y el cuerpo en el infierno. 29 ¿No se venden dos pajarillos por un cuarto? Con todo, ni uno de ellos cae a tierra sin vuestro Padre. 30 Pues aun vuestros cabellos están todos contados. 31 Así que, no temáis; más valéis vosotros que muchos pajarillos. 32 A cualquiera, pues, que me confiese delante de los hombres, yo también le confesaré delante de mi Padre que está en los cielos. 33 Y a cualquiera que me niegue delante de los hombres, yo también le negaré delante de mi Padre que está en los cielos.(N)
Jesús, causa de división
(Lc. 12.49-53; 14.26-27)
34 No penséis que he venido para traer paz a la tierra; no he venido para traer paz, sino espada. 35 Porque he venido para poner en disensión al hombre contra su padre, a la hija contra su madre, y a la nuera contra su suegra; 36 y los enemigos del hombre serán los de su casa.(O) 37 El que ama a padre o madre más que a mí, no es digno de mí; el que ama a hijo o hija más que a mí, no es digno de mí; 38 y el que no toma su cruz y sigue en pos de mí, no es digno de mí.(P) 39 El que halla su vida, la perderá; y el que pierde su vida por causa de mí, la hallará.(Q)
Recompensas
(Mr. 9.41)
40 El que a vosotros recibe, a mí me recibe;(R) y el que me recibe a mí, recibe al que me envió.(S) 41 El que recibe a un profeta por cuanto es profeta, recompensa de profeta recibirá; y el que recibe a un justo por cuanto es justo, recompensa de justo recibirá. 42 Y cualquiera que dé a uno de estos pequeñitos un vaso de agua fría solamente, por cuanto es discípulo, de cierto os digo que no perderá su recompensa.
Matthew 10
New International Version
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve(A)(B)(C)(D)(E)
10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits(F) and to heal every disease and sickness.(G)
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.(H)
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.(I) 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.(J) 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven(K) 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(L)— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.(M) 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.(N) 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.(O) 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah(P) on the day of judgment(Q) than for that town.(R)
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.(S) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.(T) 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils(U) and be flogged in the synagogues.(V) 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings(W) 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.(X) At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father(Y) speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents(Z) and have them put to death.(AA) 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me,(AB) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.(AC) 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.(AD)
24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.(AE) 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul,(AF) how much more the members of his household!
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.(AG) 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(AH) 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.[b] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.(AI) 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(AJ)
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others,(AK) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.(AL)
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
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law(AM)—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[c](AN)
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.(AO) 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.(AP) 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.(AQ)
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,(AR) and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.(AS) 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.”(AT)
Footnotes
- Matthew 10:8 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
- Matthew 10:29 Or will; or knowledge
- Matthew 10:36 Micah 7:6
Matthew 10
New English Translation
Sending Out the Twelve Apostles
10 Jesus[a] called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits[b] so they could cast them out and heal every kind of disease and sickness.[c] 2 Now these are the names of the twelve apostles:[d] first, Simon[e] (called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew;[f] Thomas[g] and Matthew the tax collector;[h] James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[i] 4 Simon the Zealot[j] and Judas Iscariot,[k] who betrayed him.[l]
5 Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them as follows:[m] “Do not go on a road that leads to Gentile regions[n] and do not enter any Samaritan town.[o] 6 Go[p] instead to the lost sheep[q] of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead,[r] cleanse lepers,[s] cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9 Do not take gold, silver, or copper[t] in your belts, 10 no bag[u] for the journey, or an extra tunic,[v] or sandals or staff,[w] for the worker deserves his provisions. 11 Whenever[x] you enter a town or village,[y] find out who is worthy there[z] and stay with them[aa] until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet those within it.[ab] 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.[ac] 14 And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off[ad] your feet as you leave that house or that town. 15 I tell you the truth,[ae] it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah[af] on the day of judgment than for that town!
Persecution of Disciples
16 “I[ag] am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves,[ah] so be wise as serpents[ai] and innocent as doves.[aj] 17 Beware[ak] of people, because they will hand you over to councils[al] and flog[am] you in their synagogues.[an] 18 And you will be brought before governors and kings[ao] because of me, as a witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19 Whenever[ap] they hand you over for trial,[aq] do not worry about how to speak or what to say,[ar] for what you should say will be given to you at that time.[as] 20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother[at] will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against[au] parents and have them put to death. 22 And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved! 23 Whenever[av] they persecute you in one town,[aw] flee to another! I tell you the truth,[ax] you will not finish going through all the towns[ay] of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave[az] greater than his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much worse will they call[ba] the members of his household!
Fear God, Not Man
26 “Do[bb] not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden[bc] that will not be revealed,[bd] and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear,[be] proclaim from the housetops.[bf] 28 Do[bg] not be afraid of those who kill the body[bh] but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.[bi] 29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?[bj] Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.[bk] 30 Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. 31 So do not be afraid;[bl] you are more valuable than many sparrows.
32 “Whoever, then, acknowledges[bm] me before people, I will acknowledge[bn] before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.
Not Peace, but a Sword
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring[bo] peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword![bp] 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.[bq]
37 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy[br] of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take up his cross[bs] and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life[bt] will lose it,[bu] and whoever loses his life because of me[bv] will find it.
Rewards
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.[bw] 41 Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. Whoever[bx] receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones[by] in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth,[bz] he will never lose his reward.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 10:1 tn Grk “And he.”
- Matthew 10:1 sn Unclean spirits refers to evil spirits.
- Matthew 10:1 tn Grk “every [kind of] disease and every [kind of] sickness.” Here “every” was not repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons. The present translation, like several other translations (e.g., NASB, NKJV, CEV, NLT), has opted for “every kind of disease and sickness” here (KJV “all manner of sickness and all manner of disease”), understanding the Greek term πᾶς to refer to “everything belonging, in kind, to the class designated by the noun” (BDAG 784 s.v. 5).sn The same statement about healing was made concerning Jesus’ ministry in Matt 9:35, which likewise repeated Matt 4:23. By the choice of wording the evangelist thus links the ministry of the disciples with the ministry of Jesus himself.
- Matthew 10:2 sn The term apostles is rare in the gospels, found only here, Mark 3:14, and six more times in Luke (6:13; 9:10; 11:49; 17:5; 22:14; 24:10).
- Matthew 10:2 sn In the various lists of the twelve, Simon (that is, Peter) is always mentioned first (see also Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16; Acts 1:13) and the first four individuals listed are always the same, although not in the same order following Peter.
- Matthew 10:3 sn Bartholomew means “son of Tolmai” in Aramaic. It has frequently been suggested that this is another name for Nathanael mentioned in John 1:45, although this is not certain.
- Matthew 10:3 sn This is the “doubting Thomas” mentioned in John 20:24-29.
- Matthew 10:3 sn See the note on tax collectors in 5:46.
- Matthew 10:3 tc Witnesses differ on the identification of the last disciple mentioned in v. 3: He is called Λεββαῖος (Lebbaios, “Lebbaeus”) in D and Judas Zelotes in the Old Latin witnesses. The Byzantine text, along with a few others (C(*),2 L N W Γ Δ Θ ƒ1 33 565 579 700 1424 M), conflates earlier readings by calling him “Lebbaeus, who was called Thaddaeus,” while codex 13 conflates by way of transposition (“Thaddaeus, who was called Lebbaeus”). But excellent and early witnesses (א B ƒ13 892 lat co) call him merely Θαδδαῖος (Thaddaios, “Thaddaeus”), a reading which, because of this support, is most likely correct.
- Matthew 10:4 tn Grk “the Cananean,” but according to both BDAG 507 s.v. Καναναῖος and L&N 11.88, this term has no relation at all to the geographical terms for Cana or Canaan, but is derived from the Aramaic term for “enthusiast, zealot” (see Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13), possibly because of an earlier affiliation with the party of the Zealots (cf. TEV “Simon the Patriot”). He may not have been technically a member of the particular Jewish nationalistic party known as “Zealots” (since according to some scholars this party had not been organized at that time), but simply someone who was zealous for Jewish independence from Rome, in which case the term would refer to his temperament (cf. CEV “Simon, known as the Eager One”).
- Matthew 10:4 sn Just as Peter is always mentioned first in all the lists, Judas Iscariot is always mentioned last, presumably because he was considered unworthy. There is some debate about what the name Iscariot means. It probably alludes to a region in Judea and thus might make Judas the only non-Galilean in the group. Several explanations for the name Iscariot have been proposed, but it is probably transliterated Hebrew with the meaning “man of Kerioth” (there are at least two villages that had that name). For further discussion see D. L. Bock, Luke (BECNT), 1:546; also D. A. Carson, John, 304.
- Matthew 10:4 tn Grk “who even betrayed him.”
- Matthew 10:5 tn Grk “instructing them, saying.”
- Matthew 10:5 tn Grk “on the way/road of the Gentiles.” The objective genitive “of the Gentiles” indicates the direction (BDAG 554 s.v. ὁδός 1.a); the restriction is on the territory to be visited rather than contact with individual Gentiles or Samaritans (compare the mission of the seventy-two in Luke 10:4 where even standard greetings along the road are prohibited). sn Since Galilee was surrounded on all sides by Gentile territory except the south, where it bordered on Samaria, this restriction effectively limited the mission of the twelve to Galilee on this occasion.
- Matthew 10:5 tn Grk “town [or city] of the Samaritans.”sn This is the only mention of Samaritans or Samaria in the Gospel of Matthew.
- Matthew 10:6 tn Grk “But go.” The Greek μᾶλλον (mallon, “rather, instead”) conveys the adversative nuance here so that δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 10:6 sn The imagery of lost sheep probably alludes to Jer 50:6, where the Jewish people have been abandoned by their leaders (“shepherds”) and allowed to go astray.
- Matthew 10:8 tc The majority of Byzantine minuscules, along with a few other witnesses (C3 K L Γ Θ 579 700txt* 1424c sa mae), lack νεκροὺς ἐγείρετε (nekrous egeirete, “raise the dead”), most likely because of oversight due to a string of similar endings (-ετε in the second person imperatives, occurring five times in v. 8). The longer version of this verse is found in several diverse and ancient witnesses such as א B C* (D) N 0281vid ƒ1, 13 33 565 579mg lat bo; P W Δ 348 syh have a word-order variation, but nevertheless include νεκροὺς ἐγείρετε. Although some Byzantine-text proponents charge the Alexandrian witnesses with theologically-motivated alterations toward heterodoxy, it is interesting to find a variant such as this in which the charge could be reversed (do the Byzantine scribes have something against the miracle of resurrection?). In reality, such charges of wholesale theologically-motivated changes toward heterodoxy are immediately suspect due to lack of evidence of intentional changes (here the change is evidently due to accidental omission).
- Matthew 10:8 sn See the note on leper in Matt 8:2.
- Matthew 10:9 sn The gold, silver, and copper probably represent varying degrees of provision, with gold the most valuable and copper the least. Jesus’ point appears to be that not even minimal provision (copper) was to be taken along, forcing the disciple to be totally dependent on God.
- Matthew 10:10 tn Or “no traveler’s bag”; or possibly “no beggar’s bag” (L&N 6.145; BDAG 811 s.v. πήρα).
- Matthew 10:10 tn Grk “two tunics,” that is, wearing one and carrying one as a spare. See the note on the word “tunic” in Matt 5:40.
- Matthew 10:10 tn Mark 6:8 allows one staff. It is possible that Matthew’s “two” with regard to the tunics (NET “an extra tunic”) extends to cover the sandals and staff as well (although “staff” is singular), making this a summary (cf. Luke 9:3) meaning not taking an extra pair of sandals or an extra staff (like the tunics). It is also possible the expression is merely rhetorical for “traveling light” which has been rendered in two slightly different ways.sn The point of the prohibitions seems to be not so much urgency as total dependence on God. Lack of a staff, in particular, would leave the traveler extremely vulnerable to wild animals and robbers.
- Matthew 10:11 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 10:11 tn Grk “Into whatever town or village you enter.” This acts as a distributive, meaning every town or village they enter; this is expressed more naturally in English as “whenever you enter a town or village.”
- Matthew 10:11 tn Grk “in it” (referring to the city or village).
- Matthew 10:11 tn Grk “there.” This was translated as “with them” to avoid redundancy in English and to clarify where the disciples were to stay.sn Jesus telling his disciples to stay with them in one house contrasts with the practice of religious philosophers in the ancient world who went from house to house begging. Staying in one location would give the disciples a base of operations for mission in the area as long as they were there.
- Matthew 10:12 tn Grk “give it greetings.” The expression “give it greetings” is a metonymy; the “house” is put for those who live in it. The translation clarifies this because it sounds odd in contemporary English to speak of greeting a building.
- Matthew 10:13 sn The response to these messengers determines how God’s blessing is bestowed—if the messengers are not welcomed, their blessing will return to them. Jesus shows just how important their mission is by this remark.
- Matthew 10:14 sn To shake the dust off represented, on one level, shaking off the uncleanness from one’s feet; see Luke 10:11; Acts 13:51; 18:6. At another level, however, it is similar to a prophetic sign, representing the termination of all fellowship with those individuals or localities that have rejected the messengers along with their message of the coming kingdom of heaven. This in essence constitutes a sign of eschatological judgment, as confirmed in the following verse.
- Matthew 10:15 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
- Matthew 10:15 sn Sodom and Gomorrah were widely regarded as the most wicked of OT cities from the actions described in Gen 19:1-29; even in OT times their wickedness had become proverbial (Isa 1:9-10). The allusion to God’s judgment on these cities is not intended to indicate that they might be shown mercy on the day of judgment, but to warn that rejecting the messengers with their current message about the coming kingdom is even more serious than the worst sins of Sodom and Gomorrah and will result in even more severe punishment.
- Matthew 10:16 tn Grk “Behold I.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
- Matthew 10:16 sn This imagery of wolves is found in intertestamental Judaism (see Pss. Sol. 8:23, 30; also 1 Enoch 89:55). For more on the sheep imagery see H. Preisker and S. Schulz, TDNT 6:690. The imagery of sheep surrounded by wolves suggests violence, and prepares the hearers for the persecutions of disciples described in vv. 17-26.
- Matthew 10:16 sn The craftiness of serpents is proverbial and can be traced as far back as Gen 3:1. As for how it applies to Jesus’ disciples sent out with the message of the coming kingdom, interpreters have been far less certain, and there is a great diversity of opinion.
- Matthew 10:16 sn Doves were regarded in both Greek and Jewish culture of the first century as symbols of purity, integrity, and harmlessness (see H. Greeven, TDNT 6:65-67).
- Matthew 10:17 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 10:17 sn Councils in this context has a non-technical sense referring to local judicial bodies (courts) attached to the Jewish synagogue (cf. BDAG 967 s.v. συνέδριον 1.a). These courts would be responsible for meting out justice and discipline within the Jewish community.
- Matthew 10:17 tn Or “and have you flogged” (a causative sense). BDAG 620 s.v. μαστιγόω 1.a states, “of flogging as a punishment decreed by the synagogue (Dt 25:2f; s. the Mishna Tractate Sanhedrin-Makkoth, edited w. notes by SKrauss ’33) w. acc. of pers. Mt 10:17; 23:34.”
- Matthew 10:17 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.
- Matthew 10:18 sn These statements look at persecution both from a Jewish context as the mention of councils and synagogues suggests, and from a Gentile one as the reference to governors and kings suggests. Some fulfillment of Jewish persecution can be seen in Acts 4:3; 5:17-18, 40-41; 6:12; 7:1-60; 8:1-3, and of Gentile persecution in Acts 25:2-12, 24-27.
- Matthew 10:19 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 10:19 tn Or “hand you over into custody,” in particular “as a t.t. of police and courts ‘hand over into [the] custody [of]’” (BDAG 762 s.v. παραδίδωμι 1.b). In context some sort of trial is implied (cf. Luke 12:11).
- Matthew 10:19 tn Grk “how or what you might speak.”
- Matthew 10:19 tn Grk “in that hour.”
- Matthew 10:21 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.sn The mention of father and child in the following clause indicates that brother here refers to actual siblings, the members of one’s own family.
- Matthew 10:21 tn Or “will rebel against.”
- Matthew 10:23 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 10:23 tn The Greek word πόλις (polis) can mean either “town” or “city” depending on the context (BDAG 844 s.v. 1, “population center of varying size, city, town”).
- Matthew 10:23 tn Grk “For truly (ἀμήν, amēn) I say to you.” Here γάρ (gar, “for”) has not been translated.
- Matthew 10:23 tn The Greek word πόλις (polis), can mean either “town” or “city” (see previous note in this verse). “Town” was employed here to emphasize the large number of places to visit (not just the largest cities) and thus the extensive nature of the disciples’ ministry.
- Matthew 10:24 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.
- Matthew 10:25 tn The words “will they call” are not in the Greek text but are implied, and have been supplied in the translation for clarity.
- Matthew 10:26 tn Grk “Therefore do not.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated.
- Matthew 10:26 tn Or “concealed.”
- Matthew 10:26 tn The passive voice here and with the next verb is probably used for rhetorical effect. Although it is common to understand such usage, particularly in the gospels, as examples of the so-called “divine passive” where God is the unstated performer of the action, according to Wallace (ExSyn 438) this category is overused.sn The passive verbs revealed and made known suggest the revelation comes from God. The text is both a warning about bad things being revealed and an encouragement that good things will be made known.
- Matthew 10:27 tn Grk “what you hear in the ear,” an idiom meaning “say someth. into someone’s ear, i.e., secretly or in confidence, whisper” (BDAG 739 s.v. οὖς 1).
- Matthew 10:27 tn The expression “proclaim from the housetops” is an idiom for proclaiming something publicly (L&N 7.51; BDAG 266 s.v. δῶμα). Roofs of many first century Jewish houses in Judea and Galilee were flat and had access either from outside or from within the house. Something shouted from atop a house would be heard by everyone in the street below.
- Matthew 10:28 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
- Matthew 10:28 sn A similar exhortation is found in 4 Macc 13:14-15, reflecting the view of Judaism in the intertestamental period. The statement here assumes there is more to a person than a body. As J. Nolland states, “Fear of God is to displace fear of death-dealing persecutors. The stakes are higher with God” (Matthew [NIGTC], 436).
- Matthew 10:28 sn While destroy is sometimes taken to mean annihilation, it does not necessarily have to imply that here (“Of eternal death… Mt 10:28, ” BDAG 116 s.v. ἀπόλλυμι 1.a.α). There are some Jewish intertestamental texts that appear to reflect a belief in everlasting punishment for the wicked (Jdt 16:17; 1QS 2:8) as well as Rev 14:11 in the NT. See also the note on the word hell in 5:22.
- Matthew 10:29 sn The penny refers to an assarion, a small Roman copper coin. One of them was worth one-sixteenth of a denarius or less than a half hour’s average wage. Sparrows were the cheapest items sold in the market. The point of Jesus’ statement is that God knows about even the most financially insignificant things; see Isa 49:15.
- Matthew 10:29 tn Or “to the ground without the knowledge and consent of your Father.”sn This is a typical form of rabbinic argumentation, from the lesser to the greater: If God cares about the lesser thing (sparrows) how much more does he care about the greater thing (people).
- Matthew 10:31 sn This represents the third call by Jesus not to be afraid in the section (previously in vv. 26, 28). Since these two previous references were related to fear of persecution, it is probable that this one does as well. Once again the sparrows are mentioned and the argument is from lesser to greater (if God cares about individual hairs on the head and about sparrows, how much more does he care about people).
- Matthew 10:32 tn Or “confesses”; cf. BDAG 708 s.v. ὁμολογέω 4, “to acknowledge someth., ordinarily in public, acknowledge, claim, profess, praise.”
- Matthew 10:32 tn Grk “I will acknowledge [or, confess] him also.”sn This acknowledgment will take place at the judgment. On Jesus and judgment, see Luke 22:69; Acts 10:42-43; 17:31.
- Matthew 10:34 tn Grk “cast.” For βάλλω (ballō) in the sense of bringing about (or causing) a state or condition, see L&N 13.14; BDAG 163-64 s.v. 4.
- Matthew 10:34 sn For rhetorical reasons, Jesus’ statement is deliberately paradoxical (seeming to state the opposite of Matt 10:13 where the messengers are to bring peace). The conflict implied by the sword is not primarily eschatological in this context, however, but immediate, and concerns the division and discord even among family members that a person’s allegiance to Jesus would bring (vv. 35-39).
- Matthew 10:36 tn Matt 10:35-36 are an allusion to Mic 7:6.
- Matthew 10:37 tn Here “worthy” (ἄξιος, axios) means “does not deserve to belong to me” (BDAG 94 s.v. 2.a), i.e., “is not worthy to be my disciple” (cf. Luke 14:26) or perhaps “is not worthy to participate in the kingdom” (to be undeserving of Jesus is to be undeserving of the kingdom he brings).sn The statement demands uncompromising, radical loyalty to Jesus, a loyalty so powerful that it surpasses normal human relationships, even familial ones.
- Matthew 10:38 sn According to Plutarch, “Every criminal who is executed carries his own cross” (De sera numinus vindicta 9.554b). Jesus is speaking figuratively here in the context of rejection. If one’s allegiance to Jesus does not have absolute priority, then one will not follow him in the face of possible rejection and persecution.
- Matthew 10:39 tn Grk “his soul.” The Greek ψυχή (psuchē) has many different meanings depending on the context. The two primary meanings here are the earthly life (animate life, sometimes called “physical life”) and the inner life (the life that transcends the earthly life, sometimes called “the soul”). The fact that the Greek term can have both meanings creates in this verse both a paradox and a wordplay. The desire to preserve both aspects of ψυχή (psuchē) for oneself creates the tension here (cf. BDAG 1099 s.v. 1.a; 2.d,e). Translation of the Greek term ψυχή (psuchē) presents a particularly difficult problem in this verse. Most English versions since the KJV have translated the term “life.” This preserves the paradox of finding one’s “life” (in the sense of earthly life) while at the same time really losing it (in the sense of “soul” or transcendent inner life) and vice versa, but at the same time it obscures the wordplay that results from the same Greek word having multiple meanings. To translate as “soul,” however, gives the modern English reader the impression of the immortal soul at the expense of the earthly life. On the whole it is probably best to use the translation “life” and retain the paradox at the expense of the wordplay.
- Matthew 10:39 sn The Greek word translated life can refer to both earthly, physical life and inner, transcendent life (one’s “soul”). In the context, if a person is not willing to suffer the world’s rejection and persecution in order to follow Jesus but instead seeks to retain his physical life, then that person will lose both physical life and inner, transcendent life (at the judgment). On the other hand, the one who willingly gives up earthly, physical life to follow Jesus (“loses his life because of me”) will ultimately find one’s “soul” (note that the parallel in John’s Gospel speaks of “guarding one’s ‘soul’ for eternal life” (John 12:25).
- Matthew 10:39 tn Or “for my sake.” The traditional rendering “for my sake” can be understood in the sense of “for my benefit,” but the Greek term ἕνεκα (heneka) indicates the cause or reason for something (BDAG 334 s.v. 1).
- Matthew 10:40 sn The one who sent me refers to God. Reception of the messengers (and by implication, the message they bring) is equivalent to reception of both Jesus and God the Father himself.
- Matthew 10:41 tn Grk “And whoever.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
- Matthew 10:42 sn Mention of these little ones in the context seems slightly odd since Jesus is addressing disciples, and this seems to refer to disciples. Probably it is another reference to the itinerant messengers mentioned previously (v. 40). Even a minimal act of kindness shown to one of these (a cup of cold water) will not go unacknowledged and unrewarded.
- Matthew 10:42 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
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