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差遣十二使徒(A)

10 耶穌叫了十二門徒來,賜給他們勝過污靈的權柄,可以趕出污靈和醫治各種疾病、各種病症。 十二使徒的名字如下:為首的是西門(又名彼得),西門的弟弟安得烈,西庇太的兒子雅各,雅各的弟弟約翰, 腓力,巴多羅邁,多馬,稅吏馬太,亞勒腓的兒子雅各,達太, 激進派的西門,和出賣耶穌的加略人猶大。 耶穌差遣這十二個人出去,並且囑咐他們:“外族人的路,你們不要走,撒瑪利亞人的城,你們也不要進; 卻要到以色列家的迷羊那裡去。 你們要一邊走一邊宣揚說:‘天國近了。’ 要醫治有病的,叫死人復活,潔淨患痲風的,趕出污鬼。你們白白地得來,也應當白白地給人。 你們腰袋裡不要帶金、銀、銅錢; 10 路上不要帶行囊,也不要帶兩件衣裳,不要帶鞋或手杖,因為作工的理當得到供應。 11 你們無論進哪一座城哪一個村,都要打聽誰配接待你們,就住在那裡,直到離去。 12 到他家裡的時候,要向他們問安; 13 如果這家是配得的,你們的平安就必臨到他們;如果這家不配得,你們的平安仍歸你們。 14 如果有人不接待你們,不聽你們的話,你們離開那一家那一城的時候,就要把腳上的灰塵跺下去。 15 我實在告訴你們,在審判的日子,所多瑪和蛾摩拉所受的,比那城還輕呢。

使徒會遭受迫害(B)

16 “現在,我差派你們出去,好像羊進到狼群中間;所以你們要像蛇一樣機警,像鴿子一樣純潔。 17 你們要小心,因為有人要把你們送交公議會,並要在會堂裡鞭打你們; 18 你們為我的緣故,也要被帶到統治者和君王面前,向他們和外族人作見證。 19 你們被捕的時候,用不著擔心說甚麼和怎麼說,因為那時你們必得著當說的話; 20 因為說話的不是你們,而是你們的父的靈,是他在你們裡面說話。 21 弟兄要出賣弟兄,父親要出賣兒女,甚至把他們置於死地;兒女要悖逆父母,害死他們。 22 你們為我的名,要被眾人恨惡,然而堅忍到底的必然得救。 23 如果有人在這城迫害你們,就逃到別的城去。我實在告訴你們,你們還沒有走遍以色列的各城,人子就來到了。

24 “學生不能勝過老師,奴僕也不能勝過主人。 25 學生若能像老師一樣,奴僕若能像主人一樣,也就夠了。如果一家之主也被稱為別西卜(“別西卜”是鬼王的名字),何況他的家人呢?

應該怕誰(C)

26 “所以不要怕他們。沒有甚麼掩蓋的事不被揭露,也沒有甚麼祕密是人不知道的。 27 我在暗處告訴你們的,你們要在明處講出來;你們聽見的耳語,要在房頂上宣揚出來。 28 那些殺身體卻不能殺靈魂的,不要怕他們;倒要怕那位能把靈魂和身體都投入地獄裡的。 29 兩隻麻雀不是賣一個大錢嗎?但你們的父若不許可,一隻也不會掉在地上。 30 甚至你們的頭髮都一一數過了。 31 所以不要怕,你們比許多麻雀貴重得多呢。

32 “凡在人面前承認我的,我在我天父面前也要承認他; 33 在人面前不認我的,我在我天父面前也要不認他。

作門徒的代價(D)

34 “你們不要以為我來了,是要給地上帶來和平;我並沒有帶來和平,卻帶來刀劍, 35 因為我來了是要叫人分裂:

人與父親作對,

女兒與母親作對,

媳婦與婆婆作對,

36 人的仇敵就是自己的家人。

37 愛父母過於愛我的,不配作屬我的;愛兒女過於愛我的,不配作屬我的; 38 凡不背起自己的十字架來跟從我的,也不配作屬我的。 39 顧惜自己生命的,必要喪掉生命;但為我犧牲生命的,必要得著生命。

得賞賜(E)

40 “接待你們的,就是接待我;接待我的,就是接待那差我來的。 41 因先知的名接待先知的,必得先知所得的賞賜;因義人的名接待義人的,必得義人所得的賞賜。 42 無論誰因門徒的名,只把一杯涼水給這些微不足道的人中的一個喝,我實在告訴你們,他決不會得不到他的賞賜。”

The Twelve Apostles

10 (A)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. (B)The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, (C)who is called Peter, and (D)Andrew his brother; (E)James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and (F)Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[a] Simon the Zealot,[b] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

(G)These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of (H)the Samaritans, (I)but go rather to (J)the lost sheep of (K)the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, (L)‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’[c] (M)Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,[d] cast out demons. (N)You received without paying; give without pay. (O)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 (P)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, (Q)greet it. 13 And if the house is (R)worthy, let (S)your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let (T)your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, (U)shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, (V)it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for (W)the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Persecution Will Come

16 (X)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be (Y)wise as serpents and (Z)innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for (AA)they will deliver you over to courts and flog you (AB)in their synagogues, 18 (AC)and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, (AD)to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 (AE)When (AF)they deliver you over, (AG)do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for (AH)what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 (AI)For it is not you who speak, but (AJ)the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 (AK)Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 (AL)and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. (AM)But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they (AN)persecute you in one town, (AO)flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel (AP)before the Son of Man comes.

24 (AQ)“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant[f] above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. (AR)If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign[g] those of his household.

Have No Fear

26 “So have no fear of them, (AS)for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on (AT)the housetops. 28 And (AU)do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him (AV)who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[h] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[i] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But (AW)even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; (AX)you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 (AY)So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but (AZ)whoever denies me before men, (BA)I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

34 (BB)“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. (BC)I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 (BD)For I have come (BE)to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 (BF)And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 (BG)Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And (BH)whoever does not take his cross and (BI)follow me is not worthy of me. 39 (BJ)Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Rewards

40 (BK)“Whoever receives you receives me, and (BL)whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 (BM)The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 42 And (BN)whoever gives one of (BO)these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:3 Some manuscripts Lebbaeus, or Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus
  2. Matthew 10:4 Greek kananaios, meaning zealot
  3. Matthew 10:7 Or The kingdom of heaven has come near
  4. Matthew 10:8 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
  5. Matthew 10:10 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
  6. Matthew 10:24 Or bondservant; also verse 25
  7. Matthew 10:25 Greek lacks will they malign
  8. Matthew 10:28 Greek Gehenna
  9. Matthew 10:29 Greek assarion, Roman copper coin worth about 1/16 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)

The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

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

Now these are the names of the twelve [a]apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; [b]James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;(B) Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanael); Thomas and Matthew (Levi) the tax collector; [c]James the son of [d]Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (Judas, not Iscariot); Simon the Cananaean (Zealot), and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them: “Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not go into a city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take gold, or silver, or [even] copper money in your money belt, 10 or a provision bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker deserves his support. 11 Whatever city or village you enter, ask who in it is worthy [who welcomes you and your message], and stay at his house until you leave [that city]. 12 As you go into the house, give it your greeting [that is, ‘Peace be to this house’]. 13 If [the family living in] the house is worthy [welcoming you and your message], give it your [blessing of] [e]peace [that is, a blessing of well-being and prosperity, the favor of God]. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. 14 Whoever does not welcome you, nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or city, [f]shake the dust [of it] off your feet [in contempt, breaking all ties].(C) 15 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of [g]Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city [since it rejected the Messiah’s messenger].

A Hard Road before Them

16 “Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda].(D) 17 Beware of men [whose nature is to act in opposition to God], for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you within that [very] hour;(E) 20 for it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; and children will rise up and rebel against their parents and cause them to be put death. 22 And you will be hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name, but it is the one who has patiently persevered and endured to the end who will be saved.

23 “When they persecute you in one city [because of your faith in Me], flee to the next; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you will not finish going through all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

The Meaning of Discipleship

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a bond-servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the bond-servant like his master. If they have called the head of the house [h]Beelzebul (Satan), how much more [will they speak evil of] the members of his household.(F)

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed [at the judgment], or kept secret that will not be made known [at the judgment].(G) 27 What I say to you in the dark (privately), tell in the light (publicly); and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops [to many people]. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two little sparrows sold for a [i]copper coin? And yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered [for the Father is sovereign and has complete knowledge]. 31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

32 “Therefore, the one who [j]confesses and acknowledges Me before men [as Lord and Savior, affirming a state of oneness with Me], that one I will also confess and acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But the one who denies and rejects Me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before My Father who is in heaven.

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief].(H) 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and 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 [own] household [when one believes and another does not].(I)

37 [k]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.(J) 38 And he who does not take his [l]cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me. 39 Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].(K)

The Reward of Service

40 “He who receives and welcomes you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.(L) 41 He who receives and welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous (honorable) man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:2 In general usage the word “apostle” (Gr apostolos) means “sent one” or “messenger.” In this passage and others in reference to the “twelve,” the word “apostles” is used in a technical sense of the twelve disciples, and later Paul, whom Jesus chose. An apostle was one who witnessed Christ’s resurrection (Acts 1:21, 22; 1 Cor 9:1, 2). They validated their apostleship by performing “signs and wonders and miracles” (2 Cor 12:12), and were the foundation of the church.
  2. Matthew 10:2 It is believed that Salome, Zebedee’s wife and the mother of James and John was a sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
  3. Matthew 10:3 Also known as James the Less or James the Younger. It is believed that his mother, Mary (Gr Maria), was a sister or sister-in-law of Mary, the mother of Jesus (John 19:25).
  4. Matthew 10:3 Possibly the Hebrew or Syriac name of the same person: Clopas. He may be the “Cleopas” mentioned in Luke 24:18.
  5. Matthew 10:13 I.e. “shalom” is to come upon this house.
  6. Matthew 10:14 A symbolic act expressing contempt.
  7. Matthew 10:15 The cities destroyed by God because of the sinfulness of their people (Gen 19:1-29).
  8. Matthew 10:25 I.e. an idol worshiped in the Philistine city of Ekron: Baal Zebul, lord of the high places or Baal Zebub, lord of the flies.
  9. Matthew 10:29 Gr assarion, a Roman coin equal to a 16th of a denarius (the denarius was counted as a day’s wages for an unskilled worker).
  10. Matthew 10:32 The word “confess” used in conjunction with “before” connotes a legal statement or a testimony in a legal setting.
  11. Matthew 10:37 Commitment to Jesus takes precedence over all else.
  12. Matthew 10:38 The historical background behind this statement is that those who were about to be crucified had to carry the crossbeam to which they would be nailed or bound. In addition to the terrible agony that crucifixion inflicted, it was such a great indignity that some of the Roman writers used the word cross as a curse word in the expression “Go to a bad cross!” (Lat i in malam crucem).

Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles

(Mark 3.13-19; Luke 6.12-16)

10 Jesus called together his twelve disciples. He gave them the power to force out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and sickness. The first of the twelve apostles was Simon, better known as Peter. His brother Andrew was an apostle, and so were James and John, the two sons of Zebedee. Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector,[a] James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were also apostles. The others were Simon, known as the Eager One,[b] and Judas Iscariot,[c] who later betrayed Jesus.

Instructions for the Twelve Apostles

(Mark 6.7-13; Luke 9.1-6)

Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions:

Stay away from the Gentiles and don't go to any Samaritan town. Go only to the people of Israel, because they are like a flock of lost sheep. (A) As you go, announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here.[d] Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy,[e] and force out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid. Don't take along any gold, silver, or copper coins. 10 (B) And don't carry[f] a traveling bag or an extra shirt or sandals or a walking stick.

Workers deserve their food. 11 So when you go to a town or a village, find someone able and willing to have you as their guest and stay with them until you leave. 12 When you go to a home, give it your blessing of peace. 13 If the home is deserving, let your blessing remain with them. But if the home doesn't accept you, take back your blessing of peace. 14 (C) If someone won't welcome you or listen to your message, leave their home or town. And shake the dust from your feet at them.[g] 15 (D) I promise you the day of judgment will be easier for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah[h] than for that town.

Warning about Trouble

(Mark 13.9-13; Luke 21.12-17)

16 (E) I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 (F) Watch out for people who will take you to court and have you beaten in their synagogues. 18 Because of me, you will be dragged before rulers and kings to tell them and the Gentiles about your faith. 19 But when someone arrests you, don't worry about what you will say or how you will say it. At that time you will be given the words to say. 20 But you will not really be the one speaking. The Spirit from your Father will tell you what to say.

21 (G) Brothers and sisters will betray one another and have each other put to death. Parents will betray their own children, and children will turn against their parents and have them killed. 22 (H) Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you remain faithful until the end, you will be saved. 23 When people mistreat you in one town, hurry to another one. I promise you before you have gone to all the towns of Israel, the Son of Man will come.

24 (I) Students are not better than their teacher, and slaves are not better than their master. 25 (J) It is enough for students to be like their teacher and for slaves to be like their master. If people call the head of the family Satan, what will they say about the rest of the family?

The One To Fear

(Luke 12.2-7)

26 (K) Don't be afraid of anyone! Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known. 27 Whatever I say to you in the dark, you must tell in the light. And you must announce from the housetops whatever I have whispered to you. 28 (L) Don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot harm your soul. Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in hell. 29 Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. 30 Even the hairs on your head are counted. 31 So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.

Telling Others about Christ

(Luke 12.8,9)

32 If you tell others you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven you are my followers. 33 (M) But if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven you don't belong to me.

Not Peace, but Trouble

(Luke 12.51-53; 14.26,27)

34 Don't think I came to bring peace to the earth! I came to bring trouble, not peace. 35 (N) I came to turn sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law. 36 Your worst enemies will be in your own family.

37 (O) If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples. 38 (P) And unless you are willing to take up your cross and follow me, you are not fit to be my disciples. 39 (Q) If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it.

Rewards

(Mark 9.41)

40 (R) Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet, just because that person is a prophet, will be given the same reward as a prophet. Anyone who welcomes a good person, just because that person is good, will be given the same reward as a good person. 42 And anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is my follower, will be rewarded.

Footnotes

  1. 10.3 tax collector: See the note at 5.46.
  2. 10.4 known as the Eager One: The Greek text has “Cananaean,” which probably comes from a Hebrew word meaning “zealous” (see Luke 6.15). “Zealot” was the name later given to the members of a Jewish group that resisted and fought against the Romans.
  3. 10.4 Iscariot: This may mean “a man from Kerioth” (a place in Judea). But more probably it means “a man who was a liar” or “a man who was a betrayer.”
  4. 10.7 will soon be here: Or “is already here.”
  5. 10.8 leprosy: See the note at 8.2.
  6. 10.9,10 Don't take along … don't carry: Or “Don't accept … don't accept.”
  7. 10.14 shake the dust from your feet at them: This was a way of showing rejection (see Acts 13.51).
  8. 10.15 Sodom and Gomorrah: During the time of Abraham the Lord destroyed these towns because the people there were so evil.