Jesus Preaches in Galilee

^14 (A)Now after John had been ^[a]taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, ^[b](B)preaching the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “^(C)The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God ^[c]is at hand; ^(D)repent and ^[d]believe in the gospel.”

^16 (E)As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. ¹⁹ Going on a little farther, He saw ^[e]James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. ²⁰ Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away ^[f]to follow Him.

The Meaning of Discipleship

²⁴ “^(A)A ^[a]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. ^(B)If they have called the head of the house ^[b](C)Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!

²⁶ “Therefore do not ^(D)fear them, ^(E)for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. ^27 (F)What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim ^(G)upon the housetops. ²⁸ Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather ^(H)fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in ^[c](I)hell. ^29 (J)Are not two sparrows sold for a ^[d]cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰ But ^(K)the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So do not fear; ^(L)you are more valuable than many sparrows.

³² “Therefore ^(M)everyone who ^[e]confesses Me before men, I will also confess ^[f]him before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But ^(N)whoever ^[g]denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

³⁴ “^(O)Do not think that I came to ^[h]bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I came to ^(P)set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; ³⁶ and ^(Q)a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

³⁷ “^(R)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 ^(S)he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ^39 (T)He who has found his ^[i]life will lose it, and he who has lost his ^[j]life for My sake will find it.

The Reward of Service

⁴⁰ “^(U)He who receives you receives Me, and ^(V)he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ^41 (W)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 ^(X)whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these ^[k]little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”