Matthew 10:17-11:19

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁷ Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts^[a] and flog you in their synagogues.^{(A) 18} You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.^{(B) 19} But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.^(C) For you will be given what to say at that hour, ²⁰ because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit^(D) of your Father is speaking through you.^(E)

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.^{(F) 22} You will be hated by everyone because of my name.^(G) But the one who endures to the end will be saved.^{(H) 23} When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.^(I) For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ²⁴ A disciple^[b] is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.^{(J) 25} It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!^(K)

Fear God

²⁶ “Therefore,^(L) don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known.^{(M) 27} What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper,^[c] proclaim on the housetops.^{(N) 28} Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; ^(O) rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.^{(P) 29} Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?^[d] Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s^(Q) consent.^{[e] 30} But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.^{(R) 31} So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.^(S)

Acknowledging Christ

³² “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.^{(T) 33} But whoever denies me before others,^(U) I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. ³⁴ Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.^{(V) 35} For I came to turn

³⁷ The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; ^(X) the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Anyone who finds his life will lose it,^(Y) and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.^(Z)

A Cup of Cold Water

⁴⁰ “The one who welcomes you welcomes me,^(AA) and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.^{(AB) 41} Anyone who welcomes a prophet^(AC) because he is a prophet^[g] will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous^[h] will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives^(AD) even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple,^[i](AE) truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

John the Baptist Doubts

11 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.^{(AF) 2} Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples^{(AG) 3} and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” ^(AH)

⁴ Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy^[j] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,^{(AI) 6} and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”^(AJ)

⁷ As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?^{(AK) 8} What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces. ⁹ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.^{(AL) 10} This is the one about whom it is written:

¹¹ “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared,^[l] but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence,^[m] and the violent have been seizing it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come.^{(AN) 15} Let anyone who has ears^[n] listen.^(AO)

An Unresponsive Generation

¹⁶ “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children:

¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’^{(AP) 19} The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard,^(AQ) a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’^(AR) Yet wisdom is vindicated^[p] by her deeds.”^[q]