Matthew 10
EasyEnglish Bible
Jesus chooses 12 men to be his apostles[a]
10 One day, Jesus asked his 12 disciples to come to him. He gave them authority over bad spirits so that they could send the spirits out of people. They could also make sick people well again from every kind of illness.
2 These are the names of the 12 apostles:
The first apostle is Simon, who was also called Peter.
Then Simon's brother, who was called Andrew.
Also James and his brother John, who were Zebedee's sons.
3 There were Philip and Bartholomew.[b]
There were Thomas and Matthew.[c] (Matthew's job was to take taxes from people.)
And James who was the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus.[d]
4 There was also Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who later gave Jesus to his enemies.[e]
Jesus sends out his 12 apostles
5 Jesus sent out these 12 disciples. Before they left, he said to them, ‘Do not go to any place where the people are Gentiles. And do not go to towns where only Samaritans live.[f] 6 Instead, you must go to the people of Israel. They are like lost sheep with nobody to take care of them. 7 While you travel, you must tell people about the kingdom of heaven. You must tell them that it has now become near. 8 Make sick people well again. Cause dead people to become alive again. If people have a bad disease of the skin, make them well again. Send bad spirits out of people to leave them. God has been very kind to you, so you should be kind to other people. When you help people, do not ask them for money. 9 Do not take any money in your purses. 10 Do not take a bag with you, or extra clothes. Do not take extra shoes or a stick. You are working to help people. So people should give you what you need to live.
11 When you arrive in a town or a village, look for a good person there. Continue to stay in that person's house until you leave there. 12 When you go into the house, say to the people there, “We pray that you will be well.” 13 If the people of that house accept you, then everyone in the house will be well. But if they do not accept you, then take back your kind words. 14 Sometimes you will go to some house or town and the people will not accept you there. They will not listen to your message. Then you should leave. Clean the dirt of that place off your feet. 15 I tell you this: One day God will punish people like that. God will punish them even more than the people who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah long ago.’[g]
16 Jesus then said to his disciples, ‘Listen well. I am sending you to people who will want to kill you. You will be like sheep among wild animals. You must watch carefully, like snakes do. But you must also be good and kind like doves.
17 Be careful! People will be against you. They will take you to stand in front of their leaders. They will punish you with whips in their meeting places. 18 They will take you to stand in front of kings and rulers. All this will happen because you are my disciples. You will tell all these important people and also the Gentiles the good news about me. 19 When they take you to stand in front of their leaders, do not be afraid. Do not worry about what you should say or how you should say it. At that time, God will give you the right words to speak. 20 You will not be speaking your own words. The Holy Spirit of your Father God will give you his own words to say.
21 At that time, a man will let people kill his own brother. A father will let people kill his own child. Children will be against their parents. They will even ask people to kill their parents. 22 All people will hate you because you are my disciples. But God will save the person who remains strong until the end. 23 If people in any town hurt you because of me, you should leave that town immediately. Go to another town. I tell you this: You will not have enough time to speak your message in all the towns of Israel. I, the Son of Man, will return before that can happen.
24 A student is not more important than his teacher is. A servant is not more important than his master is. 25 A student should be happy if he becomes like his teacher. A servant should be happy if he becomes like his master. People have called me, the master of the house, Beelzebul. You are like those people who live in my house. So do not be surprised when people call you even worse names than they call me.
26 So do not be afraid of these people. They hide the things that they do. But there will be a time when other people will see those things. Everyone will know all their secrets. 27 I tell you things secretly, like people do in the dark. But you must tell people these things clearly in the light of day. I have said things very quietly into your ears. But now you must shout those things loudly from the tops of the houses.[h]
28 Do not be afraid of those people who can kill only your body. These people cannot kill your soul. No, it is God that you should be afraid of. He can kill your body, and then he can also destroy your soul in hell. 29 Think about this. People sell two birds for just one small coin. But God takes care of these little birds. Not one of them can fall to the ground unless God lets it happen. 30 God even knows how many hairs there are on your head. 31 So do not be afraid of those people who are against you. You are more valuable to God than many little birds.
32 You should say clearly to other people, “I believe in Jesus.” If you do that, I will say to my Father in heaven, “This is someone who is my disciple.” 33 But if you say to other people, “I do not believe in Jesus,” I will then say to my Father in heaven, “I do not know that person. He is not one of my disciples.”
34 I will tell you why I have come into the world. I did not come so that everyone would agree with each other. No, I came to put people against one another, to fight against each other.[i]
35 A man will fight against his father.
A daughter will fight against her mother.
A woman will fight against her husband's mother.
36 A man's own family will fight against him.[j]
37 Nobody should love his own father and mother more than he loves me. If he does, he cannot be my disciple. Nobody should love his own son or daughter more than he loves me. If he does, then he cannot be my disciple. 38 If you really want to be one of my disciples, you must be ready to die for me. Live like a person who carries his own cross to go and die. 39 Whoever wants to keep his life safe will lose it. But whoever gives his life to serve me will have true life.’
Jesus teaches about God's gifts
40 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone accepts you in his home, then he is also accepting me. And anyone who accepts me, also accepts my Father God, who sent me. 41 Somebody may accept a prophet into his home because the visitor is a prophet of God. God will bless that person like he blesses a prophet. Or he may accept a good man who obeys God, because the man is good. God will bless that person like he blesses the good man. 42 People may think that my disciples are unimportant. But God will bless anyone who gives even a drink of cold water to one of them. I tell you, that person will never lose God's help.’
Footnotes
- 10:1 Jesus had many disciples. He chose 12 of them to be with him so that he could teach them. He also called these 12 men apostles. The word apostle means ‘someone whom his master sends out to do a job’. Their job was to tell other people about Jesus.
- 10:3 In his book John calls Bartholomew, Nathanael. See John 1:45.
- 10:3 Matthew is another name for Levi.
- 10:3 In this verse and in Mark 3:18, Judas, son of James is called Thaddaeus.
- 10:4 A Zealot was a man who wanted to fight against the Roman ruler. The Zealots wanted the Jews to rule Israel again.
- 10:5 The Samaritan people and the Jews did not like each other. Some of the Samaritans' ancestors were Jewish and some of them were not.
- 10:15 We can read about the cities called Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18. The people who lived in those towns were very bad. And they did not obey God.
- 10:27 At that time, the top of a house was flat. Sometimes people wanted everyone to hear what they said. So they shouted from the top of their house.
- 10:34 Jesus came to the world to bring men and God near together. He wanted people to believe in God and to obey him. But to do this he had to fight against bad things and against Satan. People who obey Satan will fight people who obey God.
- 10:36 Verses 35 and 36. See Micah 7:6
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。」
Matthew 10
International Standard Version
Jesus Appoints Twelve Apostles(A)
10 Then Jesus[a] called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and every illness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[b] 4 Simon the Cananaean[c] and Judas Iscariot, who later[d] betrayed Jesus.[e]
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples(B)
5 These were the Twelve whom Jesus sent out after he had given them these[f] instructions: “Don’t turn on to the road that leads to the unbelievers,[g] and don’t enter Samaritan towns. 6 Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation[h] of Israel. 7 As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom from[i] heaven is near!’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons.
You have received without payment,
so give without payment.
9 Don’t take any gold, silver, or copper in your moneybags, 10 or a traveling bag for the trip, or an extra shirt,[j] or sandals, or a walking stick, because a worker deserves his food.
11 “Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is receptive[k] in it and stay there until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet its occupants.[l] 13 If the household is receptive,[m] let your blessing of peace come on it. But if it isn’t receptive,[n] let your blessing of peace return to you. 14 If no one welcomes you or listens to your words, as you leave that house or town, shake its dust off your feet. 15 I tell all of you[o] with certainty, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!”
Future Persecutions(C)
16 “Pay attention, now! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to unbelievers.[p] 19 When they hand you over, don’t worry about how you are to speak[q] or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. 20 It won’t be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through[r] you.
21 “Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. 23 So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell all of you[s] with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, and a slave is not above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a slave to be like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul,[t] how much more will they do the same to[u] those of his household!”
Fear God(D)
26 “So never be afraid of them, because there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered[v] in your ear you must shout from the housetops. 28 Stop being[w] afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.[x]
29 “Two sparrows are sold for a penny, aren’t they? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission.[y] 30 Indeed, even the hairs on your head have all been counted! 31 So stop being[z] afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.”
Acknowledging the Messiah(E)
32 “Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before people I, too, will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before people I, too, will deny before my Father in heaven.”
Not Peace, but Division(F)
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword![aa] 35 I came to turn
‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
36 A person’s enemies will include members of his own family.’[ab]
The Cost of Discipleship(G)
37 “The one who loves his father or mother more than me isn’t worthy of me, and the one who loves a son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. 38 The one who doesn’t take up his cross and follow me isn’t worthy of me. 39 The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life because of me will find it.”
Rewards(H)
40 “The one who receives you receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet as[ac] a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person as[ad] a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 I tell all of you[ae] with certainty, whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is[af] a disciple will never lose his reward.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 10:1 Lit. he
- Matthew 10:3 Other mss. read Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus
- Matthew 10:4 Cananaean is Aram. for Zealot.
- Matthew 10:4 Lit. also
- Matthew 10:4 Lit. him
- Matthew 10:5 The Gk. lacks these
- Matthew 10:5 Lit. gentiles; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews
- Matthew 10:6 Lit. house
- Matthew 10:7 Lit. of
- Matthew 10:10 Lit. two shirts
- Matthew 10:11 Lit. worthy
- Matthew 10:12 The Gk. lacks its occupants
- Matthew 10:13 Lit. worthy
- Matthew 10:13 Lit. worthy
- Matthew 10:15 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
- Matthew 10:18 Lit. gentiles; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews
- Matthew 10:19 The Gk. lacks you are to speak
- Matthew 10:20 Or in
- Matthew 10:23 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
- Matthew 10:25 The name means Lord of the Flies; i.e. Satan
- Matthew 10:25 The Gk. lacks will they do the same to
- Matthew 10:27 Lit. what you hear
- Matthew 10:28 Or Don’t be
- Matthew 10:28 Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom
- Matthew 10:29 Lit. apart from your Father
- Matthew 10:31 Or don’t be
- Matthew 10:34 I.e. conflict
- Matthew 10:36 Cf. Mic 7:6
- Matthew 10:41 Lit. in the name of
- Matthew 10:41 Lit. in the name of
- Matthew 10:42 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
- Matthew 10:42 Lit. in the name of
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