Persecutions Predicted

16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.(A) 17 Because people will hand you over to sanhedrins[a] and flog you in their synagogues,(B) beware of them. 18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of Me, to bear witness to them and to the nations.(C) 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you should speak.(D) For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because you are not speaking, but the Spirit(E) of your Father is speaking through you.(F)

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will even rise up against their parents and have them put to death.(G) 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name.(H) But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.[b](I) 23 When they persecute you in one town, escape to another.(J) For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 A disciple[c] is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.(K) 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!(L)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:17 Local Jewish courts or local councils
  2. Matthew 10:22 Or saved
  3. Matthew 10:24 Or student

Response to harassment

16 “Look, I’m sending you as sheep among wolves. Therefore, be wise as snakes and innocent as doves. 17 Watch out for people—because they will hand you over to councils and they will beat you in their synagogues. 18 They will haul you in front of governors and even kings because of me so that you may give your testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 Whenever they hand you over, don’t worry about how to speak or what you will say, because what you can say will be given to you at that moment. 20 You aren’t doing the talking, but the Spirit of my Father is doing the talking through you. 21 Brothers and sisters will hand each other over to be executed. A father will turn his child in. Children will defy their parents and have them executed. 22 Everyone will hate you on account of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved. 23 Whenever they harass you in one city, escape to the next, because I assure that you will not go through all the cities of Israel before the Human One[a] comes.

24 “Disciples aren’t greater than their teacher, and slaves aren’t greater than their master. 25 It’s enough for disciples to be like their teacher and slaves like their master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, it’s certain that they will call the members of his household by even worse names.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:23 Or Son of Man