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10 And summoning his Shneym Asar (Twelve) Talmidim, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach gave to them samchut (authority) over shedim (unclean spirits), so as to cast them out, and samchut (authority) to call forth refuah for every machla and every illness.

Now of the Shneym Asar Shlichim, the names are these: first, Shimon, the one being called Kefa, and Andrew his brother, Yaakov Ben Zavdai and Yochanan his brother,

Philippos and Bar-Talmai, Toma and Mattityahu the moches, Yaakov Bar-Chalfai and Taddai,

Shimon the Zealot and Yehudah from Kriot, who betrayed Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.

These Shneym Asar (Twelve) did Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach send out with the following directives, saying: In the Derech HaGoyim (Way of the Gentiles, Gentile territory) do not go, and do not enter into any Shomron town,

but go rather to the Seh Oveid Beis Yisroel (the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel).

And, while going, preach that the Malchut HaShomayim is imminent and miyad.

Heal the cholim, raise the mesim, cleanse the metzoraim (lepers), cast out the shedim; freely you received, freely give.

Take neither gold nor silver nor copper for your money belts,

10 nor a schnorrer’s (beggar’s) bag for the road, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff, for the oseh hamelachah (the one doing the work) is worthy of his lechem.

11 And into whichever town or shtetl you enter, inquire who in it is a ben chayil (son of worthiness), and there remain until you leave.

12 And when you enter into the bais (house), give that household your “Shalom!”

13 And if indeed the bais is a bais chayil (a house of worthiness), let your shalom come upon it; but if it is not a bais chayil, let your shalom return to you.

14 And whoever neither receives you nor listens to your divrei [Moshiach], as you are leaving and as you go outside of that bais (house) or city, then let it be NIER CHATZNO (shake out the fold of the robe, i.e., wash ones hands of), shake off the dust of your feet.

15 Omein, I say to you, it will be more tolerable on Yom HaDin (the Day of Judgment) for Sdom and Amora than for that shtetl.

16 Hinei! I send you as kevesim (sheep) in the midst of ze’evim; therefore, have the seichel (intelligence) of nachashim (serpents) and be tamim (faultless) as yonim (doves).

17 And beware of Bnei Adam, for they will deliver you up to the sanhedriyot (local councils, bet din courts) and in their shuls they will subject you to the shot (whip).

18 And before moshelim (governors) and also melachim (kings) you will be led for my sake [for the sake of Moshiach], for an edut (testimony) to them and to the Goyim.

19 But when they deliver you up, do not be of a LEV ROGEZ (anxious heart, DEVARIM 28:65) worried about how or what you are to say; for it will be given to you in that hour what you are to speak.

20 For you are not the ones speaking, but the Ruach Avichem (the Spirit of your Father) is the one speaking in you.

21 And brother will deliver up to death his own brother, even an abba his own yeled. And yeladim will stand up against their horim (parents) and put them to death.

22 And you will be under the sinas chinom (baseless hatred) of kol Bnei Adam on account of my Name; but the one enduring ad es HaKetz (until the End) will receive the Yeshuat Eloheinu (the Salvation of our G-d).

23 But when they persecute you in one shtetl, flee to the other; for, omein, I say to you, by no means will you complete the shtetlach of Eretz Yisroel until the Bias HaMoshiach (Coming of the Moshiach, the Ben HaAdam, DANIEL 7:13).

24 A talmid is not above his Rebbe nor an eved (servant) above his Baal Bayit (master).

25 It is enough for the talmid that he be like his Rebbe, and the eved like his Baal Bayit. If they called the Baal Bayit Baal-zibbul, how much more the anashim (men) in his bais.

26 Therefore, do not fear them; for nothing has been veiled which will not be unveiled; and nothing has been nistar (hidden) which will not be made known.

27 What I say to you in the choshech (darkness), you declare in the ohr (light); and what you hear whispered into your ears, shout, preach, from the rooftops.

28 And do not fear those who kill the basar (flesh), but are unable to kill the nefesh (soul); but rather fear the One who is able to destroy both basar and nefesh in Gehinnom.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for the least valuable copper coin? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from Avichem!

30 But, as far as you are concerned, even the hairs of your rosh have been inventoried.

31 Therefore, al taarotz (do not be afraid)! You are of more value than many sparrows!

32 Therefore, everyone who shall declare publicly the Ani Maamin hoda’ah of me [as Moshiach], before Bnei HaAdam, I will make hoda’ah (acknowledgment) of him before Avi shbaShomayim.

33 But everyone who makes hakhchashah (denial) of me [as Moshiach], I also will make hakhchashah (denial) of him before Avi shbaShomayim.

34 Do not think that I have come to bring shalom al haaretz (peace on the earth); I have not come to bring shalom but a cherev (sword).

35 For I came to divide a man against his Av, and a bat against her Em, and a kallah (bride) against her chamot (mother-in-law, shviger).

36 And the OIYVEI ISH ANSHEI VEITO (the enemies of a man will be the members of his own household, MICHOH 7:6).

37 The one who has more ahavah (love) for a tata (papa) or a mama than for me [Moshiach] is not worthy of me [Moshiach], and the one who has more ahavah (love) for a ben or a bat than me is not worthy of me.

38 The one who does not take up his etz shel hakarav atzmo (tree of selfsacrifice) and follow after me, is not worthy of me.

39 The one who has found his nefesh will lose it; the one who has lost his nefesh for my sake [lemaan Moshiach] will find it.

40 The one who gives the kabbalat panim (welcome) to you gives the Baruch Habah (welcome) to me [to Moshiach], and the one who gives the Baruch Habah to me [Moshiach] gives the Baruch Habah to the One [Elohim HaAv] who sent me.

41 The one who gives the Baruch Habah to a navi (prophet) in the name of a navi will receive the sachar (reward) of a navi, and the one who gives the Baruch Habah to a tzaddik (righteous man) in the name of a tzaddik will receive the sachar of a tzaddik.

42 And whoever in the name of a talmid [of Moshiach] gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones [the least of the talmidim of Moshiach], omein, I say to you, he will by no means lose his sachar.

Matthew gives a summary of what Jesus has done—teaching, preaching, and healing—and why He has done it—because of His compassion. Jesus then calls His disciples to this same type of ministry. The following sermon that Jesus gives to His disciples is the second of the five main sermons in Matthew.

10 Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him. He endowed them with the authority to heal sickness and disease and to drive demons out of those who were possessed.

Up to this point, the disciples have been, mostly, following Jesus around, listening to Him teach, watching Him heal. And so now we call these twelve beloved men not merely “disciples,” or “apprentices,” but “apostles,” which means “those who are sent as representatives, emissaries.” Jesus is preparing to send them into the harvest field to do His Father’s work.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: Simon (who is called Peter, which means “the rock”) and his brother Andrew; James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew (the tax collector); James, son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot (who would betray Him).

Jesus sent out these twelve with clear instructions.

Jesus: Don’t go to the outsiders or to the towns inhabited by Samaritans, a people whose Jewish ancestors married Gentiles. Go instead to find and heal the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse those who have leprosy. Drive out demons from the possessed. You received these gifts freely, so you should give them to others freely. Do not take money with you: don’t take gold, silver, or even small, worthless change. 10 Do not pack a bag with clothes. Do not take sandals or a walking stick. Be fed and sheltered by those who show you hospitality. 11 When you enter a town or village, look for someone who is trustworthy and stay at his house as long as you are visiting that town. 12 When you enter this home, greet the household kindly. 13 And if the home is indeed trustworthy, let your blessing of peace rest upon it; if not, keep your blessing to yourself. 14 If someone is inhospitable to you or refuses to listen to your testimony, leave that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. 15 This is the truth: Sodom and Gomorrah, those ancient pits of inhospitality, will fare better on judgment day than towns who ignore you tomorrow or next week.

16 Listen: I am sending you out to be sheep among wolves. You must be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 You must be careful. You must be discerning. You must be on your guard. There will be men who try to hand you over to their town councils and have you flogged in their synagogues. 18 Because of Me, naysayers and doubters will try to make an example out of you by trying you before rulers and kings. 19 When this happens—when you are arrested, dragged to court—don’t worry about what to say or how to say it. The words you should speak will be given to you. For at that moment, 20 it will not be you speaking; it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 Your task will be fraught with betrayal: brother will betray brother, even to the point of death; fathers will betray their children, and children will rebel against their fathers, even to the point of death. 22-23 When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next town. This is the truth: you will not be able to witness to every town in Israel before the Son of Man comes. Everyone will hate you because of Me. But remember: the one who stays on the narrow path until the end will be saved.

24 A student is no greater than his teacher, and a servant is never greater than his master. 25 It is sufficient if the student is like his teacher and the servant like his master. If people call the head of a house “Beelzebul,” which means “devil,” just imagine what they’re calling the members of his household.

26 Do not be afraid of those who may taunt or persecute you. Everything they do—even if they think they are hiding behind closed doors—will come to light. All their secrets will eventually be made known. 27 And you should proclaim in the bright light of day everything that I have whispered to you in the dark. Whatever whispers you hear—shout them from the rooftops of houses.

28 Don’t fear those who aim to kill just the body but are unable to touch the soul. The One to fear is He who can destroy you, soul and body, in the fires of hell. 29 Look, if you sold a few sparrows, how much money would you get? A copper coin apiece, perhaps? And yet your Father in heaven knows when those small sparrows fall to the ground. 30-31 You, beloved, are worth so much more than a whole flock of sparrows. God knows everything about you, even the number of hairs on your head. So do not fear.

32 Whoever knows Me here on earth, I will know him in heaven. And whoever proclaims faith in Me here on earth, I will proclaim faith in him before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns Me here, I will disown before My Father in heaven.

34 Do not imagine that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 I have come to turn men against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law. 36 You will find you have enemies even in your own household.[a] 37 If you love your father or mother more than you love Me, then you are not worthy of Me. If you love your son or daughter more than you love Me, then you are not worthy of Me. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me on the narrow road, then you are not worthy of Me. 39 To find your life, you must lose your life—and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Jesus calls His disciples to a radical commitment. Those who truly follow Jesus must be willing to follow Him to the point of death, just as He will later die for His commitment to God and others. Thus, whether they die literally or figuratively, His followers give up their lives for Him.

Jesus: 40 Anyone who welcomes you welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. 41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet and surrenders to his prophecy will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who welcomes a righteous person and conforms to the righteousness that surrounds him and proceeds from him will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And anyone who has given so much as a cup of cold water to one of the little ones, because he is My disciple, I tell you, that person will be well rewarded.

Footnotes

  1. 10:36 Micah 7:6

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve(A)(B)(C)(D)(E)

10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits(F) and to heal every disease and sickness.(G)

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.(H)

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.(I) Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.(J) As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven(K) has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

“Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts(L) 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.(M) 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting.(N) 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.(O) 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah(P) on the day of judgment(Q) than for that town.(R)

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.(S) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.(T) 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils(U) and be flogged in the synagogues.(V) 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings(W) as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.(X) At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father(Y) speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents(Z) and have them put to death.(AA) 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me,(AB) but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.(AC) 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.(AD)

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.(AE) 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul,(AF) how much more the members of his household!

26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.(AG) 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One(AH) who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[b] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.(AI) 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(AJ)

32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others,(AK) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.(AL)

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law(AM)
36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[c](AN)

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.(AO) 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.(AP) 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.(AQ)

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,(AR) and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.(AS) 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:8 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  2. Matthew 10:29 Or will; or knowledge
  3. Matthew 10:36 Micah 7:6