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 may 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 insult the members of his household!

26 “So 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, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim (G)on the housetops. 28 And do not be afraid of 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 two sparrows not sold for an [d]assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But (K)even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 So do not fear; (L)you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.

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

34 (O)Do not think that I came to [g]bring peace on the earth; I did not come to [h]bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to (P)turn 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 persons enemies will be the members of his household.

37 (R)The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And (S)the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 (T)The one who has found his [i]life will lose it, and the one who has lost his [j]life on My account will find it.

The Reward for Service

40 (U)The one who [k]receives you [l]receives Me, and (V)the one who [m]receives Me [n]receives Him who sent Me. 41 (W)The one who [o]receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who [p]receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And (X)whoever gives one of these [q]little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:24 Or student
  2. Matthew 10:25 Two early mss Beezebul; meaning uncertain, perhaps lord prince, referring to Satan
  3. Matthew 10:28 Gr Gehenna
  4. Matthew 10:29 A Roman copper coin, worth about 1/16 of a laborer’s daily wage
  5. Matthew 10:32 Lit will confess in Me
  6. Matthew 10:32 Lit in him
  7. Matthew 10:34 Lit cast
  8. Matthew 10:34 Lit cast
  9. Matthew 10:39 Or soul
  10. Matthew 10:39 Or soul
  11. Matthew 10:40 Or welcomes
  12. Matthew 10:40 Or welcomes
  13. Matthew 10:40 Or welcomes
  14. Matthew 10:40 Or welcomes
  15. Matthew 10:41 Or welcomes
  16. Matthew 10:41 Or welcomes
  17. Matthew 10:42 Possibly someone of low social standing

24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.(A) 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,(B) 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.(C) 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(D) 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.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.(E) 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(F)

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

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(I)
36     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[b](J)

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.(K) 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.(L) 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.(M)

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,(N) and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.(O) 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.”(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:29 Or will; or knowledge
  2. Matthew 10:36 Micah 7:6