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Persecution of Disciples

16 “I[a] am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves,[b] so be wise as serpents[c] and innocent as doves.[d] 17 Beware[e] of people, because they will hand you over to councils[f] and flog[g] you in their synagogues.[h] 18 And you will be brought before governors and kings[i] because of me, as a witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19 Whenever[j] they hand you over for trial,[k] do not worry about how to speak or what to say,[l] for what you should say will be given to you at that time.[m] 20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 “Brother[n] will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against[o] parents and have them put to death. 22 And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved! 23 Whenever[p] they persecute you in one town,[q] flee to another! I tell you the truth,[r] you will not finish going through all the towns[s] of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 “A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave[t] greater than his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much worse will they call[u] the members of his household!

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:16 tn Grk “Behold I.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
  2. Matthew 10:16 sn This imagery of wolves is found in intertestamental Judaism (see Pss. Sol. 8:23, 30; also 1 Enoch 89:55). For more on the sheep imagery see H. Preisker and S. Schulz, TDNT 6:690. The imagery of sheep surrounded by wolves suggests violence, and prepares the hearers for the persecutions of disciples described in vv. 17-26.
  3. Matthew 10:16 sn The craftiness of serpents is proverbial and can be traced as far back as Gen 3:1. As for how it applies to Jesus’ disciples sent out with the message of the coming kingdom, interpreters have been far less certain, and there is a great diversity of opinion.
  4. Matthew 10:16 sn Doves were regarded in both Greek and Jewish culture of the first century as symbols of purity, integrity, and harmlessness (see H. Greeven, TDNT 6:65-67).
  5. Matthew 10:17 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  6. Matthew 10:17 sn Councils in this context has a non-technical sense referring to local judicial bodies (courts) attached to the Jewish synagogue (cf. BDAG 967 s.v. συνέδριον 1.a). These courts would be responsible for meting out justice and discipline within the Jewish community.
  7. Matthew 10:17 tn Or “and have you flogged” (a causative sense). BDAG 620 s.v. μαστιγόω 1.a states, “of flogging as a punishment decreed by the synagogue (Dt 25:2f; s. the Mishna Tractate Sanhedrin-Makkoth, edited w. notes by SKrauss ’33) w. acc. of pers. Mt 10:17; 23:34.”
  8. Matthew 10:17 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.
  9. Matthew 10:18 sn These statements look at persecution both from a Jewish context as the mention of councils and synagogues suggests, and from a Gentile one as the reference to governors and kings suggests. Some fulfillment of Jewish persecution can be seen in Acts 4:3; 5:17-18, 40-41; 6:12; 7:1-60; 8:1-3, and of Gentile persecution in Acts 25:2-12, 24-27.
  10. Matthew 10:19 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  11. Matthew 10:19 tn Or “hand you over into custody,” in particular “as a t.t. of police and courts ‘hand over into [the] custody [of]’” (BDAG 762 s.v. παραδίδωμι 1.b). In context some sort of trial is implied (cf. Luke 12:11).
  12. Matthew 10:19 tn Grk “how or what you might speak.”
  13. Matthew 10:19 tn Grk “in that hour.”
  14. Matthew 10:21 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.sn The mention of father and child in the following clause indicates that brother here refers to actual siblings, the members of one’s own family.
  15. Matthew 10:21 tn Or “will rebel against.”
  16. Matthew 10:23 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  17. Matthew 10:23 tn The Greek word πόλις (polis) can mean either “town” or “city” depending on the context (BDAG 844 s.v. 1, “population center of varying size, city, town”).
  18. Matthew 10:23 tn Grk “For truly (ἀμήν, amēn) I say to you.” Here γάρ (gar, “for”) has not been translated.
  19. Matthew 10:23 tn The Greek word πόλις (polis), can mean either “town” or “city” (see previous note in this verse). “Town” was employed here to emphasize the large number of places to visit (not just the largest cities) and thus the extensive nature of the disciples’ ministry.
  20. Matthew 10:24 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.
  21. Matthew 10:25 tn The words “will they call” are not in the Greek text but are implied, and have been supplied in the translation for clarity.

A Hard Road Ahead of Them

16 (A)Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as (B)wary as serpents, and as (C)innocent as doves. 17 But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the (D)courts and flog you (E)in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 (F)But when they hand you over, (G)do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. 20 For (H)it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking [a]in you.

21 “Now (I)brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and (J)children will rise up against parents and [b]cause them to be put to death. 22 And (K)you will be hated by all because of My name, but (L)it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

23 “But whenever they (M)persecute you in [c]one city, flee to the [d]next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel (N)until the Son of Man comes.

The Meaning of Discipleship

24 (O)A [e]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. (P)If they have called the head of the house [f](Q)Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:20 Or by you
  2. Matthew 10:21 Lit put them to death
  3. Matthew 10:23 Lit this
  4. Matthew 10:23 Lit other
  5. Matthew 10:24 Or student
  6. Matthew 10:25 Two early mss Beezebul; meaning uncertain, perhaps lord prince, referring to Satan