Old/New Testament
21 “One brother will betray another to death; fathers will betray children, and children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who holds out to the end will be delivered.
23 “When they persecute you in one town, run off to the next one. I’m telling you the truth: you won’t have gone through all the towns of Israel before the son of man comes.”
Warnings and encouragements
24 “The disciple isn’t greater than the teacher; the slave isn’t greater than the master. 25 It’s quite enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave to be like the master. If they called the master of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ think what they’re going to call his family!
26 “Don’t be afraid of them. Nothing is hidden, you see, that won’t come to light; nothing is secret that won’t be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light, and what you hear whispered in your ears, announce from the roofs of the houses.
28 “Don’t be afraid of people who can kill the body, but can’t kill the soul. The one you should be afraid of is the one who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna. 29 How much would you get for a couple of sparrows? A single copper coin if you’re lucky? And not one of them falls to the ground without your father knowing about it. 30 When it comes to you—why, every hair on your head is counted. 31 So don’t be afraid! You’re worth much more than a great many sparrows.”
Jesus causes division
32 “So: everyone who owns up in front of others to being on my side, I will own them before my father in heaven. 33 But anyone who disowns me in front of others, I will disown that person before my father in heaven.
34 “Don’t think it’s my job to bring peace on the earth. I didn’t come to bring peace—I came to bring a sword! 35 I came to divide a man from his father, a daughter from her mother, and a daughter-in-law from her mother-in-law. 36 Yes, you’ll find your enemies inside your own front door.
37 “If you love your father or mother more than me, you don’t deserve me. If you love your son or daughter more than me, you don’t deserve me. 38 Anyone who doesn’t pick up their cross and follow after me doesn’t deserve me. 39 If you find your life you’ll lose it, and if you lose your life because of me you’ll find it.
40 “Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and anyone who receives an upright person in the name of an upright person will receive an upright person’s reward. 42 Anyone who gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, in the name of a disciple—I’m telling you the truth, they won’t go short of their reward!”
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.