Matthew 10

The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

1Jesus 1summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to 2heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

23Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, 4Simon, who is called Peter, and 5Andrew his brother; and 67James the son of Zebedee, and 8John his brother; 39Philip and 10Bartholomew; 11Thomas and 12Matthew the tax collector; 1314James the son of Alphaeus, and 15Thaddaeus; 4Simon the 16Zealot, and 17Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

518These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not 19go 20in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the 21Samaritans; 6but rather go to 22the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as you go, 23preach, saying, ‘24The kingdom of heaven 25is at hand.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 926Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10or a 27bag for your journey, or even two 28coats, or sandals, or a staff; for 29the worker is worthy of his 30support. 11And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay 31at his house until you leave that city. 12As you enter the 32house, 33give it your 34greeting. 13If the house is worthy, 35give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, 36take back your blessing of peace. 14Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, 37shake the dust off your feet. 15Truly I say to you, 38it will be more tolerable for the land of 39Sodom and Gomorrah in 40the day of judgment than for that city.

A Hard Road before Them

16“41Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so 42be 43shrewd as serpents and 44innocent as doves. 17But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the 45courts and scourge you 46in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 1947But when they hand you over, 48do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20For 49it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21“50Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and 51children will rise up against parents and 52cause them to be put to death. 2253You will be hated by all because of My name, but 54it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

23“But whenever they 55persecute you in 56one city, flee to 57the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel 58until the Son of Man comes.

The Meaning of Discipleship

24“59A 60disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. 61If they have called the head of the house 6263Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!

26“Therefore do not 64fear them, 65for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 2766What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim 67upon the housetops. 28Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather 68fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in 6970hell. 2971Are not two sparrows sold for a 72cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But 73the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So do not fear; 74you are more valuable than many sparrows.

32“Therefore 75everyone who 76confesses Me before men, I will also confess 77him before My Father who is in heaven. 33But 78whoever 79denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

34“80Do not think that I came to 81bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I came to 82set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36and 83a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

37“84He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38And 85he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 3986He who has found his 87life will lose it, and he who has lost his 88life for My sake will find it.

The Reward of Service

40“89He who receives you receives Me, and 90he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 4191He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42And 92whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these 93little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”