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 disease and every sickness.

23Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, 4Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother 5Andrew; and 67James the son of Zebedee, and his brother 8John; 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 also betrayed Him.

518These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road 19to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of 20Samaritans; 6but rather go to 21the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as you go, 22preach, saying, ‘23The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 924Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10or a 25bag for your journey, or even two 26tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for 27the worker is deserving of his 28support. 11And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay 29at his house until you leave that city. 12As you enter the 30house, 31give it your 32greeting. 13If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, 33take back your blessing of peace. 14And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, 34shake the dust off your feet. 15Truly I say to you, 35it will be more tolerable for the land of 36Sodom and Gomorrah on 37the day of judgment, than for that city.

A Hard Road Ahead of Them

16“38Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as 39wary as serpents, and as 40innocent as doves. 17But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the 41courts and flog you 42in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 1943But when they hand you over, 44do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. 20For 45it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking 46in you.

21“Now 47brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and 48children will rise up against parents and 49cause them to be put to death. 22And 50you will be hated by all because of My name, but 51it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

23“But whenever they 52persecute you in 53one city, flee to the 54next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel 55until the Son of Man comes.

The Meaning of Discipleship

24“56A 57disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25It is enough for the disciple that he may become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. 58If they have called the head of the house 5960Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!

26“So do not 61fear them, 62for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 2763What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim 64on the housetops. 28And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather 65fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in 6667hell. 2968Are two sparrows not sold for an 69assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But 70even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not fear; 71you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.

32“Therefore, 72everyone who 73confesses Me before people, I will also confess 74him before My Father who is in heaven. 33But 75whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

34“76Do not think that I came to 77bring peace on the earth; I did not come to 78bring peace, but a sword. 35For I came to 79turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36and 80a person’s enemies will be the members of his household.

37“81The 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. 38And 82the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 3983The one who has found his 84life will lose it, and the one who has lost his 85life on My account will find it.

The Reward for Service

40“86The one who 87receives you 88receives Me, and 89the one who 90receives Me 91receives Him who sent Me. 4192The one who 93receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who 94receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. 42And 95whoever gives one of these 96little 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.”