Matthew 10:5-42

51These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road 2to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of 3Samaritans; 6but rather go to 4the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as you go, 5preach, saying, ‘6The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 97Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10or a 8bag for your journey, or even two 9tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for 10the worker is deserving of his 11support. 11And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay 12at his house until you leave that city. 12As you enter the 13house, 14give it your 15greeting. 13If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, 16take back your blessing of peace. 14And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, 17shake the dust off your feet. 15Truly I say to you, 18it will be more tolerable for the land of 19Sodom and Gomorrah on 20the day of judgment, than for that city.

16“21Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as 22wary as serpents, and as 23innocent as doves. 17But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the 24courts and flog you 25in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 1926But when they hand you over, 27do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. 20For 28it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking 29in you.

21“Now 30brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and 31children will rise up against parents and 32cause them to be put to death. 22And 33you will be hated by all because of My name, but 34it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

23“But whenever they 35persecute you in 36one city, flee to the 37next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel 38until the Son of Man comes.

24“39A 40disciple 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. 41If they have called the head of the house 4243Beelzebul, how much more will they insult the members of his household!

26“So do not 44fear them, 45for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 2746What I tell you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim 47on the housetops. 28And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather 48fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in 4950hell. 2951Are two sparrows not sold for an 52assarion? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But 53even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not fear; 54you are more valuable than a great number of sparrows.

32“Therefore, 55everyone who 56confesses Me before people, I will also confess 57him before My Father who is in heaven. 33But 58whoever denies Me before people, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

34“59Do not think that I came to 60bring peace on the earth; I did not come to 61bring peace, but a sword. 35For I came to 62turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36and 63a person’s enemies will be the members of his household.

37“64The 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 65the one who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 3966The one who has found his 67life will lose it, and the one who has lost his 68life on My account will find it.

40“69The one who 70receives you 71receives Me, and 72the one who 73receives Me 74receives Him who sent Me. 4175The one who 76receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and the one who 77receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person shall receive a righteous person’s reward. 42And 78whoever gives one of these 79little 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.”