MatthewChapter 10

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¹Jesus called his twelve disciples to him. He gave them authority over unclean spirits, so they could drive them out. He also gave them power to heal every disease and sickness. ²These are the names of the twelve apostles. First there was Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. Then there was James son of Zebedee, and his brother John. ³There were Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector. There were James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus. ⁴There were Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus. ⁵Jesus sent out these twelve men. He gave them these orders: "Don't go on the road to where the Gentiles live. Don't go into any town of the Samaritans. ⁶Go instead to the lost sheep of Israel. ⁷As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' ⁸Heal the sick. Raise the dead. Make the lepers clean. Drive out demons. You received freely, so give freely. ⁹Don't take any gold or silver or copper coins in your belts. ¹⁰Don't take a bag for the trip, or an extra tunic, or sandals, or a walking stick. A worker deserves to be given what he needs. ¹¹When you go into a town or village, find someone there who is worthy. Stay at his house until you leave. ¹²As you go into the home, greet the people who live there. ¹³If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it. If it is not, let your peace come back to you. ¹⁴If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. ¹⁵I tell you the truth, it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. ¹⁶Listen, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves. ¹⁷But watch out for people. They will hand you over to their councils. They will whip you in their synagogues. ¹⁸Because of me, you will be brought before governors and kings. You will be witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹But when they hand you over, don't worry about how to answer or what to say. At that time you will be given what to say. ²⁰It won't be you speaking. It will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ²¹Brother will hand over brother to be killed. A father will hand over his child. Children will turn against their parents and have them put to death. ²²Everyone will hate you because of my name. But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ²³When they treat you badly in one town, run to the next. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ²⁴A student is not above his teacher. A servant is not above his master. ²⁵It is enough for a student to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more will the people of his house be called evil names!a ²⁶So don't be afraid of them. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered. Nothing is hidden that will not be made known. ²⁷What I tell you in the dark, say in the daylight. What is whispered in your ear, shout from the rooftops. ²⁸Don't be afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹Aren't two sparrows sold for one small coin? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unless your Father allows it. ³⁰Even the hairs on your head are all counted. ³¹So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. ³²So whoever says in front of people that he belongs to me, I will also say before my Father in heaven that he belongs to me. ³³But whoever says in front of people that he does not know me, I will also say before my Father in heaven that I do not know him. ³⁴Don't think that I came to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶A man's enemies will be the people in his own home.' ³⁷Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸And anyone who does not pick up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹Whoever finds his life will lose it. And whoever loses his life for me will find it. ⁴⁰Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me. ⁴¹Whoever welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will get a prophet's reward. Whoever welcomes a righteous man because he is righteous will get a righteous man's reward. ⁴²And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, that person will never lose his reward."