Commissioning the Twelve Matthew 10:1–15 1 Matthew 10:1. And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness.2 Matthew 10:2. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;3 Matthew 10:3. Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;4 Matthew 10:4. Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.5 Matthew 10:5. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Matthew 10:6. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 Matthew 10:7. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Matthew 10:8. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9 Matthew 10:9. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts. 10 Matthew 10:10. Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions. 11 Matthew 10:11. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house until you move on. 12 Matthew 10:12. As you enter the home, greet its occupants. 13 Matthew 10:13. If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it, but if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 Matthew 10:14. And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15 Matthew 10:15. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Persecutions Predicted Matthew 10:16–25 16 Matthew 10:16. Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Matthew 10:17. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 Matthew 10:18. On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 Matthew 10:19. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. 20 Matthew 10:20. For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Matthew 10:21. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 Matthew 10:22. You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 Matthew 10:23. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 Matthew 10:24. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 Matthew 10:25. It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
Fear God Matthew 10:26–31 26 Matthew 10:26. So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. 27 Matthew 10:27. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Matthew 10:28. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Matthew 10:29. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 Matthew 10:30. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Matthew 10:31. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Acknowledging Christ Matthew 10:32–39 32 Matthew 10:32. Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. 33 Matthew 10:33. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. 34 Matthew 10:34. Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 Matthew 10:35. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Matthew 10:36. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 Matthew 10:37. Anyone 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; 38 Matthew 10:38. and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 39 Matthew 10:39. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
A Cup of Cold Water Matthew 10:40 40 Matthew 10:40. He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me. 41 Matthew 10:41. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 Matthew 10:42. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
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Pray with this chapter A short prayer for the reader. This is not Scripture and is kept distinct from the Berean text.
Lord Jesus, as we read Matthew 10 — Commissioning the Twelve — open our ears to your voice and make us faithful hearers and doers of your word. Amen.
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