Matthew 10:5-33

Christian Standard Bible

⁵ Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan^(A) town. ⁶ Instead, go to the lost sheep^(B) of the house of Israel.^{(C) 7} As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’^{(D) 8} Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy,^[a] drive out demons.^(E) Freely you received, freely give. ⁹ Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.^{(F) 10} Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker^(G) is worthy of his food. ¹¹ When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. ¹² Greet a household when you enter it,^{(H) 13} and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.^{(I) 14} If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet^(J) when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment^(K) for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.^(L)

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁶ “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.^{(M) 17} Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts^[b] and flog you in their synagogues.^{(N) 18} You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.^{(O) 19} But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.^(P) For you will be given what to say at that hour, ²⁰ because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit^(Q) of your Father is speaking through you.^(R)

²¹ “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.^{(S) 22} You will be hated by everyone because of my name.^(T) But the one who endures to the end will be saved.^{(U) 23} When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.^(V) For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ²⁴ A disciple^[c] is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.^{(W) 25} It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!^(X)

Fear God

²⁶ “Therefore,^(Y) don’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known.^{(Z) 27} What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper,^[d] proclaim on the housetops.^{(AA) 28} Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; ^(AB) rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.^{(AC) 29} Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?^[e] Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s^(AD) consent.^{[f] 30} But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.^{(AE) 31} So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.^(AF)

Acknowledging Christ

³² “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.^{(AG) 33} But whoever denies me before others,^(AH) I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.