Matthew 10:27-42

New International Version

²⁷What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. ²⁸Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One^(A) who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.^[a] ³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.^(B) ³¹So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.^(C)

³²“Whoever acknowledges me before others,^(D) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.^(E)

³⁴“Do not suppose that I have come 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,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law^(F)—
³⁶ a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’^[b]^(G)

³⁷“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.^(H) ³⁸Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.^(I) ³⁹Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.^(J)

⁴⁰“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me,^(K) and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.^(L) ⁴¹Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴²And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”^(M)