Matthew 10
World English Bible
WEB1He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother; 3Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans. 6Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ 8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give. 9Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts. 10Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. 11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on. 12As you enter into the household, greet it. 13If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you. 14Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. 16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. 18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations. 19But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say. 20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved. 23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come. 24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. 25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! 26Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. 28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. 29“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. 32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. 33But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven. 34“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword. 35For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36A man’s foes will be those of his own household. 37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. 38He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. 39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. 40“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.”
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Matthew Chapter 10 is a pivotal moment in the Gospel where Jesus commissions His twelve disciples for ministry. He calls them together, giving them authority over unclean spirits and the power to heal every disease and affliction. The chapter begins with a detailed list of the twelve apostles, including #Peter, #James, #John, and #Judas Iscariot, emphasizing their unique roles in spreading the message of the Kingdom of God. This commissioning is significant as it marks the transition from Jesus' ministry to the active involvement of His followers in proclaiming the Gospel, demonstrating the importance of discipleship in the Christian faith.
Jesus instructs His disciples on how to conduct their mission, emphasizing the need for reliance on God rather than material possessions. He advises them to travel light, to greet no one on the road, and to focus on the towns that welcome them. The message they are to proclaim is clear: "The kingdom of heaven has come near" (Matthew 10:7). Jesus also prepares them for the challenges they will face, warning them of persecution and opposition, yet encouraging them to remain steadfast in their faith. He reassures them that they will not be alone, as the Spirit of the Father will speak through them in times of trial. This chapter highlights the cost of discipleship and the necessity of prioritizing loyalty to Christ above all else, reminding us that true followers of Jesus must be willing to take up their cross and follow Him.
Referenced by
- Deuteronomy 13:6-8v37Deuteronomy 13:6-8 warns against being led astray by close family members or friends. Matthew 10:37 emphasizes the priority of loving Christ above family, indicating that allegiance to God must come first.
- 1 Samuel 23:12v16David learns that the men of Keilah will betray him to Saul in 1 Samuel 23:12. This reflects the wisdom of being 'wise as serpents and innocent as doves' as Jesus advises in Matthew 10:16, highlighting the need for discernment.
- Ezekiel 2:6v28Ezekiel 2:6 encourages the prophet not to fear the rebellious people, similar to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 10:28, where He instructs His disciples not to fear those who can harm the body but not the soul.
- Matthew 15:24v5In Matthew 15:24, Jesus states His mission to the lost sheep of Israel, which aligns with His earlier instruction in Matthew 10:5-6, where He sends the disciples to the lost sheep of Israel, emphasizing the initial focus of His earthly ministry.
- Mark 6:7v1Mark 6:7 describes Jesus sending out the twelve apostles two by two with authority over unclean spirits, paralleling Matthew 10:1 where Jesus gives them authority over unclean spirits and to heal every disease.
- Mark 13:13v22Both verses affirm that those who endure to the end will be saved, underscoring the importance of perseverance in faith amidst persecution.
- Luke 12:6-7v29Both passages emphasize God's intimate knowledge and care for His creation, highlighting the value of individuals to God, as He knows even the number of hairs on their heads.
- Luke 12:8-9v32Both passages discuss the importance of confessing Christ before others, with the promise of being acknowledged before the Father in heaven.
- Luke 14:27v38Luke 14:27 and Matthew 10:38 both speak of the necessity of taking up one's cross to follow Jesus, underscoring the cost of discipleship and the call to self-denial.
- John 15:18v22John 15:18 warns of the world's hatred towards Jesus' followers, similar to Matthew 10:22, where Jesus tells His disciples they will be hated for His name's sake.
- Acts 28:8-9v8Acts 28:8-9 describes Paul healing the sick on Malta, reflecting Jesus' command in Matthew 10:8 to heal the sick as part of the apostolic mission.
- Hebrews 6:10v42Hebrews 6:10 assures believers that God is not unjust to forget their work and love shown in His name, echoing Jesus' promise in Matthew 10:42 that even a cup of cold water given in His name will not lose its reward.
- Revelation 2:10v22Revelation 2:10 encourages believers to be faithful unto death, promising the crown of life, similar to Matthew 10:22 where Jesus says those who endure to the end will be saved.
Topics in this chapter
- Mission
- Discipleship
- Persecution
- Endurance
- Apostles
- Commitment
- Faith
- Faithfulness
- Provision
- Wisdom
- Authority
- Disciples
- Division
- Innocence
- Kingdom of Heaven
- Sacrifice
- Trust
- Witness
- Allegiance
- Apostle
- Boldness
- Care
- Cost of Discipleship
- Divine Providence
- Evangelism
- Galilee
- God's Care
- Holy Spirit
- Hospitality
- Israel
- Jesus
- Providence
- Sovereignty of God
- The Gospel
- Assurance
- Basileia (Kingdom of God)
- Betrayal
- Chosen People
- Christian Art
- Christian Literature
- Comfort
- Commissioning
- Conduct
- Confession
- Cost of Discipleship
- Dependence on God
- Discernment
- Discipleship
- Faith and Conflict
- Fear Not
- Fear of God
- Follow Jesus
- Generosity
- Gentiles
- God's Reign
- Good News
- Gospel Expansion
- Great Commission
- Guidance in the Bible
- Judas Iscariot
- Kingdom of God
- Leadership in the Bible
- Learning
- Loyalty to Christ
- Messiah
- Ministry
- Miracles
- Missionary Work
- Omniscience
- Peace
- Peter
- Prioritization in the Christian Life
- Promise
- Reconciliation
- Reliance on God
- Rewards
- Samaria
- Service
- Sheep Among Wolves
- Simplicity
- Support
- Sword
- Teacher
- The Cross
- The Great Commission
- Value in the Bible
- Witnessing
Related chapters
- Luke 12WitnessingFear of GodValue in the Bible
- Luke 9Follow JesusThe CrossApostles
- Acts 1The Great CommissionApostlesGreat Commission
- Luke 10CommissioningHospitalityTeacher
- Luke 14Follow JesusThe CrossHospitality
- Mark 6ApostlesGreat CommissionGalilee
- Acts 13Missionary WorkCommissioningGreat Commission
- Luke 6ApostlesGalileeTeacher
- Matthew 28Great CommissionGalileeDisciples
- John 15DisciplesPersecutionDiscipleship
- Mark 3ApostlesGalileeDisciples
- Matthew 9Missionary WorkFollow JesusGreat Commission
Your study
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This chapter’s study as a Markdown file. The analysis was written for a notebook originally, so the hashtags arrive as hashtags and the passages as links.