Matthew 10

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

1 “Jesus called His twelve disciples and gave them the power to kick out demons and heal every sickness and disease.”

2 “Here are the names of the twelve apostles: First, Simon (aka Peter) and his brother Andrew; James and John, the sons of Zebedee;”

3 “Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), and Thaddaeus;”

4 “Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Him.”

Jesus’ Instructions for the Mission

5 “Jesus sent these twelve out and told them, ‘Do not go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans just yet.’”

6 “‘Go to the lost sheep of Israel first.’”

7 “‘As you go, tell them, “The kingdom of heaven is here.”’”

8 “‘Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, and drive out demons. Freely you have received, so freely give.’”

9 “‘Do not take any gold, silver, or copper in your belts.’”

10 “‘Do not bring a bag, extra clothes, sandals, or a staff. The worker deserves to be taken care of.’”

11 “‘When you enter a town, find someone who is trustworthy and stay at their house until you leave.’”

12 “‘When you enter a home, bless it with peace.’”

13 “‘If the home is deserving, let your peace stay. If not, take your peace back.’”

14 “‘If anyone does not welcome you or listen to what you say, shake the dust off your feet when you leave.’”

15 “‘I am telling you, it will be worse for them on judgment day than it was for Sodom and Gomorrah.’”

Warning About Persecution

16 “‘I am sending you all out like sheep among wolves. Be as sharp as snakes but as harmless as doves.’”

17 “‘Watch out for people, they will hand you over to courts and have you whipped in their synagogues.’”

18 “‘You will be dragged before governors and kings because of Me, but it will be a chance to tell them and the nations about Me.’”

19 “‘When you get arrested, do not stress about what to say. The Spirit of your Father will give you the words.’”

20 “‘It will not even be you talking but the Spirit speaking through you.’”

21 “‘Brothers will betray brothers to death, and fathers will betray their kids. Children will turn on their parents and have them killed.’”

22 “‘You will be hated by everybody because of Me, but if you hold on until the end, you will be saved.’”

23 “‘When they come after you in one town, bounce to the next. I am telling you, you will not hit all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’”

24 “‘A student is not better than their teacher, and a servant is not greater than their master.’”

25 “‘If they call the head of the house “Beelzebul,” what do you think they will call the rest of the family,’”

Do Not Be Afraid

26 “‘Do not trip when they hate you. Everything hidden will be brought to light.’”

27 “‘What I tell you in the dark, speak it in the daylight. What you hear whispered, shout it from the rooftops.’”

28 “‘Do not fear those who can kill your body but cannot touch your soul. Fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.’”

29 “‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny, Yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing.’”

30 “‘Even the hairs on your head are numbered.’”

31 “‘So do not be scared. You are worth way more than sparrows.’”

Acknowledging Jesus

32 “‘If you acknowledge Me in front of people, I will acknowledge you in front of My Father in heaven.’”

33 “‘But if you deny Me in front of people, I will deny you in front of My Father in heaven.’”

The Cost of Following Jesus

34 “‘Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.’”

35 “‘I came to turn a man against his dad, a daughter against her mom, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.’”

36 “‘A person’s enemies will be the people in their own house.’”

37 “‘If you love your mom or dad more than Me, you are not worthy of Me. Same if you love your son or daughter more than Me.’”

38 “‘If you do not take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of Me.’”

39 “‘If you try to keep your life, you will lose it. But if you lose your life for My sake, you will find it.’”

Rewards for Serving

40 “‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me.’”

41 “‘If someone welcomes a prophet because they are a prophet, they will get a prophet’s reward. If they welcome a righteous person, they will get a righteous person’s reward.’”

42 “‘Even if they give a cup of cold water to one of My followers, just because they are My disciple, they will not lose their reward.’”