Mat 10 | BSB | STEP | 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.

Matthew 10

The Twelve Apostles

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 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 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed [Jesus] .

The Ministry of the Twelve

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 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘ - The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise [the] dead, cleanse [the] lepers, ^{▼▼Leprosy was a term used for various skin diseases. See Leviticus 13.} drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9 {Do} not carry [any] gold or silver or copper in your belts. 10 [Take] no bag for [the] road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker [is] worthy of his provisions. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy [and] stay [at his house] until you move on. 12 As you enter the house, greet its [occupants] . 13 If the home is worthy, {let} your peace rest on it; if it is not, {let} your peace return to you. 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 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on [the] day of judgment than for that town.

Sheep among Wolves

16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 But beware of men; for they will hand you over to [their] councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 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 For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 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 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the [one who] perseveres to [the] end will be saved. 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 A disciple is not above [his] teacher, nor a servant above his master. 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 Alone

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 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; what is whispered in [your] ear, proclaim from the housetops. 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 {Are} not two sparrows sold for a penny? ^{▼▼Greek assarion, a roman copper coin worth about 1/16 of a denarius} Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ

32 Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

The Sword of the Gospel

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 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 A man’s enemies [will be] the members of his own household.’ ^{▼▼Micah 7:6}

Take up Your Cross

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 and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

The Reward of Service

40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the [One who] sent Me. 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 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.”