10Matthew 10

Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles

1Jesus called together his twelve disciples. He gave them the power to force out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and sickness.Select Matthew 10:1

2The first of the twelve apostles was Simon, better known as Peter. His brother Andrew was an apostle, and so were James and John, the two sons of Zebedee.Select Matthew 10:2

3Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were also apostles.Select Matthew 10:3

4The others were Simon, known as the Eager One, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.Select Matthew 10:4

Instructions for the Twelve Apostles

5Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: Stay away from the Gentiles and don't go to any Samaritan town.Select Matthew 10:5

6Go only to the people of Israel, because they are like a flock of lost sheep.Select Matthew 10:6

7As you go, announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here.Select Matthew 10:7

8Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid.Select Matthew 10:8

9Don't take along any gold, silver, or copper coins.Select Matthew 10:9

10And don't carry a traveling bag or an extra shirt or sandals or a walking stick. Workers deserve their food.Select Matthew 10:10

11So when you go to a town or a village, find someone able and willing to have you as their guest and stay with them until you leave.Select Matthew 10:11

12When you go to a home, give it your blessing of peace.Select Matthew 10:12

13If the home is deserving, let your blessing remain with them. But if the home doesn't accept you, take back your blessing of peace.Select Matthew 10:13

14If someone won't welcome you or listen to your message, leave their home or town. And shake the dust from your feet at them.Select Matthew 10:14

15I promise you the day of judgment will be easier for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.Select Matthew 10:15

Warning about Trouble

16I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves.Select Matthew 10:16

17Watch out for people who will take you to court and have you beaten in their synagogues.Select Matthew 10:17

18Because of me, you will be dragged before rulers and kings to tell them and the Gentiles about your faith.Select Matthew 10:18

19But when someone arrests you, don't worry about what you will say or how you will say it. At that time you will be given the words to say.Select Matthew 10:19

20But you will not really be the one speaking. The Spirit from your Father will tell you what to say.Select Matthew 10:20

21Brothers and sisters will betray one another and have each other put to death. Parents will betray their own children, and children will turn against their parents and have them killed.Select Matthew 10:21

22Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you remain faithful until the end, you will be saved.Select Matthew 10:22

23When people mistreat you in one town, hurry to another one. I promise you before you have gone to all the towns of Israel, the Son of Man will come.Select Matthew 10:23

24Students are not better than their teacher, and slaves are not better than their master.Select Matthew 10:24

25It is enough for students to be like their teacher and for slaves to be like their master. If people call the head of the family Satan, what will they say about the rest of the family?Select Matthew 10:25

The One To Fear

26Don't be afraid of anyone! Everything is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known.Select Matthew 10:26

27Whatever I say to you in the dark, you must tell in the light. And you must announce from the housetops whatever I have whispered to you.Select Matthew 10:27

28Don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot harm your soul. Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in hell.Select Matthew 10:28

29Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground.Select Matthew 10:29

30Even the hairs on your head are counted.Select Matthew 10:30

31So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.Select Matthew 10:31

Telling Others about Christ

32If you tell others you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven you are my followers.Select Matthew 10:32

33But if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven you don't belong to me.Select Matthew 10:33

Not Peace, but Trouble

34Don't think I came to bring peace to the earth! I came to bring trouble, not peace.Select Matthew 10:34

35I came to turn sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law.Select Matthew 10:35

36Your worst enemies will be in your own family.Select Matthew 10:36

37If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples.Select Matthew 10:37

38And unless you are willing to take up your cross and follow me, you are not fit to be my disciples.Select Matthew 10:38

39If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it.Select Matthew 10:39

Rewards

40Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes the one who sent me.Select Matthew 10:40

41Anyone who welcomes a prophet, just because that person is a prophet, will be given the same reward as a prophet. Anyone who welcomes a good person, just because that person is good, will be given the same reward as a good person.Select Matthew 10:41

42And anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is my follower, will be rewarded.Select Matthew 10:42