Matthew 10

1 And calling [summoning, inviting] His twelve disciples [learners, followers] to Him, Jesus gave [bestowed, granted] them authority [power, freedom to act] over unclean [impure, evil] spirits [malevolent beings], so that they could drive [expel, cast out] them out and heal [cure, restore to health] every [all, each] disease [sickness, malady] and sickness [weakness, infirmity]. word study 2 These are the names [designations, identities] of the twelve apostles [messengers, delegates of Jesus Christ]: first [in prominence, preeminence] Simon, called [also known as, named] Peter [a rock, a stone], and his brother [fellow sibling, companion] Andrew; James [a servant of God] son of Zebedee [a father, a fisherman], and his brother [fellow sibling, companion] John [God is gracious, a gift from God]; word study 3 Philip [a common name among the apostles] and Bartholomew [son of Tolmai]; Thomas [known as the twin, a skeptic] and Matthew [also known as Levi, a tax collector] the tax collector [publican, gatherer of public revenue]; James [one of three men with this name] son of Alphaeus [an Israelite, father of Levi and James], and Thaddaeus [also known as Lebbaeus, an apostle]; word study 4 Simon [the revolutionary, Canaanite] the Zealot [a zealous enthusiast], and Judas [from Kerioth Town] Iscariot [from Kerioth], who betrayed [handed over, delivered] Jesus. word study 5 These twelve [the chosen apostles] Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road [path or way] of the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations] or enter any town [city or village] of the Samaritans [those from Samaria, a mixed-ancestry people]. word study 6 Go [rather, to a greater degree] rather to the lost [completely destroyed, spiritually wandering] sheep [followers, those who need guidance] of [belonging to, related to the house of] Israel [the adopted name of Jacob, God’s chosen people]. word study 7 As you go [travel, journey], preach [proclaim, herald] this message: ‘The kingdom [royal power, dominion] of heaven [the sky, God’s home] is near [at hand, has arrived, come nigh].’ word study 8 Heal [cure, make whole] the sick [infirm, weak], raise [cause to stand up, resurrect] the dead [lifeless, deceased], cleanse [purify, make clean] the lepers [those with leprosy], drive out [expel, cast out] demons [evil spirits, unclean beings]. Freely [without cost] you have received [taken, accepted]; freely [generously, without obligation] give [bestow, grant]. word study 9 Do not [possess, acquire] carry any gold [valuable metal, riches] or silver [precious coins] or copper [bronze, money] in your belts [purses, girdles]. word study 10 Take no [leather pouch or wallet for provisions] bag for the road [or journey], or [an extra] second tunic [a shirt worn next to the skin], or [footwear such as] sandals, or [a walking] staff [or rod]; for the [field] worker [laborer or servant] is worthy [deserving, suitable] of his [physical or spiritual] provisions [food or nourishment]. word study 11 Whatever [town or small place] town or village [city, rural area] you enter [go into, come to], find out [search, investigate, inquire] who [which person, someone worthy] is worthy [deserving, suitable, praiseworthy] there [in that place, among them] and stay [remain, abide, reside] at his house [their home, his dwelling] until [till, as long as] you move on [go out, depart, leave]. word study 12 As you enter [come into, go into] the home [house, household, family], greet [salute, pay respects to, say peace be upon] its occupants [it, the people living there, the family]. word study 13 If the home [house, household, family] is worthy [deserving, suitable, of value], let your peace [harmony, prosperity, freedom from war] rest on it; but if it is not [if it does not deserve it, is not worthy], let your peace [state of harmony, spiritual well-being] return to you [come back to you, revert to you]. word study 14 And if anyone [whoever, any person] will not welcome [receive, take in] you or heed [listen to, obey] your words, shake [violently shake out/off, remove] the dust [pulverized earth, insignificance] off your feet [as a symbol of rejection, a sign of judgment] when you leave [go out, depart from] that home [house, household] or town [city, community]. word study 15 Truly [verily, I assure you] I tell you, it will be more [tolerable, endurable] bearable [able to be endured] for Sodom [a place in ancient Palestine] and Gomorrah [a city near the Dead Sea] on the day [a 24-hour period, a period of judgment] of judgment [divine verdict, decision] than for that town [city, a town with walls]. word study 16 Behold [see, take notice], I am sending you out like sheep [defenseless, vulnerable] among wolves [ferocious, dangerous]; therefore [in consequence, as a result] be as shrewd [wise, thoughtful] as snakes [cunning, sly] and as innocent [harmless, pure] as doves [gentle, peaceful]. word study 17 But beware [be on guard, watch out] of men [human beings, people]; for they will hand [deliver, surrender] you over to their councils [Sanhedrins, governing assemblies] and flog [scourge, whip] you in their synagogues [places of assembly, meeting houses]. word study 18 On My account [because of me, for My sake], you will be brought [led, dragged] before governors [rulers, high-ranking officials] and kings [sovereign rulers] as witnesses [to testify, to give evidence] to them and to the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations]. word study 19 But when [at the uncertain future time, whenever] they hand [deliver, surrender] you over, do not worry [be anxious, be troubled] about how [in what manner] to respond [speak, answer] or what [which thing] to say [speak, utter]. In that [same, specific] hour [time, moment] you will be given [granted, bestowed] what [which thing] to say [speak, utter]. word study 20 For it will not be you [the speakers, yourselves] speaking, but [on the contrary, in contrast] the Spirit [the vital principle] of your Father [the heavenly One, your Creator] speaking [uttering words, communicating] through [in place of, on behalf of] you. word study 21 Brother [a male sibling or fellow Christian] will betray [deliver up, surrender] brother [a male sibling or fellow Christian] to death [physical or spiritual], and a father [a male parent] his child [a son or daughter]; children [sons and daughters] will rise [rebel, stand up] against their parents [fathers and mothers] and have them put to death [kill, cause to be executed]. word study 22 You will be hated [detested, loved less] by everyone [all men, all people] because of My name [My character, My authority], but the one who perseveres [endures, remains] to the end [the goal, the conclusion] will be saved [delivered, rescued]. word study 23 When [at any time, whenever] they persecute [pursue, follow with hostile intent] you in one town [city, a walled community], flee [run away, escape] to the next [another, a different one]. Truly [verily, with certainty] I tell you, you will not reach [finish, complete] all the towns [cities, communities] of Israel [the chosen people, descendants of Jacob] before [until] the Son [the divine, eternal one] of Man [a human being, a descendant of Adam] comes [arrives, returns]. word study 24 A disciple [learner, pupil] is not above [superior to, greater than] his teacher [instructor, master], nor [neither] a servant [slave, bondservant] above [exceeding, superior to] his master [lord, one in authority]. word study 25 It is enough [sufficient, satisfactory] for a disciple [learner, pupil] to be like his teacher [instructor, master], and a servant [slave, bondservant] like his master [lord, ruler]. If the head of the house [householder, master of the family] has been called Beelzebul [lord of the flies, Satan], how much more [to a greater degree] the members of his household [family, those under his care]! word study 26 So do not be afraid [fear them not, have no fear] of them [those who oppose you]. For there is nothing [none, no thing] concealed [covered, hidden from view] that will not be disclosed [revealed, made known], and nothing [no thing, nothing at all] hidden [secret, concealed from sight] that will not be made known [revealed, brought to light]. word study 27 What I tell you [in secret, privately] in the dark, speak [declare, proclaim] in the daylight [openly, publicly]; what is whispered [spoken quietly, in confidence] in your ear [the ability to hear and understand], proclaim [shout, herald] from the housetops [the highest point, for all to hear]. word study 28 Do not be afraid [do not have fear or dread] of those who kill [destroy or take the life of] the body [physical person, flesh] but cannot kill [are not able to destroy] the soul [breath of life, seat of emotions]. Instead, fear [reverence or have awe of] the One [God, the Almighty] who can destroy [completely ruin or annihilate] both soul [spirit, inner being] and body [physical form, outward person] in hell [Gehenna, a place of eternal punishment]. word study 29 Are not [certainly, undoubtedly] two sparrows [small birds, of little value] sold for a penny [a small coin, an assarion]? Yet not one of them [no single sparrow] will fall to the ground [onto the earth, to the soil] apart from [without, outside of] the will [desire, intention] of your Father [the heavenly Father, God]. word study 30 And even [certainly, truly] the very [each and every] hairs [the growth on the head] of your [addressing each person directly] head [the upper part of the body] are [exist, have being] all [every single one] numbered [counted and known]. word study 31 So do not [be alarmed or in awe] be afraid; you [as God’s children] are worth [of greater value, surpassing] more than [a large number of, exceeding] many [small, insignificant] sparrows [created and cared for by God]. word study 32 Therefore everyone [all people, every individual] who confesses [acknowledges, professes] Me [as the Messiah, the Son of God] before men [in the presence of people, publicly], I will also confess [acknowledge, declare] him [as my follower, my disciple] before My Father [the heavenly Father, the Creator] in heaven [the spiritual realm, the kingdom of God]. word study 33 But whoever [whosoever, anyone] denies [says no to, rejects] Me [I, the Messiah] before [in the presence of] men [human beings, people], I will also [in like manner] deny [disown, refuse to acknowledge] him [that person, the one who denies Me] before [in the presence of] My Father [the heavenly Father, God] in [the realm of] heaven [the spiritual realm, paradise]. word study 34 Do not assume [think, suppose] that I have come [arrived, been sent] to bring [establish, usher in] peace [harmony, tranquility] to the earth [the world, human society]; I have not come [did not arrive, was not sent] to bring [establish, provide] peace [reconciliation, unity], but [instead, on the contrary] a sword [conflict, division]. word study 35 For I have come to turn [to set at variance, to disunite] ‘a man [human being, person] against his father [male parent, ancestor], a daughter [female child, descendant] against her mother [female parent, nurturer], a daughter-in-law [bride, newly married woman] against her mother-in-law [mother of one’s spouse, relative]. word study 36 A man’s [personal, intimate] enemies [foes, those who are hostile] will be [are, shall be] the [his own, family] members [relatives, those of his household] of his own [family, domestic] household [family circle, those closest to him].’ word study 37 Anyone who loves [has a strong affection for, is deeply devoted to] his father [male parent, ancestor] or mother [female parent, nurturer] more than Me [above all else, with utmost priority] is not worthy [deserving, suitable] of Me; anyone who loves [has a strong affection for, is deeply devoted to] his son [child, descendant] or daughter [female child, offspring] more than Me [above all else, with utmost priority] is not worthy [deserving, suitable] of Me; word study 38 and anyone who does not take up [receive and accept] his cross [instrument of death] and follow [accompany, obey] Me is not worthy [deserving, suitable] of Me. word study 39 Whoever finds [discovers, meets] his life [soul, the breath of life] will lose [destroy, forfeit] it, and whoever loses [sacrifices, gives up] his life [soul, the seat of emotions] for My sake [because of me, on account of me] will find [discover, recover] it. word study 40 He who receives [welcomes, gives honor to] you receives Me, and he who receives [embracing, accepting] Me receives the One [Him, the Father] who sent [dispatched, commissioned] Me. word study 41 Whoever receives [welcomes, gives hospitality to] a prophet [one who speaks for God, a messenger of God’s will] because he is a prophet [in the name of a prophet, as a representative of God] will receive [be given, obtain] a prophet’s reward [a wage, payment for service], and whoever receives [welcomes, gives honor to] a righteous man [one who is just, fair, and innocent] because he is a righteous man [in the name of a righteous man, as a representative of God’s justice] will receive [be given, obtain] a righteous man’s reward [a wage, payment for righteous living]. word study 42 And if anyone gives [even a small gesture of kindness] even a cup [a vessel] of cold [chilling, refreshing] water to one of these little ones [humble, lowly followers] because he is My disciple [a learner, a follower of Christ], truly I tell you [assuringly, with certainty], he will never lose [miss out on, forfeit] his reward [payment for service, spiritual compensation].” word study