FEATURES
is worth his keep. 11 What ev er town or vil lage you en ter, search there for some wor thy per son and stay at their house un til you leave. 12 As you en ter the home, give it your greet ing. 13 If the home is de serv ing, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace re turn to you. 14 If any one will not welcome you or lis ten to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Tru ly I tell you, it will be more bear able for Sod om and Gomor rah on the day of judg ment than for that town.
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“ I am send ing you out like sheep among wolves. There fore be as shrewd as snakes and as in no cent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be hand ed over to the lo cal coun cils and be flogged in the syn a gogues. 18 On my ac count you will be brought be fore gov er nors and kings as wit ness es to them and to the Gen tiles. 19 But when they ar rest you, do not wor ry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be giv en what to say, 20 for it will not be you speak ing, but the Spir it of your Fa ther speak ing through you.
21
“ Broth er will be tray broth er to death, and a fa ther his child; chil dren will re bel against their par ents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by ev ery one be cause of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are per se cut ed in one place, flee to an oth er. Tru ly I tell you, you will not fin ish go ing through the towns of Is ra el be fore the Son of Man comes.
24
“ The stu dent is not above the teach er, nor a ser vant above his mas ter. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teach ers, and ser vants like their mas ters. If the head of the house has been called Be el ze bul, how much more the mem bers of his house hold!
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“ So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing con cealed that will not be dis closed, or hid den that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the day light; what is whis pered in your ear, pro claim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but can not kill the soul. Rath er, be afraid of the One who can de stroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two spar rows sold for a pen ny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground out side your Fa ther’ s care. a 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all num bered. 31 So don’ t be afraid; you are worth more than many spar rows.
32
“ Who ev er ac knowl edg es me be fore others, I will also ac knowl edge Fair be treatment fore my Fa ther in heav en.
33
But who ev er dis of owns multiple me be fore others, I will dis own be fore my points Fa ther in of heav view en.
34
“ Do not sup pose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did 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 29 Or will; or knowledge
m a TThew 10:35 | 1551
10:11 worthy person Refers to someone willing to welcome the disciples and show them hospitality. This also might indicate those who welcome the disciples’ message. 10:13 your peace return to you The initial blessing or greeting would not take effect on the house or its inhabitants. 10:14 shake the dust off your feet This symbolic act was a renunciation and indicated a severed relationship( compare Ac 13:51). 10:15 Sodom and Gomorrah These cities are often used as examples of divine judgment( e. g., Mt 11:23 – 24; 2Pe 2:6; Jude 7; Rev 11:8). Those who reject the disciples and the message of the kingdom of heaven are left to inevitable judgment. See Ge 19:1 – 29. the day of judgment Refers to the time when God will take account of humanity( Rev 20:11 – 14).
10:16 – 25 Jesus himself will face persecution; so too will his disciples. Here, he warns them of their fate and assures them that the Spirit will give them the appropriate words in times of trial.
10:16 as shrewd as snakes In the Biblical world, serpents were associated with wisdom and cleverness( e. g., Ge 3:1; 2Co 11:3). 10:18 governors and kings The highest officials. Jesus is looking beyond his mission and predicting what would happen to his followers in the future. 10:21 Brother will betray brother to death Jesus predicts that his followers will face persecution and betrayal by those closest to them. 10:22 will be saved See note on Mt 24:13. 10:23 before the Son of Man comes There are at least five plausible options for understanding this reference: Jesus’ coming to his disciples upon their return from this particular mission( vv. 6 – 15), Jesus’ resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, and the second coming of Jesus at the end of the age. The overall passage is difficult to interpret, but it seems to be looking ahead to final judgment. Jesus probably means that, at his second coming, there will still be people left in the towns of Israel who have not accepted him. See note on 8:20. 10:25 Beelzebul A deity in the ancient Near East. The name means“ Baal the Prince”( see 2Ki 1:2 – 6). This figure is later identified with Satan and the demons.
10:26 – 33 Despite the hardships they will face, Jesus commands the disciples not to fear; rather, they should be bold witnesses to Jesus’ message and faithfully carry out their tasks.
10:26 nothing concealed that will not be disclosed In connection with Mt 10:27, this may refer to Jesus’ message of the arrival of the kingdom of heaven( 4:17). It also might refer to the persecutors’ hidden sins that will be revealed at the judgment. 10:28 be afraid of the One People should have a healthy fear of God— treating him with reverence. 10:31 So don’ t be afraid If God watches over sparrows, he surely cares for his people.
10:34 – 39 While some receive Jesus’ message eagerly and with great joy, others reject it with hostility.
10:34 a sword Jesus’ message inherently brings conflict. The context may indicate persecution and martyrdom, but interpersonal discord also results( vv. 21 – 22).
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