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 .
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“ 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 .
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“ 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 .
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“ 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 .
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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 .
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“ 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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