Matthew 10
10
The Twelve Apostles
1 #
Mark 3:13-15; 6:7-13; Luke 6:13; 9:1, 2 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2#For ver. 2-4, see Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:14-16; Acts 1:13 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, #ch. 16:18; John 1:42 who is called Peter, and #ch. 4:18, 21Andrew his brother; #ch. 4:18, 21James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and #ch. 9:9Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;#10:3 Some manuscripts Lebbaeus, or Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus 4Simon the Zealot,#10:4 Greek kananaios, meaning zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles
5 # [See ver. 1 above] These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of #2 Kgs. 17:24; Ezra 4:10; Luke 9:52; 10:33; 17:16; John 4:9, 39, 40; 8:48; Acts 8:25; [Acts 1:8]the Samaritans, 6#ch. 15:24; [Acts 3:25, 26; 13:46] but go rather to #Ps. 119:176; Isa. 53:6; Jer. 50:6; [ch. 9:36; 18:12] the lost sheep of #Acts 2:36; 7:42; Heb. 8:8, 10the house of Israel. 7And proclaim as you go, saying, #ch. 3:2; 4:17; Luke 10:9‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’#10:7 Or The kingdom of heaven has come near 8#[ch. 11:5] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,#10:8 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 cast out demons. #[Isa. 55:1; Acts 3:6; 20:33, 35]You received without paying; give without pay. 9#For ver. 9-15, see Mark 6:8-11; Luke 9:3-5; [Luke 10:4-12; 22:35]Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics#10:10 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin or sandals or a staff, for #1 Tim. 5:18; [1 Cor. 9:4, 7-14]the laborer deserves his food. 11And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12As you enter the house, #[1 Sam. 25:6; 1 Chr. 12:18]greet it. 13And if the house is #[ch. 8:8; Acts 16:15] worthy, let #[See ver. 12 above]your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let #[See ver. 12 above]your peace return to you. 14And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, #Acts 13:51; [Neh. 5:13; Acts 18:6]shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15Truly, I say to you, #ch. 11:24 it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for #Gen. 18:20; 19:28; 2 Pet. 2:6the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Persecution Will Come
16 #
Luke 10:3; [John 17:18] “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be #
Gen. 3:1 wise as serpents and #
Rom. 16:19 (Gk.); Phil. 2:15; [1 Cor. 14:20] innocent as doves. 17Beware of men, for #See Mark 13:9, 11; Luke 12:11, 12 they will deliver you over to courts and flog you #See ch. 23:34in their synagogues, 18#[See ver. 17 above] and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, #See ch. 8:4to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19#[See ver. 17 above] When #For ver. 19-22, [Mark 13:11-13; Luke 21:12-19; 2 Tim. 4:16, 17] they deliver you over, #See ch. 6:25 do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for #Deut. 18:18; [Num. 23:5]; See Ex. 4:12what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20#Luke 12:12; Acts 4:8; 6:10; 13:9; 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 13:3; [ver. 40; 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 1:1] For it is not you who speak, but #[John 15:26]the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21#ver. 35, 36Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22#ch. 24:9; John 15:18-21 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. #ch. 24:13; Mark 13:13; [Dan. 12:12, 13; James 5:11; Rev. 2:10]; See Heb. 3:6But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they #ch. 23:34 persecute you in one town, #[ch. 12:15; Acts 8:1; 9:25, 30; 14:6; 17:10, 14] flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel #ch. 16:28before the Son of Man comes.
24 #
Luke 6:40; John 13:16; 15:20; [Heb. 12:3] “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant # 10:24 Or bondservant ; also verse 25 above his master. 25It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. #ch. 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15; See John 7:20If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign#10:25 Greek lacks will they malign those of his household.
Have No Fear
26 “So have no fear of them, #
Mark 4:22; Luke 8:17; [1 Tim. 5:25]; For ver. 26-33, see Luke 12:2-9 for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on #See Luke 5:19the housetops. 28And #Isa. 8:12, 13; 51:12, 13; Jer. 1:8; 1 Pet. 3:14 do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him #James 4:12who can destroy both soul and body in hell.#10:28 Greek Gehenna 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?#10:29 Greek assarion, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/16 of a denarius (which was a day’s wage for a laborer) And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But #See 1 Sam. 14:45even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not, therefore; #ch. 6:26; 12:12you are of more value than many sparrows. 32#[Rom. 10:9, 10; Heb. 10:35; Rev. 3:5]So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33but #2 Tim. 2:12; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 2:23; [Mark 8:38] whoever denies me before men, #ch. 7:23; 25:12; Luke 13:25I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Not Peace, but a Sword
34 # See Luke 12:51-53 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. # [Rev. 6:4] I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35#[See ver. 34 above] For I have come #ver. 21; [Mic. 7:6]to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36#Cited from Mic. 7:6; [Ps. 41:9; 55:12, 13; John 13:18]And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37#Luke 14:26Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And #ch. 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; 14:27 whoever does not take his cross and #ch. 9:9; John 8:12; 12:26; 21:19follow me is not worthy of me. 39#ch. 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17:33; John 12:25Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Rewards
40 #
Luke 10:16; John 13:20; Gal. 4:14; [ver. 20; ch. 18:5; 25:40] “Whoever receives you receives me, and #
Mark 9:37; Luke 9:48; [John 12:44, 45] whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41#1 Kgs. 17:10-15; 18:4; 2 Kgs. 4:8; [3 John 5-8]The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42And #ch. 25:35, 40; Mark 9:41; Heb. 6:10 whoever gives one of #ch. 18:10these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Matthew 10
10
Jesus chooses his twelve apostles
(Mark 3.13-19; Luke 6.12-16)
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. 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. 3Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector,#10.3 tax collector: See the note at 5.46. James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were also apostles. 4The others were Simon, known as the Eager One,#10.4 known as the Eager One: The Greek text has “Cananaean”, which probably comes from a Hebrew word meaning “zealous” (see Luke 6.15). “Zealot” was the name later given to the members of a Jewish group which resisted and fought against the Romans. and Judas Iscariot,#10.4 Iscariot: This may mean “a man from Kerioth” (a place in Judea). But more probably it means “a man who was a liar” or “a man who was a betrayer”. who later betrayed Jesus.
Instructions for the twelve apostles
(Mark 6.7-13; Luke 9.1-6)
5Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions:
Stay away from the Gentiles and don't go to any Samaritan town. 6Go only to the people of Israel, because they are like a flock of lost sheep. 7As you go, announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here.#10.7 will soon be here: Or “is already here.”#Lk 10.4-12. 8Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy,#10.8 leprosy: See the note at 8.2. and force out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid. 9Don't take along any gold, silver, or copper coins. 10And don't carry#10.9,10 Don't take along…don't carry: Or “Don't accept…don't accept”. a travelling bag or an extra shirt or sandals or a walking stick.#1 Co 9.14; 1 Ti 5.18.
Workers deserve their food. 11So when you go to a town or a village, find someone worthy enough to have you as their guest and stay with them until you leave. 12When you go to a home, give it your blessing of peace. 13If the home is deserving, let your blessing remain with them. But if the home isn't deserving, take back your blessing of peace. 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.#10.14 shake the dust from your feet at them: This was a way of showing rejection. See Acts 13.51.#Ac 13.51. 15I promise you that the day of judgment will be easier for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah#10.15 Sodom and Gomorrah: During the time of Abraham the Lord destroyed these towns because the people there were so evil. than for that town.#Mt 11.24; Gn 19.24-28.
Warning about trouble
(Mark 13.9-13; Luke 21.12-17)
Jesus continued:
16I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves.#Lk 10.3. 17Watch out for people who will take you to court and have you beaten in their meeting places.#Mk 13.9-11; Lk 12.11,12; 21.12-15. 18Because of me, you will be dragged before rulers and kings to tell them and the Gentiles about your faith. 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. 20But you will not really be the one speaking. The Spirit from your Father will tell you what to say.
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.#Mk 13.12; Lk 21.16. 22Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you remain faithful until the end, you will be saved.#Mt 24.9; Mk 13.13; Lk 21.17; Mt 24.13; Mk 13.13. 23When people ill-treat you in one town, hurry to another one. I promise you that before you have gone to all the towns of Israel, the Son of Man will come.
24Disciples are not better than their teacher, and slaves are not better than their master.#Lk 6.40; Jn 13.16; 15.20. 25It is enough for disciples 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?#Mt 9.34; 12.24; Mk 3.22; Lk 11.15.
The one to fear
(Luke 12.2-7)
Jesus continued:
26Don't be afraid of anyone! Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known.#Mk 4.22; Lk 8.17. 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. 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. 29Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. 30Even the hairs on your head are counted. 31So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.
Telling others about Christ
(Luke 12.8,9)
Jesus continued:
32If you tell others that you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you are my followers. 33But if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you don't belong to me.#2 Ti 2.12.
Not peace, but trouble
(Luke 12.51-53; 14.26,27)
Jesus continued:
34Don't think that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came to bring trouble, not peace. 35I came to turn sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law.#Mic 7.6. 36Your worst enemies will be in your own family.
37If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples. 38And unless you are willing to take up your cross and come with me, you are not fit to be my disciples.#Mt 16.24; Mk 8.34; Lk 9.23. 39If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will find it.#Mt 16.25; Mk 8.35; Lk 9.24; 17.33; Jn 12.25.
Rewards
(Mark 9.41)
Jesus continued:
40Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes the one who sent me.#Lk 10.16; Jn 13.20; Mk 9.37; Lk 9.48. 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. 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.
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