Matthew 10:20

20 For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father [who is] speaking through you.

Matthew 10:20 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 10:20

For it is not ye that speak
Not but that they were to speak the words, and did; but then both the things they spoke, and the very words in which they spoke them, were not of themselves, but were suggested and dictated by the Spirit of God; for as "the preparation of the heart" in them, so "the answer of the tongue" by them, were both "from the Lord": the Spirit, he was the efficient cause, they were only instruments; for not they of themselves spoke; or not so much they,

but the Spirit of your father, which speaketh in you,
or "by you": what they should say was not to be dictated by their own spirit or natural understanding, nor by an angel, but by the Spirit of God; called the "Spirit of" their "father", because he proceeds from him, is of the same nature with him, and is the reason of his being given to them: and this character of him might serve to strengthen their faith in the expectation of him, and in the assistance promised, and to be had by him; since he was the spirit of him, who stood in the relation of a father to them, and bore a paternal affection for them.

Matthew 10:20 In-Context

18 And you will be brought before both governors and kings because of me, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles.
19 But whenever they hand you over, do not be anxious how [to speak] or what you should say, for what you should say will be given to you at that hour.
20 For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Spirit of your Father [who is] speaking through you.
21 "And brother will hand over brother to death, and a father [his] children, and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death,
22 and you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end--this one will be saved.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.