Matthew 10:21-42

21 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will even rise up against their parents and have them put to death.

22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. ^[a]

23 When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 A disciple ^[b] is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.

25 It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house 'Beelzebul,' how much more the members of his household!

Fear God

26 "Therefore, don't be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won't be uncovered, and nothing hidden that won't be made known.

27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, ^[c] proclaim on the housetops.

28 Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? ^[d] Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's consent. ^[e]

30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.

31 Don't be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Acknowledging Christ

32 "Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven.

33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

34 Don't assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 For I came to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

36 and a man's enemies will be the members of his household. ^[f]

37 The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

38 And whoever doesn't take up his cross and follow ^[g] Me is not worthy of Me.

39 Anyone finding ^[h] his life will lose it, and anyone losing ^[i] his life because of Me will find it.

A Cup of Cold Water

40 "The one who welcomes you welcomes Me, and the one who welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me.

41 Anyone who ^[j] welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet ^[k] will receive a prophet's reward. And anyone who ^[l] welcomes a righteous person because he's righteous ^[m] will receive a righteous person's reward.

42 And whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple ^[n] -I assure you: He will never lose his reward!"

Footnotes

• [a]. Or saved
• [b]. Or student
• [c]. Lit in the ear
• [d]. Gk assarion, a small copper coin
• [e]. Lit ground apart from your Father
• [f]. Mc 7:6
• [g]. Lit follow after
• [h]. Or The one who finds
• [i]. Or and the one who loses
• [j]. Or The one who
• [k]. Lit prophet in the name of a prophet
• [l]. Or And the one who
• [m]. Lit person in the name of a righteous person
• [n]. Lit little ones in the name of a disciple