Matthew 10:20

20 for it is not you who will speak: it will be the Spirit of your Father 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 even be put on trial before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.
19 But when they have delivered you up, have no anxiety as to how you shall speak or what you shall say; for at that very time it shall be given you what to say;
20 for it is not you who will speak: it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 Brother will betray brother to death, and father, child; and children will rise against their own parents and will put them to death.
22 And you will be objects of universal hatred because you are called by my name; but he who holds out to the End--he will be saved.
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