Side by side
Matthew 10
Our retelling next to the Bible text it comes from. Each row lines up one scene with the verses it retells.
Scene 2: The TwelveVerses 1 to 4
Then Jesus called his twelve disciples. He gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and heal every sickness.
These were the twelve apostles: Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew. James and his brother John. Philip and Bartholomew. Thomas and Matthew the tax collector. James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus. Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
They were fishermen, a tax collector, and ordinary people. Jesus chose them.
1And calling His twelve disciples to Him, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
Scene 3: Travel LightVerses 5 to 15
Jesus sent them out first to the people of Israel.
"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'" (10:7).
"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give" (10:8).
They were not to take money, an extra bag, or extra clothes. People who welcomed them would provide what they needed.
In each town, they should stay with someone who welcomed them.
If a town would not welcome them or listen, they should shake the dust off their feet when they left. That was a sign that they had done their part.
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9Do not carry any gold or silver or copper in your belts. 10Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions. 11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house until you move on. 12As you enter the home, greet its occupants. 13If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it; but if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
Scene 4: Sheep Among WolvesVerses 16 to 25
"Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves" (10:16).
They should be wise and careful, and also innocent.
Jesus warned them that people would arrest them and beat them. They would stand before rulers because of Jesus.
But they did not need to worry about what to say. "It will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you" (10:20).
Even families would turn against them. "But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved" (10:22). To persevere means to keep going and not give up.
A student is not above his teacher. If people treated Jesus badly, they would treat his followers badly too.
16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17But beware of men; for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. 20For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
Scene 5: Do Not Be AfraidVerses 26 to 33
"So do not be afraid of them" (10:26).
What Jesus told them in private, they should say out loud for everyone to hear.
People can hurt the body, but they cannot kill the soul.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father" (10:29).
"And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered" (10:30).
"So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows" (10:31).
Everyone who says before people that they belong to Jesus, Jesus will say before his Father in heaven that they belong to him.
26So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. 27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. 33But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.
Scene 6: A Cup of Cold WaterVerses 34 to 42
Jesus said following him would not always bring peace in families. Some people would turn against those who follow him.
Anyone who loves father or mother, son or daughter, more than Jesus is not worthy of him. Anyone who does not take up their cross and follow him is not worthy of him.
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (10:39).
"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me" (10:40).
Even a cup of cold water given to one of Jesus's followers will not be forgotten.
34Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; 38and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 40He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me. 41Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”
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