Matthew 10:16–31

PERSECUTIONS PREDICTED

¹⁶“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.^{a 17}Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts^B and flog you in their synagogues.^{b 18}You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.^{c 19}But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.^d For you will be given what to say at that hour, ²⁰because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit^e of your Father is speaking through you.^f

²¹“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.^{g 22}You will be hated by everyone because of my name.^h But the one who endures to the end will be saved.^{i 23}When they persecute you in one town, flee to another.^j For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. ²⁴A disciple^C is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master.^{k 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!^l

FEAR GOD

²⁶“Therefore,^m 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.^{n 27}What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper,^D proclaim on the housetops.^{o 28}Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul;^p rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.^{q 29}Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?^E Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s^r consent.^{F 30}But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.^{s 31}So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.^t