Matthew 10:29–42

²⁹Aren’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

ACKNOWLEDGING CHRIST

³²“Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.^{u 33}But whoever denies me before others,^v I will also deny him before my Father in heaven. ³⁴Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.^{w 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;

³⁶and a man’s enemies will be

the members of his household.^Ax

³⁷The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;^y the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹Anyone who finds his life will lose it,^z and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.^aa

A CUP OF COLD WATER

⁴⁰“The one who welcomes you welcomes me,^ab and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.^{ac 41}Anyone who welcomes a prophet^ad because he is a prophet^B will receive a prophet’s reward. And anyone who welcomes a righteous person because he’s righteous^C will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴²And whoever gives^ae even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple,^Daf truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”