Logos Bible Study

Matthew 10:16–25

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Persecution of Disciples

10:16“I30 am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves,31 so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 10:17Beware32 of people, because they will hand you over to councils33 and flog34 you in their synagogues.3510:18And you will be brought before governors and kings36 because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles. 10:19Whenever37 they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say,38 for what you should say will be given to you at that time.3910:20For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

10:21“Brother40 will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against41 parents and have them put to death. 10:22And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 10:23Whenever42 they persecute you in one place,43 flee to another. I tell you the truth,44 you will not finish going through all the towns45 of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

10:24“A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave46 greater than his master. 10:25It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more will they defame the members of his household!

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Footnotes

  1. 30 Grk “Behold I.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis ( 1).
  2. 31 This imagery of wolves is found in intertestamental Judaism; see Pss. Sol. 8:23, 30.
  3. 32 Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  4. 33 Councils in this context refers to local judicial bodies attached to the Jewish synagogue. This group would be responsible for meting out justice and discipline within the Jewish community.
  5. 34 μαστιγόω 1.a states, “of flogging as a punishment decreed by the synagogue (Dt 25:2f; s. the Mishna Tractate Sanhedrin-Makkoth, edited notes by SKrauss ’33) of pers. Mt 10:17; 23:34.”
  6. 35 See the note on synagogues in .
  7. 36 These statements look at persecution both from a Jewish context as the mention of courts and synagogues suggests, and from a Gentile one as the reference to governors and kings suggests. Some fulfillment of Jewish persecution can be seen in Acts.
  8. 37 Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  9. 38 Grk “how or what you might speak.”
  10. 39 Grk “in that hour.”
  11. 40 Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  12. 41 Or “will rebel against.”
  13. 42 Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  14. 43 The Greek word here is πόλις (polis), which can mean either “town” or “city.”
  15. 44 Grk “For truly (ἀμήν, amēn) I say to you.” Here γάρ (gar, “for”) has not been translated.
  16. 45 The Greek word here is πόλις (polis), which can mean either “town” or “city.” “Town” was chosen here to emphasize the extensive nature of the disciples’ ministry. The same word is translated earlier in the verse as “place.”
  17. 46 See the note on the word “slave” in .