Matthew 10:21–36

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. 10:22 And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 10:23 Whenever42 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. 10:25 It 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!

Fear God, Not Man

10:26 “Do47 not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden48 that will not be revealed,49 and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 10:27 What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear,50 proclaim from the housetops.51 10:28 Do52 not be afraid of those who kill the body53 but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.54 10:29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?55 Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.56 10:30 Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. 10:31 So do not be afraid;57 you are more valuable than many sparrows.

10:32 “Whoever, then, acknowledges58 me before people, I will acknowledge59 before my Father in heaven. 10:33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.

Not Peace, but a Sword

10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring60 peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, 10:36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.61

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40	tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
41	tn Or “will rebel against.”
42	tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
43	tn The Greek word here is πόλις (polis), which can mean either “town” or “city.”
44	tn Grk “For truly (ἀμήν, amēn) I say to you.” Here γάρ (gar, “for”) has not been translated.
45	tn 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.”
46	tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.
47	tn Grk “Therefore do not.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated.
48	tn Or “concealed.”
49	sn I.e., be revealed by God. The passive voice here and in the next verb see the revelation as coming from God. The text is both a warning about bad things being revealed and an encouragement that good things will be made known.
50	tn Grk “what you hear in the ear,” an idiom.
51	tn The expression “proclaim from the housetops” is an idiom for proclaiming something publicly (L&N 7.51). Roofs of many first century Jewish houses in Judea and Galilee were flat and had access either from outside or from within the house. Something shouted from atop a house would be heard by everyone in the street below.
52	tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
53	sn Judaism had a similar exhortation in 4 Macc 13:14–15.
54	sn See the note on the word hell in 5:22.
55	sn The penny refers to an assarion, a small Roman copper coin. One of them was worth one-sixteenth of a denarius or less than a half hour’s average wage. Sparrows were the cheapest items sold in the market. God knows about even the most financially insignificant things; see Isa 49:15.
56	tn Or “to the ground without the knowledge and consent of your Father.”
57	sn Do not be afraid. One should respect and show reverence to God, but need not fear his tender care.
58	tn Or “confesses.”
59	tn Grk “I will acknowledge him also.” sn This acknowledgment will take place at the judgment. On Jesus and judgment, see Luke 22:69; Acts 10:42–43; 17:31.
60	tn Grk “cast.” For βάλλω (ballō) in the sense of causing a state or condition, see L&N 13.14.
61	tn Matt 10:35–36 are an allusion to Mic 7:6.

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