Matthew 10:21–38

²¹“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will even rise up against their parents and have them put to death. ^y22You will be hated by everyone because of My name. ^zBut the one who endures to the end will be delivered. ^ab23When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. ^cFor I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the ^•Son of Man comes. ²⁴A disciple ^dis not above his teacher, or a ^•slave above his master. ^e25It 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! ^f

Fear God

²⁶“Therefore, ^gdon’t be afraid of them, since there is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. ^h27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light. What you hear in a whisper, ⁱproclaim on the housetops. ^j28Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; ^krather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in ^•hell. ^l29Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? ^mYet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s ⁿconsent. ^o30But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. ^p31So don’t be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows. ^q

Acknowledging Christ

³²“Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. ^r33But whoever denies Me before men, ^sI 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. ^t35For 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. ^uv

³⁷The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; ^wthe person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow ^xMe is not worthy of Me.