27 “aWhat I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim bupon the housetops.

28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather afear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in 1bhell.

29 “aAre not two sparrows sold for a 1cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

30 “But athe very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 “So do not fear; ayou are more valuable than many sparrows.

32 “Therefore aeveryone who 1confesses Me before men, I will also confess 2him before My Father who is in heaven.

33 “But awhoever 1denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

34 “aDo not think that I came to 1bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35 “For I came to aset a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

36 and aa man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

37 “aHe who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

38 “And ahe who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

39 “aHe who has found his 1life will lose it, and he who has lost his 1life for My sake will find it.

The Reward of Service

40 “aHe who receives you receives Me, and bhe who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

41 “aHe who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

42 “And awhoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these 1little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”