A Hard Road before Them

16 “aBehold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so 1be bshrewd as serpents and cinnocent as doves.

17 “But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the acourts and scourge you bin their synagogues;

18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

19 “aBut when they hand you over, bdo not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.

20 “For ait is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

21 “aBrother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and bchildren will rise up against parents and 1cause them to be put to death.

22 “aYou will be hated by all because of My name, but bit is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

23 “But whenever they apersecute you in 1one city, flee to 2the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel buntil the Son of Man comes.

The Meaning of Discipleship

24 “aA 1disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.

25 “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. aIf they have called the head of the house 1bBeelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!

26 “Therefore do not afear them, bfor there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

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.”