Matthew 10

King James Version

Full text for Matthew Chapter 10

1¶ And when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5¶ These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, ‹Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not:›

6‹But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.›

7‹And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.›

8‹Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.›

9‹Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,›

10‹Nor scrip for [your] journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.›

11‹And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.›

12‹And when ye come into an house, salute it.›

13‹And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.›

14‹And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.›

15‹Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.›

16¶ ‹Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.›

17‹But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;›

18‹And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.›

19‹But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.›

20‹For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.›

21‹And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against [their] parents, and cause them to be put to death.›

22‹And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.›

23‹But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.›

24‹The disciple is not above [his] master, nor the servant above his lord.›

25‹It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more [shall they call] them of his household?›

26‹Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.›

27‹What I tell you in darkness, [that] speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, [that] preach ye upon the housetops.›

28‹And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.›

29‹Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.›

30‹But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.›

31‹Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.›

32‹Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.›

33‹But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.›

34‹Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.›

35‹For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.›

36‹And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household.›

37‹He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.›

38‹And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.›

39‹He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.›

40‹He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.›

41‹He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.›

42‹And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold [water] only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus commissions his twelve disciples, granting them authority over unclean spirits and diseases, and sends them specifically to the lost sheep of Israel. He instructs them to preach the kingdom, travel lightly, and prepare for severe persecution, emphasizing that enduring to the end and fearing God, not man, is paramount. The chapter concludes with warnings of familial division due to allegiance to Christ and promises of rewards for those who receive His messengers.

Medium Summary

Matthew 10 details Jesus' commissioning of his twelve disciples, empowering them to heal all manner of sickness and cast out unclean spirits. He provides a specific mandate, sending them exclusively to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" to preach that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand," while also performing miracles. Jesus instructs them to travel with minimal provisions, rely on the hospitality of worthy households, and depart from those who reject their message, warning of severe judgment. Furthermore, He prepares them for intense persecution, likening them to "sheep in the midst of wolves," and advises them to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves," assuring them that the Spirit will speak through them during trials. He emphasizes that true discipleship involves a willingness to face familial division and hatred for His name's sake, urging them to fear God, who can destroy both soul and body, rather than those who can only kill the body. The chapter concludes by stressing the cost of following Him, including taking up one's cross, and promises rewards for those who receive His messengers and support His work.

Long Summary

In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus gathers his twelve disciples, whose names are listed, and bestows upon them significant authority over unclean spirits, and the power to heal all forms of sickness and disease. He then dispatches them on their first mission with precise instructions, specifically directing them to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel," explicitly forbidding them from entering Gentile or Samaritan territories. Their primary message is to be, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand," accompanied by miraculous works such as healing the sick, cleansing lepers, raising the dead, and casting out devils, all to be done freely as they have freely received. Jesus instructs them to travel without material provisions like gold, extra clothing, or staves, trusting that the "workman is worthy of his meat" and relying on the hospitality of worthy individuals in each town. They are commanded to offer peace to houses and, if rejected, to shake the dust from their feet as a testimony, warning that such rejection will lead to a judgment more severe than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. The chapter then shifts to a stark warning about the persecutions they will face, likening their mission to "sheep in the midst of wolves," and advising them to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Jesus foretells that they will be delivered to councils, scourged in synagogues, and brought before governors and kings for His sake, serving as a testimony to both Jews and Gentiles. He assures them not to worry about what to say during these trials, as the "Spirit of your Father" will speak through them. Furthermore, He warns of profound familial division, where brother will betray brother to death, and children will rise against parents, and that they will be "hated of all men for my name's sake," but promises salvation to "he that endureth to the end." Jesus encourages them to flee persecution from one city to another and reminds them that the disciple is not above his master, implying they will suffer as He has. He then exhorts them not to fear those who can only kill the body, but rather to fear God, who has the power to destroy both soul and body in hell, emphasizing God's meticulous care even for sparrows and the numbered hairs of their heads. Jesus declares that whoever confesses Him before men will be confessed by Him before His Father in heaven, but whoever denies Him will be denied. He clarifies that His coming is not to bring peace but a "sword," causing division even within households, and demands ultimate allegiance, stating that those who love family more than Him are not worthy. Disciples must "take his cross, and follow after me," understanding that losing one's life for His sake is to find it. Finally, Jesus promises rewards for those who receive His messengers, prophets, or righteous men, and even for giving a simple cup of cold water to "one of these little ones" in the name of a disciple.

Core Concepts

  • Apostolic CommissionJesus grants his twelve disciples authority over unclean spirits and diseases, sending them forth with specific instructions to preach the kingdom of heaven and perform miracles among the "lost sheep of the house of Israel."
  • Cost of DiscipleshipFollowing Jesus involves significant personal sacrifice, including potential familial division, hatred from others, and the necessity of "taking his cross," with the understanding that losing one's life for Christ's sake leads to finding true life.
  • Divine Providence and Fear of GodDisciples are encouraged not to fear human persecutors, who can only harm the body, but to fear God, who has power over both soul and body in hell, trusting in His meticulous care for His followers, even down to the hairs of their heads.
  • Persecution and EnduranceJesus explicitly warns His disciples of impending persecution, including being brought before councils and kings, but assures them that the Holy Spirit will speak through them, and that "he that endureth to the end shall be saved."
  • Limited Mission ScopeThe initial mission of the twelve is strictly confined to the "house of Israel," with specific instructions not to enter the way of the Gentiles or cities of the Samaritans, highlighting a focused outreach to the Jewish people.
  • Rewards for ReceptionJesus promises significant rewards for those who receive His messengers, prophets, or righteous individuals, extending even to those who offer a simple act of kindness, like a cup of cold water, to a disciple in His name.