Matthew 10: The twelve are sent out
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Jesus gives his twelve disciples authority over unclean spirits and over every disease, and the text names the twelve. He sends them to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and tells them what to take and what to do in each town and house. He warns them of the trials ahead, tells them not to be afraid, and speaks about families divided, taking up the cross, and receiving those he sends.
Who is speaking?
No verse is in gold. Verses 1 to 4 are the narrator, who names the twelve. In verse 5 the narrator says Jesus sent them out. From the words he gave them in verse 5 to the end of the chapter Jesus speaks to the twelve, and his words run on without a break. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
In plain English: He called his twelve disciples to himself. He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
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2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother;
In plain English: These are the names of the twelve apostles. First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother. Then James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother.
The Greek word: "Apostles" is apostolos, a delegate, someone sent out. This is the only verse of Matthew that uses it, and it is in 80 verses of the New Testament. It sounds like apostello, the word for "sent out" in . Verse 1 calls the twelve "disciples" and this verse calls them "apostles".
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3Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus;
In plain English: Philip and Bartholomew. Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector. James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus.
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4Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
In plain English: Simon the Zealot (or: the Cananite; see the note), and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed (word for word: handed over) him.
The Greek word: "Betrayed" is paradidomi, to hand over. In Matthew it is in 31 verses, and this Bible prints "betray" in 11 of them and "deliver" in 18. In , and it is the word for what will be done to the twelve.
How it is translated: This Bible says "betrayed" for Judas and "deliver up" for what others will do to the twelve. The Greek uses one word for both.
The Greek word: "Zealot" is Kananites. The dictionary gives "zealous", and also "Cananites", a name.
What changes: Read as "zealous", the word describes Simon. Read as "Cananite", it is a name for him. The verse does not say which.
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5Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans.
In plain English: Jesus sent these twelve out and gave them orders. He said: do not go among the Gentiles (word for word: into a road of the nations), and do not enter any city of the Samaritans.
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6Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
In plain English: Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
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7As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’
In plain English: As you go, announce: 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand' (word for word: has come near).
The Greek words: "The Kingdom of Heaven" is basileia ton ouranon, word for word "the kingdom of the heavens". The Greek says "heavens" here, and the same word also means sky. "Is at hand" is a form of engizo, to come near. Forms of it are in 8 verses of Matthew, and with "Kingdom of Heaven" also in and . Counted in this Bible's text of Matthew, "Kingdom of Heaven" is in 31 verses and "Kingdom of God" (or "God's Kingdom") in 5.
What changes: Word for word the saying is "has come near". The verse says it is near and gives no more. uses a different word, ephthasen, "has come".
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8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
In plain English: Heal the sick, make the lepers clean, and drive out demons. You received freely, so give freely.
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9Don’t take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts.
In plain English: Do not take gold, silver or copper (this Bible: brass) in your money belts.
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10Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.
In plain English: Take no bag for the road. Take no second coat, no sandals and no staff. A worker deserves his food.
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11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on.
In plain English: Whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.
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12As you enter into the household, greet it.
In plain English: When you enter the house, greet it.
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13If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you.
In plain English: If the house is worthy, let your peace come on it. If it is not worthy, let your peace come back to you.
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14Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
In plain English: Whoever does not receive you or listen to your words: as you leave that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
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15Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
In plain English: I tell you truly, on the day of judgment it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city.
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16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
In plain English: Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be wise (or: shrewd) like serpents and harmless (or: innocent) like doves.
The Greek words: "Wise" is phronimos: thoughtful, discreet. "Harmless" is akeraios, word for word "unmixed", and the dictionary gives "innocent".
How it is translated: Each word has more than one English match. "Wise" can also be "shrewd" or "discreet". "Harmless" can also be "innocent" or "unmixed".
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17But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
In plain English: Watch out for people, for they will hand you over to councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues.
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18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.
In plain English: Yes, you will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and to the nations (or: Gentiles).
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19But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
In plain English: When they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you will say. What you will say will be given to you in that hour.
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20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
In plain English: It is not you who speak. It is the Spirit of your Father speaking in you.
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21“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
In plain English: Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death.
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22You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
In plain English: You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who stays firm to the end will be saved.
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23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come.
In plain English: When they persecute you in this city, run to the next one. I tell you truly, you will not have finished going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man has come.
Good to know: The verse does not say when the Son of Man "has come", or what that coming is. It says the twelve will not have finished going through the cities of Israel before then (the Greek word is teleo, to complete or finish). The text gives no more than this.
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24“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.
In plain English: A disciple is not above his teacher, and a servant is not above his lord (or: master).
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25It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
In plain English: It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
Good to know: "Beelzebul" is Beelzeboul. The dictionary gives "dung-god" and says it is a name of Satan. This verse says only that people called the master of the house by this name. In Matthew it is in 3 verses: here, , where the Pharisees say Beelzebul is "the prince of the demons", and .
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26Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
In plain English: So do not be afraid of them. Nothing is covered that will not be uncovered, and nothing is hidden that will not be known.
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27What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
In plain English: What I tell you in the dark, say in the light. What you hear whispered in your ear, announce from the housetops.
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28Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
In plain English: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul (or: life). Rather, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul (or: life) and body in Gehenna.
The Greek word: "Soul" is psyche, which is also the word for "life". In Matthew it is in 11 verses, and this Bible prints "soul" in 5 of them and "life" in 6. "Gehenna" is geenna, the Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem. The dictionary says it is also used as a name for a place or state of everlasting punishment. In Matthew it is in 7 verses, and this Bible leaves it as "Gehenna" every time.
What changes: Read as "soul", the verse says those who kill the body cannot kill the soul. Read as "life", it says they cannot take the life that the one in this verse can destroy. The verse does not name that one and does not say more about Gehenna.
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29“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
In plain English: Aren't two sparrows sold for one assarion coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father (this Bible adds: will).
Good to know: The Greek says only "apart from your Father". The WEB adds "will" to read it.
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30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
In plain English: Even the hairs of your head are all counted.
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31Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
In plain English: So do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
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32Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
In plain English: So everyone who confesses me before people, I also will confess before my Father who is in heaven.
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33But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.
In plain English: But whoever denies me before people, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
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34“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.
In plain English: Do not think that I came to send peace on the earth. I did not come to send peace, but a sword.
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35For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
In plain English: I came to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
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36A man’s foes will be those of his own household.
In plain English: A person's enemies will be the members of his own household.
Good to know: Verses 35 and 36 are close to : "the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house". Matthew does not say "it is written" here. "Those of his household" is one word, oikiakos, which is in only two verses of Matthew: this one and .
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37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
In plain English: Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
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38He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me.
In plain English: Whoever does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Good to know: This is the first time Matthew uses the word stauros, cross. It is in 5 verses of Matthew: here, , , and . The verse does not explain the word.
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39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
In plain English: Whoever finds (this Bible: seeks) his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life (or: soul) for my sake will find it.
The Greek word: "Life" is psyche, the same word as "soul" in . "Seeks" is the WEB's word. The Greek word is heuron, "having found", the same word as "will find" at the end of the verse.
What changes: With the Greek "has found", the verse is about the one who has found his life. With the WEB's "seeks", it is about the one who is looking for it. Either way the verse says the first will lose it and the second will find it, and it says no more.
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40“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
In plain English: Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
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41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
In plain English: Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. Whoever receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.
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42Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.”
In plain English: Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, I tell you truly, will not lose his reward at all.
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