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In this lesson:
Jesus prepares his disciples for life without Him. His instructions run through Matthew 11:1 (lesson 20). Read verses 10:29-31 when feeling down. Acknowledge Jesus, and He will acknowledge you (10:32-33). This entire passage is Jesus speaking. Study Tip: Make two lists as you read the Bible - 1) Things you should do. 2) Things God promises to do. |
The Good Shepherd
By an unknown artist. |
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Matthew 10:16-33
Preparing the disciples 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. |
Margin notes:
"Wolves." (10:16) - Wolves are hypocritical religious leaders and false prophets (Matthew 7:15). "They will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you." (10:17) - "They will deliver you up to the (religious) courts and whip you." Just as Jesus predicted, the disciples were dragged into court, imprisoned, beaten (Acts 5:40), whipped, and sometimes murdered for their faith (Acts 12:1-3). "Ye shall be brought before governors and kings." (10:18) - "You will be brought before the civil authorities." "Take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you." (10:19) - "Don't worry about what to say or how to say it" (Exodus 4:12). Also, see Jesus' words in Luke 21:14-15. "Children shall rise up against their parents." (10:21) - As prophesized in Micah 7:6. "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." (10:22) - Believers who remain faithful will be saved. This is a vital message, so Jesus repeats it in Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13, Galatians 6:9, and Revelation 2:10. "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come." (10:23) - "You won't finish visiting all the cities of Israel until I return." "The disciple is not above his master." (10:24) - This means, if they persecute the master (Christ), imagine what they will do to His followers. Read also John 15:20. "Beelzebub." (10:25) - Originally called Baal. Prince Baal was the pagan God of the city of Ekron, worshipped by the Philistines (2 Kings 1:2). Jews mocked Baal and his followers by adding the word Zebub (meaning lord of the flies) to his name. In time, the name Baalzebub became Beelzebub, which eventually became a name for Satan (Matthew 12:24). Scribes tried to insult Jesus by accusing Him of being in league with Beelzebub (Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15). "Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.: (10:28) - "The reference is not to Satan, as many suppose, but to God who alone has power to destroy both soul and body in hell." ("The New Scofield Reference Bible," published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; page 1008) "Farthing." (10:29) - A small denomination coin. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (10:32) - This is Jesus' promise to remember us in heaven. Jesus repeats His promise in Luke 12:8 and Revelation 3:5. "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (10:33) - This promise is repeated in Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26, 12:9, and 2 Timothy 2:12). |
Mark 6:7-13 and Luke 9: 1-6 also tell the story of Jesus sending His disciples out to teach.
New Living Translation
Matthew 10:16-33
16 "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.
17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues.
18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.
19 When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.
20 For it is not you who will be speaking-it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 "A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.
22 And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.
24 "Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.
25 Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!
26 "But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
28 "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 What is the price of two sparrows-one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.
30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
31 So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
32 "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
16 "Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.
17 But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues.
18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me.
19 When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time.
20 For it is not you who will be speaking-it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 "A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.
22 And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.
24 "Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.
25 Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!
26 "But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
27 What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
28 "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 What is the price of two sparrows-one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.
30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
31 So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
32 "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." (10:22)
"Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known." (10:26)
"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." (10:28)
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." (10:22)
"Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known." (10:26)
"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." (10:28)
Today's Questions:
1. What is wrong with defending Christ in court? (10:18-19)
To strengthen your relationship with God, read your Bible.
1. What is wrong with defending Christ in court? (10:18-19)
To strengthen your relationship with God, read your Bible.
Answers: (Do you agree?)
1. There is nothing wrong with defending Christ. In this passage, Jesus tells His disciples that if arrested for spreading the Gospel, they need not worry about what to say in their defense. The Holy Spirit will speak through them. Remember, 1450 years earlier, God promised to be Moses' "mouth" and to "teach" him what to say (Exodus 4:10-11). We will see God intervene again when the high priest questions Peter and John in Acts 4:8-14.
Application thought for the day:
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (10:32)
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham, published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Readers Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible" published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2025 evolke
© 2025 evolke