Matthew 10:1-42 AMP

[1] Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority and power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. [2] Now these are the names of the twelve apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; [3] Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanael); Thomas and Matthew (Levi) the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (Judas, not Iscariot); [4] Simon the Cananaean (Zealot), and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. [5] Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them: “Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not go into a city of the Samaritans; [6] but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [7] And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. [9] Do not take gold, or silver, or [even] copper money in your money belt, [10] or a provision bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker deserves his support. [11] Whatever city or village you enter, ask who in it is worthy [who welcomes you and your message], and stay at his house until you leave [that city]. [12] As you go into the house, give it your greeting [that is, ‘Peace be to this house’]. [13] If [the family living in] the house is worthy [welcoming you and your message], give it your [blessing of] peace [that is, a blessing of well-being and prosperity, the favor of God]. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. [14] Whoever does not welcome you, nor listen to your message, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust [of it] off your feet [in contempt, breaking all ties]. [15] I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that city [since it rejected the Messiah’s messenger]. [16] “Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda]. [17] Beware of men [whose nature is to act in opposition to God], for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; [18] and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. [19] But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you within that [very] hour; [20] for it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. [21] “Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; and children will rise up and rebel against their parents and cause them to be put to death. [22] And you will be hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name, but it is the one who has patiently persevered and endured to the end who will be saved. [23] “When they persecute you in one city [because of your faith in Me], flee to the next; for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you will not finish going through all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. [24] “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a bond-servant above his master. [25] It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the bond-servant like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul (Satan), how much more [will they speak evil of] the members of his household. [26] “So do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed [at the judgment], or kept secret that will not be made known [at the judgment]. [27] What I say to you in the dark (privately), tell in the light (publicly); and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops [to many people]. [28] Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [29] Are not two little sparrows sold for a copper coin? And yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. [30] But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered [for the Father is sovereign and has complete knowledge]. [31] So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. [32] “Therefore, the one who confesses and acknowledges Me before men [as Lord and Savior, affirming a state of oneness with Me], that one I will also confess and acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven. [33] But the one who denies and rejects Me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before My Father who is in heaven. [34] “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief]. [35] For I have come to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; [36] and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS [own] HOUSEHOLD [when one believes and another does not]. [37] “He 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 he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me. [39] Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity]. [40] “He who receives and welcomes you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. [41] He who receives and welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous (honorable) man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. [42] And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”