Matthew 10 · WEB
Sending Out the Twelve
Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.
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He 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.
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;
3Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, who was also called Thaddaeus;
4Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
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.
6Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7As you go, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!'
8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
9Don't take any gold, silver, or brass in your money belts.
10Take no bag for your journey, neither two coats, nor sandals, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.
11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on.
12As you enter into the household, greet it.
13If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn't worthy, let your peace return to you.
14Whoever doesn't receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.
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.
16"Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.
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.
20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
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.
22You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
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.
24"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.
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!
26Therefore don't be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.
27What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
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.
29Aren't two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father's will,
30but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
32"Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.
33But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
34"Don't think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn't come to send peace, but a sword.
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.
36A man's foes will be those of his own household.
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.
38He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me, isn't worthy of me.
39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
40"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
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.
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."
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Summary
Jesus formally commissions the Twelve, gives them authority over disease and demons, and sends them first to the lost sheep of Israel with instructions to travel light and rely on the hospitality of the worthy. He warns them that they will face persecution from synagogues, governors, and even their own families, but tells them not to fear those who kill only the body—the Father knows even the sparrows. Following Jesus is costly: it brings a sword before peace, and demands love for him above family, life, and reputation.
Themes
- Apostolic mission and delegated authority
- Kingdom proclamation in word and deed
- Inevitable persecution for Jesus' name
- The Father's intimate care that displaces fear
- The supreme cost—and reward—of allegiance to Jesus
Key verses
- Matt 10:16 — “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
- Matt 10:28 — “Don'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.”
- Matt 10:30-31 — “The very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.”
- Matt 10:39 — “He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Context & background
Jesus' initial mission limited the Twelve to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel"—Jewish villages of Galilee and Judea (modern Israel/Palestine)—reserving the worldwide Gentile mission for after the resurrection (Matt 28:19). Samaritans were a mixed-race group descended from intermarriage after the Assyrian exile, living in the central hill country between Galilee and Judea, and were considered religious heretics by Jews. "Shaking off the dust" was a symbolic act Jews performed when leaving Gentile territory; turned against Jewish towns it was a stunning rebuke. "Beelzebul" was a contemptuous title for Satan, derived from a Philistine deity. Gehenna refers to the Valley of Hinnom south of Jerusalem, a former site of child sacrifice that became Jerusalem's burning garbage dump—a vivid image of final judgment.
Cross-references
- Acts 4:8-13 / Acts 5:40-42 — The apostles fulfilling these warnings before councils
- Mark 6:7-13 / Luke 9:1-6 / Luke 10:1-12 — Parallel sending accounts
- Matthew 16:24-25 — Take up your cross and lose your life to find it (restated)
- Matthew 28:18-20 — The later Great Commission expanding the mission to all nations
- Micah 7:6 — "A man's enemies are the men of his own house" (echoed in v. 35-36)