THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
Chapter 10: After Yeshua (Jesus) had
called His disciples, He gave them power to cast out evil spirits, and also
power to heal every sickness and weakness. These are the names of the 12
Apostles: first, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; then James, the
son of Zebedee, and John, his brother; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas, and
Matthew, the tax-collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, who was
surnamed Thaddeus; Simon, the Cannanite, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.
It was these 12 whom also Yeshua sent out
after having given them orders, saying, “Do not go to the heathen, and do not
go to any Samarian town. But rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel. Go and preach! Say, ‘The kingdom of Heaven in near’. Heal the sick,
raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out devils. Freely you have received,
freely give. Don’t take along any gold or silver or other money in your pockets.
And no provision for your journey, no extra coat, no shoes, and no staff. A
laborer has a right to his support. When you come to a town or village, look up
a worthy person and stay with him until you leave again. And when you go into
his house, wish it well. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon
it. But if unworthy, let your peace return to you. And wherever they will not
welcome you or listen to your message, as you leave that house or town, shake
the very dust from your feet. I tell you for sure that, on the Day of Judgment,
the land of Sodom and Gomorrah will fare better than that town.”
“Yes, I am sending you out like sheep among the
wolves. Therefore, you must be wise like serpents and innocent like doves. Don’t
put your trust in men, for they will hand you over to the courts, and they will
flog you in their synagogues. And they will drag you before governors and kings
because of Me, so that you may bear witness before them and before the heathen.
Now, when they treat you thus, remember not to be anxious about how or what you
say, for words will be given you when that time comes. Indeed, it will not be
you who speaks them, but the Ruach (Spirit) of Elohim (your Father) Who will
speak for you.”
“Then brothers will deliver up their brothers,
and fathers their children. Children will rise up against their parents and
will put them to death. And you will be hated by all men because you bear My
Name. Nevertheless, he who holds out to the end shall be saved. If they
persecute you in one town, take refuge in a different one. And I promise you that
before you have completed the round of the cities of Israel, the Son of Man
will return.”
“A disciple is not higher than his teacher,
nor is a servant higher than their master. It should be enough for a disciple
to be like his teacher, or a servant to be like his master. If men have called
the master of the house Beelzebul, how much better would that fit the members
of the household? So, do not be afraid. There is nothing canceled what will not
be revealed, and not a secret that will not be known. Now, what I am saying to
you in the darkness of night you are to tell in the light of day, and what has
been whispered in your ear you must proclaim from the housetops.”
“There are some who can kill the body, but
not the soul. Do not fear them at all. But rather fear Him Who can destroy both
body and soul in hell. Are not 2 sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them
can fall to the ground without Elohim’s Will. And as for you, even the hairs on
your head are all counted. So, stop being afraid. You are worth more than many
sparrows. Therefore anyone who confesses Me before men I will also acknowledge
before My Father in Heaven. But whoever denies Me before men I will also deny
before My Father in Heaven.”
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on
Earth – I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. I came to set man against
his father and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will thus be his own family. One who loves his
father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and one who loves his son or
daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Likewise, one who does not take up
his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found life shall lose
it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it again.”
“He who welcomes you, welcomes Me, and he who
welcomes Me, welcomes Him Who sent Me. He who welcomes a prophet because he is
a prophet will get a prophet’s reward, and he who welcomes a righteous man
because he is a righteous man will get a righteous man’s reward. And anyone who
will give one of these little ones a cup of cold water to drink, in the name of
a disciple, I tell you that he will surely not lose his reward.”
