Focused Passage

Matthew 10:16-25

The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ

Matthew moves from the naming and authorizing of the Twelve, to their immediate mission to Israel, to practical instructions for dependent proclamation, to persecution warnings, to fearless witness, to costly allegiance, and finally to the reward attached to receiving Christ’s messengers.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

17 But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.

18 On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.

19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.

20 For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.

22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

25 It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 16

Original words

Behold Ἰδοὺ G2400 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am sending you out ἀποστέλλω G649 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular . . . ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural like ὡς G5613 Adverb sheep πρόβατα G4263 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural among ἐν G1722 Preposition . . . μέσῳ G3319 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular wolves λύκων G3074 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction be γίνεσθε G1096 Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural as shrewd φρόνιμοι G5429 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural as ὡς G5613 Adverb - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural snakes ὄφεις G3789 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction as innocent ἀκέραιοι G185 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural as ὡς G5613 Adverb - αἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Plural doves περιστεραί G4058 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural
Verse 17

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction beware Προσέχετε G4337 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural of ἀπὸ G575 Preposition - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural men ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural for γὰρ G1063 Conjunction they will hand you over παραδώσουσιν G3860 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition [their] councils συνέδρια G4892 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction flog μαστιγώσουσιν G3146 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - ταῖς G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Plural synagogues συναγωγαῖς G4864 Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Verse 18

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction On My account ἕνεκεν G1752 Preposition . . . ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular you will be brought ἀχθήσεσθε G71 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 2nd Person Plural - δὲ G1161 Conjunction before ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition governors ἡγεμόνας G2232 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction kings βασιλεῖς G935 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural as εἰς G1519 Preposition witnesses μαρτύριον G3142 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular to them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction to the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural Gentiles ἔθνεσιν G1484 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Verse 19

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction when ὅταν G3752 Conjunction they hand you over παραδῶσιν G3860 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural [do] not μὴ G3361 Adverb worry about μεριμνήσητε G3309 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural how [to respond] πῶς G4459 Adverb or G2228 Conjunction what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular to say λαλήσητε G2980 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction In ἐν G1722 Preposition that ἐκείνῃ G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular hour ὥρᾳ G5610 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural will be given δοθήσεται G1325 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular to say λαλήσητε G2980 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Verse 20

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction it will not be ἐστε G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . οὐ G3756 Adverb you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural - οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural speaking λαλοῦντες G2980 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular Spirit Πνεῦμα G4151 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular of τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural Father Πατρὸς G3962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular speaking λαλοῦν G2980 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Singular through ἐν G1722 Preposition you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Verse 21

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction Brother ἀδελφὸς G80 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular will betray Παραδώσει G3860 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular brother ἀδελφὸν G80 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition death θάνατον G2288 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction a father πατὴρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular [his] child τέκνον G5043 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction children τέκνα G5043 Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural will rise ἐπαναστήσονται G1881 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural against ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition [their] parents γονεῖς G1118 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction have them put to death θανατώσουσιν G2289 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . αὐτούς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Verse 22

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction You will be ἔσεσθε G1510 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural hated μισούμενοι G3404 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural by ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition everyone πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural because of διὰ G1223 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular name ὄνομά G3686 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction the [one who] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular perseveres ὑπομείνας G5278 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition [the] end τέλος G5056 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular - οὗτος G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular will be saved σωθήσεται G4982 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 23

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction When Ὅταν G3752 Conjunction they persecute διώκωσιν G1377 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition one ταύτῃ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular town πόλει G4172 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular flee φεύγετε G5343 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular next ἑτέραν G2087 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction Truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural you will not reach τελέσητε G5055 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . οὐ G3756 Adverb . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb [all] the τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural towns πόλεις G4172 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural of τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Israel Ἰσραὴλ G2474 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular before ἕως G2193 Conjunction . . . ἂν G302 Particle the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Son Υἱὸς G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Man ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular comes ἔλθῃ G2064 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 24

Original words

A disciple μαθητὴς G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular not Οὐκ G3756 Adverb above ὑπὲρ G5228 Preposition [his] τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular teacher διδάσκαλον G1320 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular nor οὐδὲ G3761 Conjunction a servant δοῦλος G1401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular above ὑπὲρ G5228 Preposition his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular master κύριον G2962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 25

Original words

[It is] enough ἀρκετὸν G713 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular for τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular a disciple μαθητῇ G3101 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction be γένηται G1096 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular like ὡς G5613 Adverb his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular teacher διδάσκαλος G1320 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction a G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular servant δοῦλος G1401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular like ὡς G5613 Adverb his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular master κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular If εἰ G1487 Conjunction the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular head of the house οἰκοδεσπότην G3617 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular has been called ἐπεκάλεσαν G1941 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Beelzebul Βεελζεβοὺλ G954 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular how much πόσῳ G4214 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular more μᾶλλον G3123 Adverb the members τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural of his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular household οἰκιακοὺς G3615 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural

BSB notes

  • WH Beezeboul; Vulgate Beelzebub

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.