The big picture
Matthew 10 opens in verse 1 with “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 21 with “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the…”, and closes in verse 42 with “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only…” Repeated or prominent terms include Father, worthy, receiveth, city, house. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Matthew · King James Version · 42Matthew 10:1-7
1–7: When he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power…
Matthew 10:1–7 opens with “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean…” and reaches “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The twelve receiving authority and instructions before being sent to Israel’s towns, with particular weight carried by twelve, brother, James.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out…” The number twelve makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James…” The number twelve makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Matthew 10:1-7
King James Version1And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 10:8-14
8–14: Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils…
Matthew 10:8–14 opens with “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received…” and reaches “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The twelve receiving authority and instructions before being sent to Israel’s towns, with particular weight carried by worthy, house, city.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” Naming Heal keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Matthew 10:8-14
King James Version8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
11And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Matthew 10:15-21
15–21: Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom…
Matthew 10:15–21 opens with “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day…” and reaches “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The twelve receiving authority and instructions before being sent to Israel’s towns, with particular weight carried by deliver, brother, death.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” The line’s distinctive content terms include doves, harmless, midst. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
Matthew 10:15-21
King James Version15Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19But 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.
20For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
21And 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.
Matthew 10:22-28
22–28: Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to…
Matthew 10:22–28 opens with “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be…” and reaches “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The twelve receiving authority and instructions before being sent to Israel’s towns, with particular weight carried by fear, master, able.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“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 command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Matthew 10:22-28
King James Version22And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23But 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.
24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25It 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?
26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28And 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.
Matthew 10:29-35
29–35: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall…
Matthew 10:29–35 opens with “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without…” and reaches “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The twelve receiving authority and instructions before being sent to Israel’s towns, with particular weight carried by Father, confess, daughter.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Matthew 10:29-35
King James Version29Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Matthew 10:36-42
36–42: A man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Matthew 10:36–42 opens with “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” and reaches “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The twelve receiving authority and instructions before being sent to Israel’s towns, with particular weight carried by receiveth, name, reward.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is…” The line’s distinctive content terms include loveth, worthy, daughter. Its relationship to verses 36 and 38 shows what work it does in this passage.
Matthew 10:36-42
King James Version36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Matthew 10:1 begins with “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and…”
Where the chapter turns
Matthew 10:19 forms a natural hinge: “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.”
The final note
Matthew 10:42 leaves the reader with “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Father, worthy, receiveth, city, house, brother help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Why list the nations before introducing Abram?
The blessing promised through Abram will concern the families of the earth, not an isolated group.
What organizes the table?
Families, lands, nations and languages recur, linking people with place and relationship.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.