Matthew 10

“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.

“Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was…” Naming Alphaeus and Bartholomew keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” Naming Canaanite and Iscariot keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hand, heaven, kingdom. Its relationship to verses 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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.

“Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,” Naming Provide keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when ye come into an house, salute it.” The line’s distinctive content terms include house, salute. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.” The line’s distinctive content terms include peace, worthy, house. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“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.

“But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;” The line’s distinctive content terms include beware, councils, deliver. Its relationship to verses 16 and 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.” 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 deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“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.

“The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” The line’s distinctive content terms include disciple, lord, master. Its relationship to verses 23 and 25 shows what work it does in this passage.

“It 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 question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.” The line’s distinctive content terms include darkness, hear, housetops. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy…” The line’s distinctive content terms include able, body, fear. Its relationship to verses 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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.

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hairs, head, numbered. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Naming Fear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Naming Think keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“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.

“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cross, followeth, taketh. Its relationship to verses 37 and 39 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” 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 receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include receiveth. Its relationship to verses 39 and 41 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.