85. Instruction for the Whole of Apostolic Activity. Mt. 10:16–42

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: therefore be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves. And beware of men: for they will deliver you to their councils and will scourge you in their synagogues. And they shall bring you before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. And when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what you shall speak; for in that hour it shall be given to you what you shall speak. For it shall not be you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you.

A brother shall deliver up his brother to death, and a father his son; and children shall rise up against their parents and put them to death. And you shall be hated of all for My name’s sake; but he that endures to the end shall be saved. And when they shall persecute you in one city, flee into another. For verily I say to you: You shall not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man shall come.

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and for the servant that he be as his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more shall they call those of his household? Therefore fear them not: for there is nothing concealed that shall not be revealed, and nothing hidden that shall not be known. What I say to you in darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. And fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them shall fall to the ground without the will of your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.

Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father in Heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father in Heaven.

Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man at variance with his father, and a daughter with her mother, and a daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law. And a man’s enemies shall be those of his own household (Mic 7:6).

He that loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he that loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He that seeks to save his life shall lose it; and he that loses his life for My sake shall save it.

He that receives you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me. He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.