of men; for they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before governors and before kings, for My sake [1]. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord[2]. Fear not[3] those that kill the body, and cannot kill the soul; but rather fear Him that can destroy both soul and body in hell.
“Whosoever, therefore, shall confess Me[4] before men, I will also confess him [5] before My Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. 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 not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not up his cross and followeth Me, is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life [6], shall lose it; and he that shall lose his life for My sake, shall find it. He that receiveth you, receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me, receiveth Him that sent Me. And whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, Amen, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
When our Divine Lord had thus told his apostles what they had to expect from the world, He sent them, two by two, into every city and place, preaching the word of God, and doing the work that He had commanded them to do.
COMMENTARY.
The prayer of Jesus. Why did our Lord pass the night in prayer before choosing His apostles? What was it that He laid before His heavenly Father as He knelt all alone? He was about to take an important step, and to lay the foundation of His Church by this choice of His apostles. He prayed for those whom He was about to choose, and for their successors, as well as for the countless Jews and Gentiles
- ↑ For My sake. Because you believe in Me, and preach your belief.
- ↑ Above his lord. You are in no higher position than I, your Master, am; therefore you must not be astonished, if you are hated and persecuted in the same manner as you will see Me persecuted.
- ↑ Fear not. i. e. do not fear men, but fear the Just and Holy God.
- ↑ Confess Me. Acknowledging Me by word and deed as his Lord and Saviour.
- ↑ Confess him. Acknowledging him as My faithful friend and follower.
- ↑ Findeth his life. The meaning of this phrase is that he who loveth the life of this world, shall lose eternal life (See John 12, 25).
