Matthew 10:17-20 NIV

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 10:16-22

10:16-22 Look you, it is I who am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Show yourself as wise as serpents, and as pure as doves. Beware of men! For they will hand you over to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, that you make your witness to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry how you are to speak, or what you are to say. What you are to speak will be given to you in... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 10:16-22

No one can read this passage without being deeply impressed with the honesty of Jesus. He never hesitated to tell men what they might expect, if they followed him. It is as if he said, "Here is my task for you--at its grimmest and at its worst--do you accept it?" Plummer comments: "This is not the world's way to win adherents." The world will offer a man roses, roses all the way, comfort, ease, advancement, the fulfilment of his worldly ambitions. Jesus offered his men hardship and death. And... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 10:16-22

Looking at things from our own point of view, we find it hard to understand why any government should wish to persecute the Christians, whose only aim was to live in purity, in charity, and in reverence. But in later days the Roman government had what it considered good reason for persecuting the Christians (see topic THE BLISS OF THE SUFFERER FOR CHRIST). (i) There were certain slanders current about the Christians. They were accused of being cannibals because of the words of the sacrament,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 10:17

But beware of men ,.... Of these men, comparable to wolves, before spoken of: the phrase is somewhat uncommon and emphatical, and designs not merely wicked men in common, the men of the world, and enemies of the Gospel; but chiefly such of them as were men of note and authority, ecclesiastical and civil governors of the people, the Scribes, Pharisees, elders, and chief priests, and other rulers; and the advice to the apostles is, to take care how they came into their company, and put... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 10:18

And ye shall be brought before governors ,.... Meaning Roman governors; so Paul was had before Gallio, Felix, and Festas; for judgments relating to life and death were to be taken away, and were taken away from the Jewish sanhedrim; and as they themselves say F6 Hieros. Sanhedrim, fol. 18. 1. & 24. 2. Juchasin, fol. 26. 2. & 51. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Sanhedrim. c. 14. sect. 13. , forty years before the destruction of the second temple, which was much about the time of Christ's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 10:19

But when they deliver you up ,.... The apostles hearing that they should be delivered up to councils, and brought before governors and kings, might be under some concern how they should behave, and what they should be able to say in vindication of themselves and truth, before such great persons; they not being used to converse with men in such high stations: they were illiterate men, and of no elocution; men of mean birth, low life, most of them poor fishermen; and might fear, on these... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 10:20

For it is not ye that speak ,.... Not but that they were to speak the words, and did; but then both the things they spoke, and the very words in which they spoke them, were not of themselves, but were suggested and dictated by the Spirit of God; for as "the preparation of the heart" in them, so "the answer of the tongue" by them, were both "from the Lord": the Spirit, he was the efficient cause, they were only instruments; for not they of themselves spoke; or not so much they, but the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 10:17

But beware of men - Or, be on your guard against men, των ανθρωπων These men; i.e. your countrymen; those from whom you might have reasonably expected comfort and support; and especially those in power, who will abuse that power to oppress you. Councils - Συνεδρια , sanhedrins and synagogues. See on Matthew 5:22 ; (note). "By synagogues we may understand here, not the places of public worship, but assemblies where three magistrates, chosen out of the principal members of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 10:18

Ye shall be brought before governors, etc. - " This affords a striking proof of the prescience of Christ. Who could have thought, at that time, that these despised and illiterate men could excite so much attention, and be called upon to apologize for the profession of their faith before the tribunals of the most illustrious personages of the earth?" Wakefield. By governors and kings we may understand, the Roman proconsuls, governors of provinces, and the kings who were tributary to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 10:19

Take no thought how or what ye shall speak - Μη μεριμνησετε - Be not anxiously careful, because such anxiety argues distrust in God, and infallibly produces a confused mind. In such a state, no person is fit to proclaim or vindicate the truth. This promise, It shall be given you, etc., banishes all distrust and inquietude on dangerous occasions; but without encouraging sloth and negligence, and without dispensing with the obligation we are under to prepare ourselves by the meditation of... read more

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 10:16-22

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 10:16-22

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 10:16-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 10:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 10:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 10:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 10:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 10:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 10:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 10:19

Group of Brands