« | Matthew 10 | » |
1 Jesus called together his twelve disciples. He gave them the power to force out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and sickness.
2 The first of the twelve apostles was Simon, better known as Peter. His brother Andrew was an apostle, and so were James and John, the two sons of Zebedee.
3 Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were also apostles.
4 The others were Simon, known as the Eager One, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: Stay away from the Gentiles and don't go to any Samaritan town.
6 Go only to the people of Israel, because they are like a flock of lost sheep.
7 As you go, announce that the kingdom of heaven will soon be here.
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid.
9 Don't take along any gold, silver, or copper coins.
10 And don't carry a traveling bag or an extra shirt or sandals or a walking stick. Workers deserve their food.
11 So when you go to a town or a village, find someone worthy enough to have you as their guest and stay with them until you leave.
12 When you go to a home, give it your blessing of peace.
13 If the home is deserving, let your blessing remain with them. But if the home isn't deserving, take back your blessing of peace.
14 If someone won't welcome you or listen to your message, leave their home or town. And shake the dust from your feet at them.
15 I promise you that the day of judgment will be easier for the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
16 I am sending you like lambs into a pack of wolves. So be as wise as snakes and as innocent as doves.
17 Watch out for people who will take you to court and have you beaten in their meeting places.
18 Because of me, you will be dragged before rulers and kings to tell them and the Gentiles about your faith.
19 But when someone arrests you, don't worry about what you will say or how you will say it. At that time you will be given the words to say.
20 But you will not really be the one speaking. The Spirit from your Father will tell you what to say.
21 Brothers and sisters will betray one another and have each other put to death. Parents will betray their own children, and children will turn against their parents and have them killed.
22 Everyone will hate you because of me. But if you remain faithful until the end, you will be saved.
23 When people mistreat you in one town, hurry to another one. I promise you that before you have gone to all the towns of Israel, the Son of Man will come.
24 Disciples are not better than their teacher, and slaves are not better than their master.
25 It is enough for disciples to be like their teacher and for slaves to be like their master. If people call the head of the family Satan, what will they say about the rest of the family?
26 Don't be afraid of anyone! Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known.
27 Whatever I say to you in the dark, you must tell in the light. And you must announce from the housetops whatever I have whispered to you.
28 Don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot harm your soul. Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in hell.
29 Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground.
30 Even the hairs on your head are counted.
31 So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.
32 If you tell others that you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you are my followers.
33 But if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you don't belong to me.
34 Don't think that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came to bring trouble, not peace.
35 I came to turn sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law.
36 Your worst enemies will be in your own family.
37 If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples.
38 And unless you are willing to take up your cross and come with me, you are not fit to be my disciples.
39 If you try to save your life, you will lose it. But if you give it up for me, you will surely find it.
40 Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes the one who sent me.
41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet, just because that person is a prophet, will be given the same reward as a prophet. Anyone who welcomes a good person, just because that person is good, will be given the same reward as a good person.
42 And anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is my follower, will surely be rewarded.
The Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is a modern Bible translation that aims to make the scriptures accessible and understandable to a broad audience, including children and those with limited English proficiency. Published by the American Bible Society in 1995, the CEV emphasizes clarity, readability, and ease of comprehension. Unlike more literal translations, the CEV uses a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, which focuses on conveying the original meaning of the text in a way that is clear and straightforward for contemporary readers.
One of the key features of the CEV is its use of everyday language and simple sentence structures. The translators avoided theological jargon and archaic terms, instead opting for language that is commonly used in daily conversation. This makes the CEV particularly well-suited for public reading, educational settings, and outreach programs where the audience might not be familiar with traditional biblical language. The translation strives to communicate the essence of the biblical message without the barriers that complex language can sometimes create.
The CEV also pays special attention to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. The translators sought to avoid expressions and idioms that might be misunderstood or offensive in different cultural contexts. Additionally, the CEV includes gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to make the text more inclusive while still remaining faithful to the original manuscripts. This approach helps ensure that Bible teachings are accessible to a diverse global audience, promoting understanding and acceptance across different cultures and communities.
Despite its strengths, the CEV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more literal translations. Critics argue that the CEV emphasises on simplicity and readability which can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Some theologians and scholars believe that the thought-for-thought approach may oversimplify complex theological concepts. Nevertheless, the Contemporary English Version remains a valuable resource for many readers, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that is particularly effective for those new to the scriptures or those seeking a more accessible way to engage with the biblical text.