Matthew 10 21

Matthew 10:21 kjv

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

Matthew 10:21 nkjv

"Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.

Matthew 10:21 niv

"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.

Matthew 10:21 esv

Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,

Matthew 10:21 nlt

"A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.

Matthew 10 verses

Matthew 10 21 Meaning

This verse warns of extreme societal and familial betrayal for the sake of Christ, where the most fundamental human bonds of family—brother, father, child, and parent—will be broken, leading to hostility and even death. It describes the intense personal cost and internal division that discipleship to Jesus would cause in a world hostile to His message.

Matthew 10 21 Context

Matthew chapter 10 recounts Jesus sending out His twelve apostles with authority. He warns them extensively about the nature of their mission and the severe opposition they will face. The verses immediately preceding Matthew 10:21 (v. 16-20) speak of being "sheep in the midst of wolves," facing arrest, trials before governors and kings, and enduring hatred from all for Christ's name. Within this context of anticipated persecution, verse 21 specifically addresses the profound breakdown of familial relationships, revealing the depths to which hostility against believers will descend. The historical and cultural backdrop for Jesus' original audience was one where family loyalty and honour were paramount in Jewish society, making this prophecy of internal betrayal particularly shocking and painful.

Matthew 10 21 Word analysis

• "Brother" (ἀδελφὸς - adelphos): Signifies a close, inherent blood relationship. Its mention first highlights the fracturing of horizontal family ties.
• "will betray" (παραδώσει - paradōsei): From paradidomi, meaning "to hand over," "deliver up," or "betray." This is the same word used for Judas betraying Jesus. It implies a conscious, deliberate act of surrendering someone to an enemy, often for legal prosecution or execution.
• "brother to death": The phrase indicates the extreme outcome of this betrayal, a direct intent to cause fatal harm, rather than just conflict or disagreement.
• "and a father his child": This extends the concept of betrayal to the vertical family axis, from the traditional protector (father) to the vulnerable (child), further illustrating the depth of unnatural division.
• "and children" (τέκνα - tekna): Referring to offspring, irrespective of age, emphasizes the natural subservience and reverence children typically owe parents in the ancient world.
• "will rise against" (ἐπαναστήσονται - epanastēsontai): From epanistēmi, meaning "to rise up against," "rebel," or "stand opposed to." This is a strong verb indicating active hostility, insurrection, or revolt, a direct act of defiance against natural authority.
• "parents" (γονεῖς - goneis): The reciprocal term for mother and father, further solidifying the complete breakdown of the parent-child bond.
• "and have them put to death" (καὶ θανατώσουσιν αὐτούς - kai thanatōsousin autous): From thanatoō, meaning "to put to death," "execute." This final clause explicitly states the lethal intention and outcome. It means not just passively delivering but actively causing or ensuring death.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child": This initial phrase highlights active betrayal or delivery of one family member to death by another. It speaks to a hand-over scenario.
• "and children will rise against parents and have them put to death": This second part illustrates an even more shocking scenario of children actively revolting and initiating the killing of their parents. The shift from "betray" to "rise against" and "put to death" shows varying forms of internal family aggression, all with lethal consequences. The progression signifies the utter subversion of natural order and affection within the family unit for the sake of opposition to Christ.

Matthew 10 21 Bonus section

• The repetitive structure, listing different family relations, underscores the comprehensive and inescapable nature of this predicted division. It implies that no familial bond, no matter how strong or sacred, would be immune from the pressure to denounce Christ.
• This verse not only foreshadows persecution in the early Church but also serves as a perpetual warning and validation for believers throughout history who have faced familial rejection or betrayal for their faith.
• The predicted "putting to death" directly highlights the ultimate sacrifice demanded of some for their commitment to Christ, revealing the intensity of spiritual warfare experienced on a deeply personal level.

Matthew 10 21 Commentary

Matthew 10:21 presents a harrowing, yet realistic, prophetic warning of the profound societal cost of true discipleship. Jesus’ words shock because they challenge the most sacred bond in ancient (and modern) societies: the family unit. He reveals that allegiance to Him will inevitably create a spiritual rift so deep that it will divide even immediate family members, leading to extreme hostility, accusations, and ultimately, death for those who cling to their faith. This is not merely an expression of social tension but a prophetic declaration that loyalty to Christ would supersede even the most fundamental human allegiances. The verse serves both as a sobering warning to future disciples regarding the cost of following Him and as a testimony to the radical transforming power of the Gospel that demands ultimate loyalty. It underscores that spiritual truth can cut to the very core of human relationships, often leading to persecution from the most unexpected and painful sources.