Matthew 10:25
What does Matthew 10:25 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 10:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 10:25 means
Jesus continues the principle from the previous verse: "It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord." To illustrate, He points to the ultimate insult hurled at Himself: "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household!" Beelzebub was a name for the prince of demons, accusing Jesus of being demon-possessed and working by demonic power. If the world so gravely slandered Jesus, His disciples should not be surprised or dismayed when they too are reviled and falsely accused. This reinforces the inevitability of hostility and prepares them to endure such attacks without losing heart.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household!
KJV
King James Version · 1611It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949It is enough for the disciple that he may be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have given the name Beelzebub to the master of the house, how much more to those of his house!
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862sufficient to the disciple that he may be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord; if the master of the house they did call Beelzeboul, how much more those of his household?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the good man of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890[It is] sufficient for the disciple that he should become as his teacher, and the bondman as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more those of his household?
Context
Building on the general principle that a disciple is not above his master, this verse provides a specific, powerful example from Jesus' own experience of calumny. It directly explains *why* disciples should expect extreme false accusations. This leads immediately into an exhortation to fearlessness, providing a logical transition from the reality of persecution to the necessary response of courage in proclamation.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 3:22
And the scribes that came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the demons casteth he out the demons.
- John 7:20
The multitude answered, Thou hast a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?
- John 8:48
The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?
- Matthew 9:34
But the Pharisees said, By the prince of the demons casteth he out demons.
- John 10:20
And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye him?
- Matthew 12:24
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.
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