The Cost of Following my Father

²⁴“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. ²⁵It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! ²⁶Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known. ²⁷What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. ²⁸Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. ²⁹“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will, ³⁰but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. ³²Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. ³³But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven. ³⁴“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword. ³⁵For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. ³⁶A man’s foes will be those of his own household. ³⁷He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. ³⁸He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me. ³⁹He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.