Bible Strands
Matthew 10:25
It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his twelve disciples during a commissioning discourse, warning them of the hostility they will face from religious authorities. He speaks directly to those he has just sent out to proclaim the kingdom.
The words — The Greek ἀρκετὸν (arketon) means "sufficient" or "enough," establishing that a disciple's condition should match his teacher's. The term διδάσκαλος (didaskalos) translates literally to "teacher," anchoring the comparison between master and follower.
The thread — The accusation of Beelzebul appears in Matthew 9:34, Matthew 12:24, and Luke 11:15, where Pharisees claim Jesus casts out demons by the prince of demons. This verse extends that specific charge to the followers of Jesus, predicting identical persecution.
Why it lands — The text demands that readers accept persecution as the expected norm when aligned with Christ, rather than a sign of divine abandonment. It requires no defense against false accusations, only recognition that suffering mirrors the master's experience.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
It 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?
Cross-references
- Matthew 9:34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
- Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
- Luke 11:15 but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”
- John 7:20 “You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?”
- Mark 3:22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
- John 8:48 The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right to say that You are a Samaritan and You have a demon?”
- John 8:52 “Now we know that You have a demon!” declared the Jews. “Abraham died, and so did the prophets, yet You say that anyone who keeps Your word will never taste death.
- John 10:20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”