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Pentecost Season · Year A

Proper 7

June 21, 2026

Christ Sends Out the Apostles Two by Two, Netherlandish painter
Christ Sends Out the Apostles Two by Two, Netherlandish painter, c. 1573Centraal Museum, Utrecht
In a broad landscape before a city, Christ stands among his disciples as pairs of them set out along the roads in every direction.So have no fear of them … Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? … Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.Netherlandish painterAn unnamed Netherlandish painter of the 1570s, working in the tradition of the Antwerp landscape painters.Centraal Museum, UtrechtThe Centraal Museum in Utrecht, the oldest municipal museum in the Netherlands.Centraal Museum, Utrecht
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 10:24-39Mt 10:24-39
EpistleRom. 6:1b-11Rom 6:1b-11
Old TestamentGen. 21:8-21Gn 21:8-21Alt. OTJer. 20:7-13Jer 20:7-13
PsalterPs. 86:1-10, 16-17Ps 86:1-10, 16-17Alt. PsalmPs. 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18Ps 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18

Overview & Insights

"Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39)

Jesus prepares his disciples for opposition, urging them not to fear those who kill the body and to acknowledge him before others. He warns that faithfulness may bring division even within families and calls disciples to take up the cross.

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Take it further: Matthew 10:24-39

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 10:24-39Commentary on Mt 10:24-39 Working Preacher

Lectionary commentary on fearless witness and the cost of following Jesus.

Matthew 10 CommentaryMt 10 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse notes on not fearing persecution and losing life to find it.

Matthew 10:24 CommentariesMt 10:24 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries collected for the disciple not above the teacher.

Matthew 10 CommentaryMt 10 Commentary Precept Austin

Precept Austin's commentary and sermon resources on Matthew 10.

Matthew 10:24-39 CommentaryMt 10:24-39 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed sermon commentary on discipleship, division, and God's providential care.

Background & Word Study

Matthew 10:24 InterlinearMt 10:24 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text with parsing for fear, confession, and the sword of division.

Overview: Gospel of MatthewOverview: Gospel of Mt BibleProject

Animated overview of Matthew's structure and its teaching discourses.

Son of Man BibleProject

Background on the identity of the Jesus whom disciples confess before others.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Matthew 10Catena: Mt 10 Catena

Patristic comments chained to the sayings on fear, confession, and the cross.

Worship & Prayers

Proper 7, Year A (RCL) The Lectionary Page

All appointed readings and the collect for the day in one place.

Podcast

#909: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Ord. 12A) – June 25, 2023 Working Preacher (Sermon Brainwave)

Luther Seminary’s homiletics roundtable on this Sunday’s appointed texts, including Matthew 10:24-39.

Art & Music

Revised Common Lectionary Art: Proper 7A Vanderbilt

Lectionary art and the full set of appointed texts for Proper 7, Year A.

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