The Meaning of Matthew 10:25 Explained

Matthew 10:25

KJV: 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?

YLT: sufficient 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?

Darby: 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?

ASV: It 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 Reverse Interlinear

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? 

What does Matthew 10:25 Mean?

Study Notes

Beelzebub
Beelzebul, title of a heathen deity.

Context Summary

Matthew 10:24-33 - Fearless Confessors Of Christ
The more Christlike we are, the more certainly shall we incur the dislike and hatred of men. Only let us take care that they hate us, not on account of our personal peculiarities and pretensions, but solely for the truth's sake. See 1 Kings 22:8; Daniel 6:5.
Christ is often speaking. In the secret chamber of the heart, in the darkness of the night, in the shadowed room of pain and sorrow, in the room which holds all that is mortal of our beloved, hear His voice. It may be in dark sayings, but they are "the dark sayings on a harp," of which the psalmist sings. There are music, tenderness, love-notes in these dark sayings. And our hearts can receive lasting impressions in the dark.
Remember that in all your anxiety and pain, the Father is near. His presence encloses you in its gentle, holy embrace. You are of value to Him, of more value than you can count, because you were purchased with the precious blood of Christ. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 10

1  Jesus sends out his apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles;
5  giving them their charge, teaches them;
16  comforts them against persecutions;
40  and promises a blessing to those who receive them

Greek Commentary for Matthew 10:25

Beelzebub [βεεζεβουλ]
The etymology of the word is also unknown, whether “lord of a dwelling” with a pun on “the master of the house” See note on Matthew 12:24. [source]
Beelzebub [βεελζεβοὺλ , Beelzebul]
There is a coarse witticism in the application of the word to Christ. Jesus calls himself “the Master of the house,” and the Jews apply to him the corresponding title of the Devil, Hebrews, BeelzebulMaster of the dwelling. (The phrase reappears in German, where the Devil is sometimes called Herr vom HausSee Goethe, “Faust,” sc. xxi.). Dr. Edersheim's explanation, though ingenious, seems far-fetched. He says that szebuhlin Rabbinic language, means, not any ordinary dwelling, but specifically the temple; so that Beelzebul would be Master of the Temple, an expression having reference to the claims of Jesus on his first purification of the temple. He then conceives a play between this word and Beelzibbulmeaning Lord of idolatrous sacrifice, and says: “The Lord of the temple was to them the chief of idolatrous worship; the representative of God, that of the worst of demons. Beelzebulwas BeelzibbulWhat, then, might his household expect at their hands?” (“Life and Times of Jesus”). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 10:25

Matthew 12:24 The Pharisees [οι δε Παρισαιοι]
Already (Matthew 9:32-34) we have had in Matthew the charge that Jesus is in league with the prince of demons, though the incident may be later than this one. See note on Matthew 10:25 about “Beelzebub.” The Pharisees feel that the excited condition of the crowds and the manifest disposition to believe that Jesus is the Messiah (the Son of David) demand strenuous action on their part. They cannot deny the fact of the miracles for the blind and dumb men both saw and spoke (Matthew 12:22). So in desperation they suggest that Jesus works by the power of Beelzebub the prince of the demons. [source]
Mark 3:22 Beelzebub []
See on Matthew 10:25. [source]
Mark 3:21 His friends [οι παρ αυτου]
The phrase means literally “those from the side of him (Jesus).” It could mean another circle of disciples who had just arrived and who knew of the crowds and strain of the Galilean ministry who now come at this special juncture. But the idiom most likely means the kinspeople or family of Jesus as is common in the lxx. The fact that in Mark 3:31 “his mother and his brothers” are expressly mentioned would indicate that they are “the friends” alluded to in Mark 3:21. It is a mournful spectacle to think of the mother and brothers saying, He is beside himself Second aorist active indicative intransitive. The same charge was brought against Paul (Acts 26:24; 2 Corinthians 5:13). We say that one is out of his head. Certainly Mary did not believe that Jesus was in the power of Beelzebub as the rabbis said already. The scribes from Jerusalem are trying to discount the power and prestige of Jesus (Mark 3:22). See notes on Matthew 9:32-34; and note on Matthew 10:25; and note on Matthew 12:24 for Beelzebub and Beelzebul. Mary probably felt that Jesus was overwrought and wished to take him home out of the excitement and strain that he might get rest and proper food. See my The Mother of Jesus: Her Problems and Her Glory. The brothers did not as yet believe the pretensions and claims of Jesus (John 7:5). Herod Antipas will later consider Jesus as John the Baptist redivivus, the scribes treat him as under demonic possession, even the family and friends fear a disordered mind as a result of overstrain. It was a crucial moment for Jesus. His family or friends came to take him home, to lay hold of him (kratēsai), forcibly if need be. [source]
Luke 11:15 Beelzebub []
See on Matthew 10:25. [source]
Luke 22:11 Goodman of the house [οικοδεσποτηι]
Master of the house as in Mark 14:14; Matthew 10:25. A late word for the earlier δεσποτης οικου — despotēs oikou shall eat Second aorist futuristic (or deliberative) subjunctive as in Mark 14:14. [source]
1 Peter 4:3 May suffice [αρκετος]
No copula in the Greek, probably εστιν — estin (is) rather than δυναται — dunatai (can). Late and rare verbal adjective from αρκεω — arkeō to suffice, in the papyri several times, in N.T. only here and Matthew 6:34; Matthew 10:25, apparently referring to Christ‘s words in Matthew 6:34 (possibly an axiom or proverb).To have wrought (κατειργασται — kateirgasthai). Perfect middle infinitive of κατεργαζομαι — katergazomai common compound (κατα εργον — kataτο βουλημα — ergon work) as in 1 Corinthians 5:3.The desire Correct text, not πεπορευμενους — thelēma Either means the thing desired, willed. Jews sometimes fell in with the ways of Gentiles (Romans 2:21-24; Romans 3:9-18; Ephesians 2:1-3) as today some Christians copy the ways of the world.And to have walked (πορευομαι — peporeumenous). Perfect middle participle of κατειργασται — poreuomai in the accusative plural of general reference with the infinitive εν ασελγειαις — kateirgasthai Literally, “having walked or gone.”In lasciviousness All these sins are in the locative case with επιτυμιαις — en “In unbridled lustful excesses” (2 Peter 2:7; 2 Corinthians 12:21).Lusts (οινοπλυγιαις — epithumiais). Cf. 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 4:2.Winebibbings Old compound Old word (from ποτοις — keimai to lie down), rioting drinking parties, in N.T. here and Galatians 5:21; Romans 13:13.Carousings Old word for drinking carousal (from ατεμιτοις ειδωλολατριαις — pinō to drink), here only in the N.T. In the light of these words it seems strange to find modern Christians justifying their “personal liberty” to drink and carouse, to say nothing of the prohibition law. The Greeks actually carried lust and drunkenness into their religious observances (Aphrodite, for instance).Abominable idolatries (ειδωλον λατρεια — athemitois eidōlolatriais). To the Christian all “idolatry,” (τεμιτος — eidōlonτεμιστος — latreia), worship of idols, is “abominable,” not allowed (alpha privative and τεμιζω — themitos ατεμιτος — themistos the old form, verbal of themizō to make lawful), but particularly those associated with drinking and licentiousness. The only other N.T. example of athemitos is by Peter also (Acts 10:28) and about the Mosaic law. That may be the idea here, for Jews often fell into idolatrous practices (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 274). [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 10:25 mean?

[It is] sufficient for the disciple that he become as the teacher of him and servant master If the master of the house Beelzebul they called how much more those house members
ἀρκετὸν τῷ μαθητῇ ἵνα γένηται ὡς διδάσκαλος αὐτοῦ καὶ δοῦλος κύριος εἰ τὸν οἰκοδεσπότην Βεελζεβοὺλ ἐπεκάλεσαν πόσῳ μᾶλλον τοὺς οἰκιακοὺς

ἀρκετὸν  [It  is]  sufficient 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀρκετός  
Sense: sufficient, enough.
τῷ  for  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
μαθητῇ  disciple 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: μαθητής  
Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
γένηται  he  become 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
διδάσκαλος  teacher 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: διδάσκαλος  
Sense: a teacher. 2 in the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
δοῦλος  servant 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.
κύριος  master 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
οἰκοδεσπότην  master  of  the  house 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: οἰκοδεσπότης  
Sense: master of the house, householder.
Βεελζεβοὺλ  Beelzebul 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Βεελζεβούλ  
Sense: a name of Satan, the prince of evil spirits.
ἐπεκάλεσαν  they  called 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐπικαλέω  
Sense: to put a name upon, to surname.
πόσῳ  how  much 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πόσος  
Sense: how great.
μᾶλλον  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μᾶλλον  
Sense: more, to a greater degree, rather.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οἰκιακοὺς  house  members 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: οἰκιακός  
Sense: one belonging to the house.