Do Not Worry About What to Say
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How Should We Apply Matthew 10:19–20 Today?
On Sunday night, we heard a sermon on Matthew 10, where Jesus sends out the twelve apostles on a mission. It’s a great passage. Jesus doesn't sugar-coat the mission, or bury the terms and conditions in the fine print. He warns his followers that they will be hated, persecuted and dragged before courts. And yet, they are not to be afraid.
I received two questions on our paper Connect Slips afterwards. One person asked:
How do we know when Scripture applies directly to us, and when we should only draw a principle from it?
Another person asked:
Jesus says we don’t need to worry about what to say when we’re persecuted. The Spirit will speak through us (Matthew 10:19–20). Does that still apply today? Or was that just for the apostles?
Here are a few thoughts and questions that can help us answer these questions, using the Matthew 10:19-20 example.
What’s Going on in Matthew 10?
In this chapter, Jesus sends out the twelve apostles on a short-term mission to the people of Israel. They are told not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans, not to take any money, and to rely fully on God’s provision. It’s a very specific moment in salvation history.
Then Jesus tells them:
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
(Matthew 10:19–20)
A remarkable promise. But was it only for them?
To answer that, we need to step back and ask a bigger question:
When Do We Apply Scripture Directly, and When Do We Just Draw a Connection?
Some parts of the Bible are normative. That means, they’re meant to shape all Christians in all times. Others are temporary. That is, they’re tied to a particular moment in God’s unfolding plan.
So how do we tell the difference?
Here are four questions that help us work this out.
Question 1: Where Am I in the Story?
In Matthew 10, we’re still before the cross. Before the resurrection. Before Pentecost.
Jesus is preparing the apostles for a specific task during his earthly ministry. They are the foundation-layers of the church, and this mission is part of that groundwork.
We live on the other side of the resurrection. The Spirit has now been poured out on all believers. The gospel has gone global. That context matters.
Question 2: What’s the Timeless Principle, and What’s the Temporary Practice?
Some instructions were specific to that mission. Yet, some of the underlying principles are timeless. For example:
“Go only to the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). This is obviously temporary, given what we read in Matthew 28:18-20.
“Proclaim the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 10:7). While the way the apostles would have preached the kingdom of heaven, would have been different to the way we preach it, there’s still a timeless aspect to this command because of Matthew 28:18-20.
There’s a similar kind of thing going on in verses 19–20. The specific promise that the Spirit would give them words was for the apostles in their unique mission, and therefore temporary. But the underlying principle, that God strengthens his people when they’re under pressure, still holds.
To work this out, we need to read around the passage. What happens before our passage? What happens after? What happens in earlier Bible books? What happens in later books? These questions will help us work out what is timeless and what is temporary.
Question 3: How Do We Trace an Idea Forward in the Bible?
When we read a passage like Matthew 10:19–20, where Jesus promises the Spirit will give his disciples words in moments of persecution, we need to ask: What happens to this idea later in the Bible? Is it repeated, fulfilled, expanded, or limited?
In this case, we don’t find that exact promise repeated word-for-word for all believers. But the principle behind it, that God equips his people to speak, clearly continues.
We see the Spirit at work in various ways:
In Acts, believers are filled with the Spirit and speak boldly, especially under pressure (Acts 4:31).
Paul tells us that, post-Pentecost, Christians will continue to be opposed (2 Timothy 3:12) and asks for prayer so he might speak the gospel clearly and fearlessly (Ephesians 6:19–20).
Peter urges Christians to be prepared to give an answer with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15–16).
So while Matthew 10 describes a specific moment in redemptive history — Jesus preparing his apostles for a unique mission — the ongoing work of the Spirit helps us draw connections. It shows that God still empowers his people to speak courageously, even if we’re not promised spontaneous, Spirit-given speeches.
From there, we can ask a further question: What exactly does the Spirit do for believers today?
He inspires the Scriptures. God breathes out his Word by the Spirit (2 Peter 1:21; cf. 2 Timothy 3:16).
He helps us understand. Spiritual truth is only grasped by the help of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10, 12, 14).
He empowers our witness. No one can truly confess "Jesus is Lord" except by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).
In other words, the Spirit may not give us brand new words in high-stakes moments, but he has given us the Word, helps us understand it, and gives us the courage to speak it. He is with us from preparation, to understanding, to witness.
Final Thought
So, does Matthew 10:19–20 apply to us?
Yes, but not in the exact same way it did to the apostles.
It’s not a guarantee that we’ll always know what to say. But it is a deep reassurance that we are never on our own when we speak for Christ.
God’s Spirit has inspired his Word. He helps us understand it. And he empowers us to speak it with truth and grace. With that in mind, we can speak with confidence when we are opposed.
