^29 (A)Are not two sparrows sold for a ^[a]cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰ But ^(B)the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So do not fear; ^(C)you are more valuable than many sparrows.

³² “Therefore ^(D)everyone who ^[b]confesses Me before men, I will also confess ^[c]him before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But ^(E)whoever ^[d]denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

³⁴ “^(F)Do not think that I came to ^[e]bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I came to ^(G)set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; ³⁶ and ^(H)a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

³⁷ “^(I)He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And ^(J)he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ^39 (K)He who has found his ^[f]life will lose it, and he who has lost his ^[g]life for My sake will find it.

The Reward of Service

⁴⁰ “^(L)He who receives you receives Me, and ^(M)he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ^41 (N)He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. ⁴² And ^(O)whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these ^[h]little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”

²⁴ Consider the ^(A)ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor ^(B)barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!