The Meaning of Matthew 10:20 Explained

Matthew 10:20

KJV: For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

YLT: for ye are not the speakers, but the Spirit of your Father that is speaking in you.

Darby: For ye are not the speakers, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you.

ASV: For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  it is  not  ye  that speak,  but  the Spirit  of your  Father  which  speaketh  in  you. 

What does Matthew 10:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 10:16-23 - Steadfast Under Persecution
The way of the servants and heralds of Christ will never be easy. From the first, it has been lined with jagged flints. On the one hand, they are assailed by the rulers and potentates of this world; and on the other, by the members of their own homes. See Acts 4:25. But all these experiences are permitted in order to secure an entrance for their message into the most unlikely places, 2 Timothy 4:17. The fact of the disciples being driven from city to city brought the gospel within the reach of a much wider audience than if they had remained in peace in one center. See Acts 11:19.
But when we are persecuted for the Lord's sake, the Father bends over us with tender pity and helpfulness, John 12:26. And we are supplied, from the Eternal Light and Love, with a wisdom of speech and an unfailing patience of love that cannot be gainsaid. [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

What do the individual words in Matthew 10:20 mean?

Not for you are those speaking but the Spirit of the Father of you - speaking through you
οὐ γὰρ ὑμεῖς ἐστε οἱ λαλοῦντες ἀλλὰ τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ Πατρὸς ὑμῶν τὸ λαλοῦν ἐν ὑμῖν

οἱ  those 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
λαλοῦντες  speaking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
Πνεῦμα  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: πνεῦμα  
Sense: a movement of air (a gentle blast.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πατρὸς  Father 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
λαλοῦν  speaking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
ἐν  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐν 
Sense: in, by, with etc.