Literary Structure of Matthew 10

A)  Instructions to the twelve apostles  (10:5-15)

   B)  Persecution and family division  (10:16-23)

      C)  Enemies of the Master’s household  (10:24-25)

         D)  Consolation of the twelve apostles  (10:26-33)

      C’)  Enemies of the Master’s household  (10:34-36)

   B’)  Persecution and family division  (10:37-39)

A’)  Reception of the twelve apostles  (10:40-42)

Some things worth noting are:

• This whole chapter is directly addressed to "the twelve" apostles, not to 21st century Americans. 
• There are various repeated words, phrases, and themes throughout the discourse which make the structure much more obvious upon a second glance: 
• "Sent" is mentioned twice (vv. 5 & 40) and “receive” is mentioned twice (vv. 14 & 40-42), both of which are found in sections A & A' 
• Parents and children are mentioned twice (vv. 21 & 37; sections B & B') 
• “household” is mentioned twice (vv. 25 & 36; sections C & C')
• In the central section of this chasm (section "D") there are three negative statements about "fear" and one positive statement. 
• D1) “Do not fear them...”  (v.26)
• D2) “Do not fear those who… but fear Him who can…”  (v. 28)
• D3) “Do not fear, therefore…”  (v.31)

Another way of viewing the literary structure of chapter ten is as follows:

A)  Instructions to the twelve apostles  (10:5-15)

   B)  Persecution and family division  (10:16-23)

      C)  Enemies of the Master’s household  (10:24-25)

         D1)  "Do not fear them..." (10:26-27)

            D2)  "Do not fear those who... but Fear Him who can..." (10:28-30)

         D3)  "Do not fear, therefore..." (10:31-33)

      C’)  Enemies of the Master’s household  (10:34-36)

   B’)  Persecution and family division  (10:37-39)

A’)  Reception of the twelve apostles  (10:40-42)