Ver. 19,20. Mark hath much the same, Mark 13:11; so hath Luke, Luke 11:11,12. The apostles being men but of an ordinary education before Christ called them, he might reasonably suppose that they would not appear before councils, and kings, and governors without some abashment, having not been accustomed to such presences; he therefore arms them in these words, wherein he doth not prohibit ordinary thoughts, which every man hath before he speaketh, but anxious thoughts beforehand, for, (saith he), it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. The Lord seemeth to speak here as he did to Moses, Exodus 4:12, complaining he was slow of speech, and of a slow tongue: Exodus 4:11, Who hath made man's mouth? It shall, (saith Christ), be given you from God. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you; that is, not you from yourselves only: the Holy Spirit shall influence your thoughts as to the matter, and suggest that to you, and it shall influence your tongues, giving you a freedom of speech. This was verified in Stephen, Acts 6:10, and hath been eminently verified in a multitude of martyrs. We may observe from hence, that the influence of the Spirit is not to be confined to the will and afflictions. It hath also an influence upon our words in the service of God: not that we can conclude, that whatsoever Christians so speak, either in their confessions or other duties, is from such immediate assistance; but there is such an influence, though the Spirit in this, as in other operations, like the wind, bloweth where and when it listeth.
Related Commentaries of Matthew 10:20
Matthew 10:20
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.