0491012 Twelve sent out to preach – Matthew 9:35-11:1, Mark 6:6b-13, Luke 9:1-6, A.D. 27 Towns in Galilee
And Jesus was going up and down to all the cities and went around the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every malady among the people. And when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, for they were harassed and scattered, as sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into his harvest.”
And he called to himself his twelve disciples together and began to send them out two by two and he gave them power and authority over the unclean spirits and all demons to cast them out. And he sent them forth to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal every disease and every sickness. And now the names of the twelve apostles are these: the first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother; Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, “Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not enter into any city of the Samaritans. Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, proclaim saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give. Do not take any gold, nor silver, nor brass in your money belts.” And he commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: nor bread, nor wallet, nor money in their purse, but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.
Take no bag for your journey, neither have two coats, nor sandals, neither staffs: for the laborer is worthy of his food. And into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on. And he said to them, “into whatever house and wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. And as you enter into the household, greet it. If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And as many as do not receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off even the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Most certainly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”
“And behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. And beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues, they will scourge you. And you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations. And when they deliver you up, do not be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you.”
“Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved. And when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes.”
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! Therefore, do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.”
“Are not two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father, but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore, do not be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
“Do not think that I came to send peace on the earth. I did not come to send peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s foes will be those of his own household. 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. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple; most certainly I say to you he will in no way lose his reward.” And it happened that when Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. And they departed and went throughout the villages, preaching the Gospel and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them everywhere.
