The Gospel of Matthew for Readers | Page 8

were scattered like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray to the Lord so He will send forth laborers to His harvest.
10 Jesus called together His twelve disciples and gave them power to cast out unclean spirits and to heal all manner of sickness and disease. The names of the twelve apostles are these; Simon, who is called Peter, Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee, John his brother; Philip; Bartholomew; Thomas; the publican; James the son of Alphaeus; Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them: Go not into the way of the Gentiles or into any city of the Samaritans. Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As ye go, preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick. Cleanse the lepers. Raise the dead. Cast out devils. Freely ye have received, freely give.
Provide neither gold nor silver nor brass in your purses. Take no scrip for your journey. Neither take two coats, nor shoes, nor staves because the workman is worthy of his food. Into whatever city or town ye enter, enquire who in it is worthy. Abide there until ye go on. When ye come into a house, salute it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it. If it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. Whoever shall not receive you or hear your words, when ye leave that house or city, shake the dust from your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Beware of men. They will deliver you up to the councils. They will scourge you in their synagogues. Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for a testimony against them and the Gentiles because of me. But when they deliver you up, do not worry how or what ye shall speak. It will be given you at the time ye speak because it is not ye that will speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks through you.
Also be aware that a brother shall deliver up a brother to death, and a father the child. Children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But he that endures to the end shall be saved. When they persecute you in one city, flee to another.
Verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone to all the cities of Israel before the Son comes. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house, Beelzebub, how much more shall they call those of God's household?
Fear them not. There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and nothing hid that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, speak ye in light. And what ye hear in the ear, preach that upon the housetops. Fear not those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. Instead, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing. The very hairs of your head are all numbered by Him. Fear not because ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whoever confesses me before men, I will confess him before my Father in heaven. Whoever denies me before men, I will deny him before my Father in heaven.
Think not that I came to earth to send peace. I came not to send peace, but a sword. My coming will 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 shall be those of his own household.
He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that does not take up his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me.
He that finds his life shall lose it. He that loses his life for my sake shall find it. He that receives you receives me, and he that receives me receives Him that sent me. He