Matthew 9:35-10:20

Christian Standard Bible

The Lord of the Harvest

³⁵ Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom,^(A) and healing every^[a] disease and every sickness.^{[b][c] 36} When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected,^(B) like sheep without a shepherd.^{(C) 37} Then he said to his disciples,^(D) “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. ³⁸ Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

Commissioning the Twelve

10 Summoning his twelve disciples,^(E) he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every^[d] disease and sickness.^{[e](F) 2} These are the names of the twelve apostles:^(G) First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; ³ Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;^{[f] 4} Simon the Zealot,^[g] and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.^(H)

⁵ Jesus sent out these twelve after giving them instructions: “Don’t take the road that leads to the Gentiles, and don’t enter any Samaritan^(I) town. ⁶ Instead, go to the lost sheep^(J) of the house of Israel.^{(K) 7} As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’^{(L) 8} Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy,^[h] drive out demons.^(M) Freely you received, freely give. ⁹ Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.^{(N) 10} Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker^(O) is worthy of his food. ¹¹ When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. ¹² Greet a household when you enter it,^{(P) 13} and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.^{(Q) 14} If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet^(R) when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment^(S) for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.^(T)

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁶ “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.^{(U) 17} Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts^[i] and flog you in their synagogues.^{(V) 18} You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.^{(W) 19} But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak.^(X) For you will be given what to say at that hour, ²⁰ because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit^(Y) of your Father is speaking through you.^(Z)