Matthew 9:37-10:16

Christian Standard Bible

³⁷ Then he said to his disciples,^(A) “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,^(B) he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every^[a] disease and sickness.^{[b](C) 2} These are the names of the twelve apostles:^(D) 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;^{[c] 4} Simon the Zealot,^[d] and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.^(E)

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^(F) town. ⁶ Instead, go to the lost sheep^(G) of the house of Israel.^{(H) 7} As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’^{(I) 8} Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy,^[e] drive out demons.^(J) Freely you received, freely give. ⁹ Don’t acquire gold, silver, or copper for your money-belts.^{(K) 10} Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker^(L) 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,^{(M) 13} and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.^{(N) 14} If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet^(O) when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment^(P) for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.^(Q)

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁶ “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.^(R)