Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
2 For they had departed from (A)Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before (B)the mountain.
3 And (C)Moses went up to God, and the Lord (D)called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 (E)‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how (F)I [a]bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now (G)therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and (H)keep My covenant, then (I)you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is (J)Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a (K)kingdom of priests and a (L)holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
7 So Moses came and called for the (M)elders of the people, and [b]laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. 8 Then (N)all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.
A Song of Praise for the Lord’s Faithfulness to His People
(A)A Psalm of Thanksgiving.
Faith Triumphs in Trouble
5 Therefore, (A)having been justified by faith, [a]we have (B)peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 (C)through whom also we have access by faith into this grace (D)in which we stand, and (E)rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but (F)we also glory in tribulations, (G)knowing that tribulation produces [b]perseverance; 4 (H)and perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope. 5 (I)Now hope does not disappoint, (J)because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Christ in Our Place
6 For when we were still without strength, [d]in due time (K)Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But (L)God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The Compassion of Jesus(A)
35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, (B)teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease [a]among the people. 36 (C)But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were [b]weary and scattered, (D)like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, (E)“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 (F)Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
The Twelve Apostles(G)
10 And (H)when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, (I)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 [c]Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 (J)Simon the [d]Cananite, and Judas (K)Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Sending Out the Twelve(L)
5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: (M)“Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of (N)the Samaritans. 6 (O)But go rather to the (P)lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 (Q)And as you go, preach, saying, (R)‘The kingdom of heaven [e]is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, [f]cleanse the lepers, [g]raise the dead, cast out demons. (S)Freely you have received, freely give.
9 (A)Provide neither gold nor silver nor (B)copper in your money belts, 10 nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; (C)for a worker is worthy of his food.
11 (D)“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 (E)If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. (F)But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 (G)And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, (H)shake off the dust from your feet. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, (I)it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
Persecutions Are Coming(J)
16 (K)“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. (L)Therefore be wise as serpents and (M)harmless[a] as doves. 17 But beware of men, for (N)they will deliver you up to councils and (O)scourge you in their synagogues. 18 (P)You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 (Q)But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For (R)it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 (S)for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 (T)“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And (U)you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. (V)But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 (W)When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have (X)gone through the cities of Israel (Y)before the Son of Man comes.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.