Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

² When they set out from Rephidim, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness. Israel camped there before the mountain.

³ Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel: ⁴ ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. ⁵ Now therefore, if you will faithfully obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is Mine. ⁶ And you will be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

⁷ So Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. ⁸ Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.

Psalm 100

A Psalm of thanksgiving.

Results of Justification

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and so we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also boast in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces patience, ⁴ patience produces character, and character produces hope. ⁵ And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

⁶ While we were yet weak, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Rarely for a righteous man will one die. Yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The Compassion of Jesus

³⁵ Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. ³⁶ But when He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they fainted and were scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest, that He will send out laborers into His harvest.”

The Mission of the Twelve Apostles^(A)

10 He called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority 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, 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 Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

The Commissioning of the Twelve Apostles^(B)

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out, and commanded them, saying, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans. ⁶ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

⁹ “Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper for your purses, ¹⁰ nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor even staffs. For the workman is worthy of his keep.

¹¹ “In whatever city or town you enter, inquire in it who is worthy. And live there until you leave. ¹² When you come into a house, greet it. ¹³ If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ Whoever will not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for that town.

Coming Persecutions^(A)

¹⁶ “Look, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, take no thought of how or what you will speak. For it will be given you at that time what you will speak. ²⁰ For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks through you.

²¹ “The brother will deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child. And the children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. ²² You will be hated by all men for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. ²³ But when they persecute you in this city, escape into another. For truly I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.